The Ford Model A was a much-improved car over the Model T that it replaced. Unfortunately, it was introduced a couple of years before the economy fell apart in 1929, holding overall Model A production to under five million units (compared to 14 million Model Ts). The seller has a “Tudor” from 1930, which is a fancy way of saying it’s a 2-door sedan. It’s an original car including the paint and it still runs and drives but needs restoring. Located in Cleveland, Georgia, this 94-year-old survivor is available here on eBay. The current bid is $3,400 which is below the seller’s reserve.
How was the Model A better than the Model T? Well, it was larger overall, which provided more room for people and their stuff. The Model A was faster, capable of 65 mph vs. 45 mph given a more potent powerplant. The newer car had an electric starter vs. the driver having to use a hand crank to get it going. The transmission was a 3-speed rather than a 2-speed. And, among other things, the Model A had steel vs. wooden wheels.
Ford Model A sales dropped by nearly a third in 1930 after the stock market crash in late 1929. Yet Ford still managed to build more than 376,000 “Tudors” in 1930, the marque’s most popular body style. If you want to see a lot of these cars all in one place, check out any random episode of the 1960s TV show, The Untouchables, which was set in the 1930s. The seller’s ’30 Model A looks like a solid car overall, though it has managed to collect a few little scrapes and maybe some minor rust (wouldn’t you have problems if you were nearly a century old?!).
We’re told this running Ford has less than 50,000 miles, which could be legit because cars back then weren’t built to last hundreds of thousands of miles. Some items have been replaced such as the top fabric, the wooden front headers, and the seat covers (though the back seat has a couple of holes now). For whatever reason, the side panels within the interior are MIA. The glass has a few issues such as a loose windshield. Some mechanical work is also needed, like fixing the loose kingpins, a chattering clutch, and brakes that tend to pull. Heck, the car sounds like it’s in better shape than I am!
Clean it up, take care of any possible rust and mechanical ills, and go out and drive it. They are entertainment all by themselves. Agree on your last comment Russ.
Yes, please save and enjoy it. There can’t be many survivors left that are this old. I was thinking this must be an old restoration but if it is really a survivor it’s a real treasure.
I grew up driving a Model A Ford like this one. To say a A Model would only run 65mph is incorrect. In fact a 28 Model A would do much more and Ford decided to slow them down because so many people got hurt.
The one I drove belonged to my grandfather and it had many more than 100K miles. The only parts I know were replaced was the flywheel ring gear twice.
I once pulled a tractor out that was stuck in the mud.
They were amazing cars. My grandfather paid $50 for his car in 1942 and drove it a week before he died at 93 in 1965.
Please don’t restore it to better than new and ruin it.
Electric start became available for the Model T in 1919. Steel wheels were used on 26-27 Ts.
Model As were a definite improvement over the T, but the T was the right car at the right time. The production numbers tell the tale.
There are enough shiny restorations and street rods. Sort out any issues and drive it proudly.
Trying hard to push past 5 grand……sign of the times ?