The Ford Model A was a much-improved product over the popular Model T. But it had the misfortune of being introduced just before the Great Depression, so sales never got nearly as close (5M cars vs. 14M). This example from 1931 is in great condition, having been previously restored, and – apparently — needing nothing now. For viewing in Columbia, South Carolina, this Ford is available here on craigslist at $16,800. Thanks, Tony Primo, for bringing this nice classic to our attention!
Model A production began in late 1927 and two million had been sold before the stock market crash of 1929. The cheapest Model A was just $500, but if you didn’t have a job in the early 1930s, the low price really didn’t matter. Instead of being in production for 18 years like the Model T (or “Tin Lizzy”), the Model A was retired before the end of 1931 (with sales continuing into 1932). It was replaced by the Model B which came with Ford’s new “flathead” V8. If you want to see a bunch of these cars in one place at one time, drop an episode from the TV series The Untouchables and you’ll see plenty since the 1930s was Eliot Ness’ crime-solving heyday.
The seller’s five-window coupe may be one of 134,000 built, so it was hardly a rare car 90 years ago. But finding one today in the condition of this one probably takes a bit of effort. Naturally, it has running boards, which were part of automotive design back in those days. Restored at some prior point, the black paint and brown/tan interior look to be in fine shape. The seller is unaware of any rust on the vehicle and the machine should need no cosmetic attention.
At 73,000 miles, the 201 cubic inch L-head I-4 engine (40 hp) runs well with a 3-speed sliding gear manual transmission. Unlike the Model T, which was a 45-mph car, this Model A will run at 65. It has an electric starter and a new battery, along with a recent servicing of fluids. The wheel bearings have been repacked and the seller reminds us that aftermarket parts are fairly plentiful should you need to replace anything. Who wants to cruise around and pretend it’s 1931 again?
Fun on wheels. Nice car.
Good to see one in good original condition, a survivor that made it through the Hot Rod era unscathed.
I agree that it’s awesome that someone took the time and money to restore this old car.
Probably worth every bit of the asking price?
I don’t know much about these real old cars, but I like it and according to the seller, it’s turnkey ready.
Nice post by the author.
Just my oponion!
Wow, that’s a beauty. This car is identical to my father’s first car. He paid $30 for it in 1950. He was 13 years old, living in Pittsburgh, Kansas. Sadly, Dad is gone, but we’ve got photos of him and his Model A. If I were younger, I’d be all over this.
Age is just a number…I am 75 and bought my first Model A last January, a 1940s style “banger” style “hot rod” roadster and I bought my second one this month, a ’30 survivor Toan Sedan. I plan for the ’28 to be my everyday driver and the ’30 to be my “date night, special occasion and cross country trip one. Looking for miles and smiles of fun…a d getting greasy along the way. Jump in and buy it if you like it, you’ll never get any younger.
That’s some good advice there. I can’t even legally drive yet, but I’m sizing up a roadster pickup version of this or a model T for my first car. A guy down the street from me has an old Studebaker 2r15 that i’m interested in too… I know my best bet getting into old trucks will be to start early, so many possibilities!
Flint
To answer your question Russ, I would. I’d find some 1930’s era clothes and ride around town like I was just out for a drive in the 30’s. My first car was a 1935 Chevy and I loved dressing my first wife and myself in 30’s clothes and cruising around our small town like we were time travelers amazed at all the new stuff around us. I suppose people thought we were nuts but we sure had fun. There are a lot of these model A’s around the small town I used to live in up in North Texas, Gun Barrel City. They all used to go to the Dairy Queen in 7points on a certain Thursday every month. Of course there were a lot of other old cars and hot rods there too. It’s a great area to live in, but drugs have become a major problem. I used to drive a concrete mixer out of Mabank, Texas and one of my co workers had a model A Roadster pickup he bought at the sheriffs auction.
God Bless America
I have a friend that has a 31. He wants to put ‘juice’ brakes on it but he’s 89 years old and I don’t know if he’s ever going to finish it. Probably not. Too bad because it’s a great looking car. Rumble seat too.
I restored a 1946 Plymouth Deluxe for my late Dad. After it was done, we dressed Him and Mom up in some old 50’s cloths, had Dad hold a Fake ( Airpowered ) Tommy gun and took pictures, They used to love to sport around town in the car for A few years, until Mom’s Alzheimer’s got to bad and Dad got Pancreatic Cancer. Dad sold the Car to someone out of State cheap and they drove it back up north.
Love seeing these old Model A s especially looking as fine as this one . Would love to take it for a spin down the country side lanes. Can only imagine how one felt back in the 30s tooling around in a car like this……feeling like a king.
Hope it goes to a good home!
I bought my first 1931 Model A Ford Coupe when I was 14. I spent $20,000. restoring it over 10 yrs back in the mid-1970s-1980s. I sold it a few years ago after owning it for over 44 yrs.
I sold mine for $6.500. That’s all I could get. A hot rod shop guy offered me $4,000. but I would not sell as all he really wanted was the steel body.
No one has posted this, so I guess I will. This car is really nice. Mostly original, unrestored. Unmolested. Model A watchers will note that that this is a late 1931, as is seen by the indented firewall where the fuel filter is located. Prior to this, the firewall was flat where the fuel filter was mounted.
I mean no disrespect, but my observation is “these things don’t sell for this much any more.” A terrific car. I would like to buy one again. From what I’ve seen, $16,000. in 2024 will get you a nice, sharp looking older restoration Model A complete with rumble seat. Few Model As will be restored going forward, except as a “labor of love” project. Reason being they cost far more to restore today than they would ever sell for. Someone will buy this for sure. I’m guessing the price will be closer to $10,000.
It so disheartening to have and carefully restore a car that falls out of favor, resulting in a low sales price. Your asking price just drops and drops and you finally “give” it away , at least finding a worthy buyer.
It is hard to know where this one will land, the pool of buyers is getting smaller, it is hard to find people that will work on these for less than $100.00/hr and parts are not as plentiful or cheap as they once were.
A $16,000 drive a couple times a year doesn’t have the same charm as it once had, so even with a 10K floor, it still won’t make it into my garage. Hopefully a younger person finds value and gives it a home, but most of them are looking for a daily driver for less than $5000.00 to get to work.
While in college, on a weekend home, my buddy/roommate and I borrowed a 1930 Chevy 4 door from the guy that ran the hatchery in our home town. I had been trying to buy the 30 for a couple of years, but it was one of those “I’m going to restore it one of these days” but languished in his back yard deteriorating. I told him we’d get it running if we could use it for the weekend. We got it running and adjusted the brakes so it would eventually stop and decided we should rob the bank that night. The old original bank building was now a law office, but still said bank on the facade. Tom and I found some toy tommy guns and actually had a real pistol, we wore old sport coats and proceeded to “rob” the bank at about midnight. The local cop stopped by and asked us what we were doing (we were well known to him). I told him “we’re robbing this bank!” He said it’s not a bank anymore and I don’t think there’s any money there. He then told us not to make a mess.
Tom’s dad had a furniture store (and was the funeral director) so we took pictures of me cracking the safe in the furniture store back room. We make photo albums of our daring bank robbery!
Sorry, photo didn’t post.