Model A

[Patriotic Stabilist]

My husband is wanting an old Model A he saw its a 1929 or 1930, doesn't look bad. They want $7500 for it and he is just drooling, he has looked it over. If we hadn't bought the rental house to remodel and he still needs a big garage I would buy it for him in a minute. He seldom really wants anything and he wants that. I'm about ready to go get it for him. What do you guys think? Are they worth that? He said it still needs some work, I have to see if the thing even runs. I saw a beauty on ebay for less. Sigh, what to do, what to do.

 

[DennisArrow]

As a collector of older BMW motorcycles and Airstream trailer's, it's a follow your heart type of thing. Have found that unless I pay some really outlandish high price for the thing that if I need to I will get my money back from someone out there who is also emotionally motivated. Yes, getting the best deal is totally important; but finding that is often the impossible. If my wife got me this for a gift, surely she would never hear about me looking at that horse's teeth............God bless......Dennis

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

We have two Silver Streaks, I wanted those and we have had little time to do anything with them.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

coupe, roadster, sedan, truck?? condition??

is the gas tank full of rust? does it need tires? does it come with extra stuff? has it been filled with bondo and is ready to come back through?

lots of things to consider.....

i like to play with ole' fords....hence my user name on here...

 

[Stimw]

The sad part? It sold for about $400. brand new!!!!!!!!!

 

[ultrarunner]

I've got about a dozen Model A's in various states of repair... some are future projects and others are good enough to show. My first car was a 1929 Town Sedan and I bought it at age 12.

Prices are all over the place. I was the youngest member of the local chapter of the Model A Ford Club 35 years ago and I think I'm still the youngest.

Price depends of model and condition.

Generally, any of the open models cost more to buy than a closed body style. Some of the closed body styles also cost more to restore because there is a lot more to the upholstery of a Town Sedan than a Roadster.

30-31 Models seem to have a slight edge on popularity over the 28-29. Mechanically, they are basically the same.

Parts are widely available... over 5 million model A's were built and a large number survive today... 80 years later.

Tudor Sedans and Closed Cab Pick-ups are generally at the lower end of the price scale.

5 window coupes with rumble seats are in the mid-range, followed closely by restored 4 door sedans. Roadsters, Phaetons and convertible sedans are on the high end.

If your husband is interested, I'd say you can have a lot of fun with one.

Many of the families of Club Members enjoy the club activities... there is always someplace to go at least once a month on tour and club members are very willing to help with getting another Model A on the road.

Some in my Bay Area California Chapter have driven the Alaska Highway, East Coast to West Coast and Canada to Louisiana while touring...

Working on a Model A is very much like working on an older tractor! It may sound counter intuitive... but the real value is not so much as to whether the car runs as much as it is in the condition of the body and upholstery and paint...

The Texas chapters are some of the most active in the country... so you will be in very good company.

 

[LBrown59]

My husband is wanting an old Model A he saw its a 1929 or 1930, doesn't look bad. They want $7500 for it and he is just drooling, he has looked it over. If we hadn't bought the rental house to remodel and he still needs a big garage I would buy it for him in a minute. He seldom really wants anything and he wants that. I'm about ready to go get it for him. What do you guys think? Are they worth that? He said it still needs some work, I have to see if the thing even runs. I saw a beauty on ebay for less. Sigh, what to do, what to do.

My cousin has a 1929 30 or 31 Model A Ford.
It's the one His dad /my uncle bought and restored back around the mid 50s.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

for the record, and being this is closely related...

i have a complete, from the water pumps to the tail end of the transmision and from the oil pan to the 81 stromberg carb (no generator though), V8 60hp flathead engine that i'd like to trade for a model A coupe body....

i really miss my roadster and would like to build a coupe next....

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Hubby must have looked at it closer, he said it had to many issues. Hope we can find him a better one later when he has time to mess with it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hubby must have looked at it closer, he said it had to many issues. Hope we can find him a better one later when he has time to mess with it.

Put the word out and maybe join the Model A Club and local chapter.

There are lots of guys willing to help evaluate prospects to make sure your getting a square deal.

The alternative is to piece one together from a basket case. Complete Chassis turn up every now and then. Most often someone is building a street rod and has no use for the mechanicals.

You might also want to go to some of the local swap meets... no telling what might show up.

One word of advice... it is often less expensive to buy a well restored car than it is to restore one yourself... the key is finding a car that truly is well restored...

A Model A with stock mechanical brakes can be made to stop very well if the time is taken to go through the original brake system. Beware of some of the hydraulic conversions because hydraulics tend to deteriorate from age and not from use... so sitting around is very hard on hydraulic brakes.

 

[ultrarunner]

Here's a picture of my 31 Model A Pickup pieced together from left over parts I had...

The picture is taken on Treasure Island with the San Francisco Skyline in the background.

The 29 Sport Coupe to the right is one I sold a few years back...

The second picture is the twin of my 30 Model A Dlx Roadster...

Both cars are stock and not modified. The Pick-up would normally have a black painted radiator shell instead of the stainless... I went with stainless because that's what I had...