Ford’s Model A was the company’s biggest success story after its more famous predecessor, the Model T. Ford built more than four million of them across five years, compared to the T’s 15 million over 18 years. But the A was introduced just prior to the Great Depression and that no doubt limited demand for several years. The pickup truck was a big part of it at about 11 percent of overall production. With the exception of fenders, this 1930 Model A truck may be mostly complete and is available in Camarillo, California and here on Facebook Marketplace for $4,500.
The first Model A’s were sold in late 1927 and by the middle of 1929, Ford had sold two million of them. Then came the Stock Market Crash in October and sales for 1930 would fall by a third and then by half yet again in 1931. 1932 would end up being the last year of the Model A, having been offered in as many as nine body styles over the duration. The pickup – like the seller’s – accounted for 483,000 units in total with 159,000 built in 1930. They would be powered by a water-cooled, L-head inline-4 with a displacement of 201 cubic inches and a horsepower rating of 40. Believe it or not, these vehicles were capable of up to 65 mph, much faster than the Model T.
We don’t know a great deal about this 1930 Model A pickup except that it sits in a yard surrounded by at least a half-dozen other cars and trucks from the same era. Perhaps there’s a stash here for the picking, but the seller only identifies this fender-less truck for sale (unless they’re in the bed). It has the makings of an interesting, modified project or the missing pieces could be sourced and maybe a restoration attempted. Unfortunately, we get no peeks at the interior, engine compartment or bed. According to ConceptCarz, the average resale value is about $20,000, so there’s room to work with here.
Looks like old pickup heaven out there. If there is minimum rust then it might be worth the asking price. I would insist on 4 good fenders to go with it. If I was looking to dive into one of these as a project I’ve got a close friend who builds model A street and race engines and probably has an extensive supply of running gear. This one could be fun… but don’t chop the top. Not much room for people in the early trucks. My ’33 was better but still not a lot of people room.
My kind of place! If you drive through the Marias Pass, along US Highway 2, you’ll drive through Hungry Horse, which is a little more than a wide spot in the road. Of to the south is a collection of bars and other businesses and out front you will encounter THE PET, as it was lovingly named by my late friend. It is supposed to be a ’30 A but it is obviously comprised of many other Model As and the crowing glory is the Chevy box. It was originally a sedan but as with a lot of war vehicles, it was converted to a truck so the owner could get more gas bonds. After Dick passed on my cousin brought it over to Hungry Horse where it gets plenty of attention…
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.3855376,-114.06181,3a,15y,153.13h,90.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sa957bJxeFxIKwy8g9uf79g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
Thank you, Mike, very nice of you to post that view. I was too tired to go searching, so I probably would have missed it, so I do appreciate you taking the trouble. Very nice to see the clouds lower than the mountaintops, too.
Love the truck garden, drop it in my driveway and I’ll give him $4k cash.
Just picked up a 31 Ford truck. Biggest issue I found with these trucks is a rusted fuel tank. I gave up on it and put a 15 gal beer keg in the bed. Works great. Never take one of these apart, and expect it to snap back together, easily. Nothing will ever go back the same unless you do a complete tear down and rebuild with new nuts, bolts, and screws. Also, had to loose a little weight to get the steering wheel off my belly.
Just wondering if you drank all that beer by yourself b-4 mounting it as a gas tank?
Asking for a friend.
Kill’in me Smalls
Hmmn, nice phind. Cam is not that phar away phor a guy like me. Why do these opportunities show up the minute AFTER I buy a late 30’s sedan?
How much for the 5 window chevy next to it?