Ford Model A

For the price, you'd be hard pressed to find a car that gets as much attention, is as easy to find parts for, or is as reliable as a Model A. The 1928/1929 Models are virtually identical, and are easily distinguishable by the "step-in" of the body to the cowl. They are narrower than the 1930/31 models, and have some more angular features. A very distinguished, timeless style. The drivetrain consists of a four cylinder, valve-in-block flathead producing roughly 35hp stock. The manual transmission is unsynchronized, and leads to the torque tube and banjo rearend. The drivetrains of all Model A's interchange. The Model A's, luckily, became favorites of restorers back in the 60's, and now the aftermarket has just about every single part reproduced and refined so you can practically build a whole car from scratch, save the core body structure. The car is very solid and reliable- mine was pulled from a barn, the points were filed, new gas was added and it fired right up. I have since freshened the motor and it's still running and driving strong after 78 years. The car is quite cramped by today's standards, but it's easy enough to drive. The handling is not the best, but what do you expect? The rumble seat is a nice feature for carrying your friends around, though, the 1928/29 models did not have a roll down window available so talking to them is not an option. My car has a top speed of about 65mph with minor modifications. The mechanical brakes do an adequate job if properly adjusted.
Both styles of Model A are destined to only rise in price. They are already a true classic, a timeless design (as evidenced by so many still driving today), but as the 32-34 coupes rise in price there needs to be an alternative for the common man. The Model A is that car!

I bought a Model A Hot Rod about a month ago. Since it was located a great distance from, me I had it shipped.I should have been more weary of the poor quality photographs that didn't show much detail. The build quality of the car was poor which I blame on the seller. Everything was done on the cheap. He loved self tapping screws and silicone sealer which was used to attach the grill to the grill shell.So far I,ve spent about $4000 bringing the cars up to my standards and repairing safety issues.

I purchased the car because it was somthing I've always wanted,since my early teens,and it was inexpensive. I've always been told "spend your money up front" meaning at purchace, I should have listened.How ever I do enjoy working on it.What I have leared:

1 Communicate better with the seller,ask for more and better pictures.
2 If its located a great distance from you, get an inspection.
3 Figure the most you can spend, then bid on the best example of what you want.

In its day, the Model A was considered a reliable car with good performance. Henry Ford continued many of the Model T's virtues, and eliminated many of the T's annoying idiosyncrasies. The comparatively light and flimsy look of many of the Model A's parts was a big selling point for Chevrolet, but time has proved that Henry's insistence on keeping weight down was a good idea. However, by today's standards, the Model A has a few points that just aren't considered good enough. Fortunately, there are modern fixes for all of these. So, if you are considering buying a Model A for the first time, you'll want to know about what modifications are available especially if you intend to drive the car on any long trips.

First, the engine, while reliable by early 1930's standards, is short lived by today's. The main weak point is the relatively light duty crankshaft with it's babbit main bearings. High speed driving (anything over about 40-45 MPH) tends to whip out the center main bearing. As these bearings are only replaced by pouring in new babbit metal and line boring, this isn't something you want to happen thousands of miles from home. Fortunately, there are several engine builders who can instal a balanced crankshaft with modern thin-shell insert bearings; a modification that greatly improves the smoothness and performance of the engine, and it is undetectable from the outside, except for the smoother running.

There are several more minor problems that can also be eliminated today. One of these is the fan's propensity to throw off blades through the radiator. Better quality fans are now available along with water pumps that don't leak and throw grease all around the engine compartment.

The original brakes are often criticized, although when they are in good condition and properly adjusted, they are well up to stopping the car safely. Front wheel brake floaters can do wonders for stopping power. The hand brake on the Model A is probably the best ever put on a car and when operating properly, can easily lock up both rear wheels.

Open models, when properly sorted out, are a delight to drive. The noise and vibration from the engine doesn't resonate the way it can in some of the closed bodies. Here again, modern sound proofing materials can help bring down the extreme noise level in the closed bodies.

The Model A's steering can be heavy and vague. The use of a needle bearing steering sector bearing can lighten up the steering, and careful adjusting of the steering gear, drag link and tie rod ends can help the overall feel. Shortened pitman arms are available, and can help lighten the steering.

For higher speed highway driving, there are several options available. These include a higher back axle gear ratio, a conversion to a modern 5-speed transmission, or the addition of an overdrive. With either changing the transmission or adding an overdrive unit, the car will no longer be original, but either is probably a worthwhile modification. Changing the axle ratio will help the cruising speed, but will lower acceleration and hill climbing ability.

The original charging system isn't too bad, but the generator/cutout system has its faults. Long drives can over charge the battery, and reliability was never that good. There are solid state solutions to the common sticking points in the cutout, and there are now alternators available that look like the original generators.

Happy cruising!

When i was a kid there was a old guy in my home town that had a old model A pickup truck , that he used every day . He was a handy man around the town and used the truck to haul his tools in. He gave me a ride in it once and i fell in love with . I have wanted one ever since.
I decided on a sedan because there is more room in them,and i can take more people for a ride. This tudor sedan is going to be a driver, that i can use and injoy.

Great car and easy to find good used and new parts for. Some people are concerned about Model A's overheating. I currently own and drive a 1929 Model A that does not and never has over heated. There are many reasons why a Model A could over heat and most of them are due to people not knowing how to drive, maintain or opererate them correctly. If you want to drive them at posted highway speeds, they will probably over heat. These are extremely fun vehicles to own and to drive if you take care of them. I currently own three Model A's and any problems I have are usually my own fault. I recently drove my 29 Model A on a trip over 560 miles and experienced no problems. I also have it "fine tuned" and can get 25 mpg with it. This is a totally stock Model A without modern improvements.

I love driving it and making sure it looks beautiful! There is not anything I dont like about it. I love old cars and want to own as many as I can afford and have room for.

If the product is to far away to justify travel don't buy it at any price. My experiance is that there are more sellers out there that mis lead or fail to disclose the true of the product. Do not trust inspectors, see it for your self. They strip parts to sell individually until there is nothing left but rusted out shells. Primer and patch the product and take pictures at angles which fail to show the faults.
I have had to replace 90% of the body metal, all the sub frame, all the interior garnish, all door glass and regulators, manufacture metal braces which were not with the car and not available, Complete seats , all roof and body wood along with many additional items to numerous to count.

I always wanted a Model A Ford like my Grandma had when I was a very small child. She drove it and sometimes pushed it. When my son found what he thought was a perfect Model A on Ebay for mom, I decided to try and buy it. It is a sharp lookng blue two-door auto with yellow wheels. Now I am learning to be a good driver with it. The sellers were prepared to sell it and had the car and papers ready when I arrived. They were very helpful and it was a good transaction.

i have been looking for a 1029-1934 hot rod ford pickup for some time. i had previously bid on a 1934. i am so glad i didn't get it. This one came along and i could by the pictures and description that it was for me. it was a long week but i was successful high bidder. it came to me in about 2 weeks. i told the seller i could not be more pleased. i am one happy purchaser that got just what the man said he was selling. larry

The truck hasn`t been shipped/received. I have been waiting on completion of needed repairs to get the truck in running condition in accordance with the Ebay ad. The original owner has communicated the desire to be cooperative in the desire to make good on getting the truck in operating condition. Because of the circumstance described a rating is not feasible at this time. However, since my review could not be accepted unless a rating was completed I have no choice but to provide a low rating sans the specific Model A Truck after having waited for over 30 days for repairs to be made.