Good video! As a then young (23 Years old in 1991) son of a Model A Dad I drove his 1931 Model A coupe to Indianapolis with a few club members from Maryland for the MARC 1991 National Meet. All I had was a Sony cassette Walkman with a few of my favorite tape mix music cassettes to listen too. To save the Walkman battery power I used a #2 pencil to insert into the tapes to rewind them while driving! I sure wish I had Suzie's creature comfort electronics back then!!! But now being 56 years old I enjoy taking my Dad's 1931 coupe (that he "gave" to me for $1 before passing away) and our 1931 Slant Windshield Fordor sedan on the back roads of south-central Pennsylvania without all the modern conveniences and enjoy the scenery without a #2 pencil!!
when my brother and i were kids we had an old model A woody wagon we used to mess around with but we never got it on the road. we both went in the military after highschool and my parents got rid of it after we left. we would get it running and drive it around, i remember the gas tank kinda being behind the dashboard.
They did not really change the Model A from late '30 to early '31. The new '31 models were the deluxe slant window types introduced to attract Depression buyers who could not afford a higher priced car. These models were not available until about mid '31. All the late '30 types carried over into early '31 or longer. Ford did not stop using the stock of old parts & a fresh new model each year was not the usual until later into the decade. The '31 radiator shell did not become used exclusively until after March in USA ; it was a cost cutting method as less s/s used & easier to make than the '30 s/s one. The later dash/tank, & one piece valance were introduced in late '30. The true indicator of a '31 model is the ' indented ' firewall with the fuel tap on it & this appeared about May 1931! Keep up the good work with your videos. Cheers.
Thank you so much for your input and educating me!! There was some details I missed and accuracy is very important to me. I am learning a lot and enjoying every minute of it! Once again thank you for your comments and please take care and I look forward to next time -Josh
4:48 the car on the right in the video has some type of tray with stamped ribs under the radiator shell and with the car on the left, the radiator shell has a rounded bottom with no tray in front of the radiator shell.
Just a comment about the instrument panels. The style with the round speedometer was introduced in June 1930, so a 1930 Model A could have either. Your 1930 is an early one built in the first half of the year.
The 2 levers on the left are a turn signal, and the smaller one is the spark advance lever. The one in the center of the steering wheel is for the lights. Thank you for watching!
1:54 those two cars have different aluminum step plates mounted to the running boards. Maybe those were a dealer accessory or aftermarket, but they are different on your two vehicles here.
Early 31 (built until march) has a flat firewall, just like 30s (gas opening inside). Late 31 has indented firewall (gas opening outside). The gas tank changed on march, so they had to change some parts to fit it in there.
No, the Model A Ford did not come standard with turn signals. Turn signals weren't widely adopted as standard equipment on vehicles until later, around the 1930s and 1940s.
I'm a Dodge man to the core, but the 1931 car is far & away the better of the two. Not just the radiator shell, but many other features as well. But in the end [tongue in cheek] it's 'just' a Ford anyway. You keep making video's & I'll keep watching.
Production was down as Chevrolet was outselling Ford because of their "buy a six for the price of a four!" Advertising campaign. Pop the hood on that 31 and see if the firewall has the late 31 teardrop indentation for the external fuel shut off.
The '30 instrument dash should not be polished chrome plated, it should be a brushed finish, sometimes referred to as a "Butler Finish" -- and actually the '31 style dash is also Butler Finished. Also the finish on the dash rail in both cars is not authentic, nice, but not correct!
You are correct. The video should be described as differences of these particular cars. Not necessarily the differences for the model years because there so many nuances about that. Thank you commenting
This was useful thank you. It’s only when you have them side by side that the subtle differences notice. 😊
Thanks for watching!
Good video! As a then young (23 Years old in 1991) son of a Model A Dad I drove his 1931 Model A coupe to Indianapolis with a few club members from Maryland for the MARC 1991 National Meet. All I had was a Sony cassette Walkman with a few of my favorite tape mix music cassettes to listen too. To save the Walkman battery power I used a #2 pencil to insert into the tapes to rewind them while driving! I sure wish I had Suzie's creature comfort electronics back then!!! But now being 56 years old I enjoy taking my Dad's 1931 coupe (that he "gave" to me for $1 before passing away) and our 1931 Slant Windshield Fordor sedan on the back roads of south-central Pennsylvania without all the modern conveniences and enjoy the scenery without a #2 pencil!!
Wonderful story! Like it! Thank you for sharing
In September of 1930 the one piece splash apron was introduced so some 1930's are the same as the '31's.
Gotcha! Thank you for letting me know
i like the chrome radiator shell over the one with the black panel.
I appreciate that! Thanks for commenting
when my brother and i were kids we had an old model A woody wagon we used to mess around with but we never got it on the road. we both went in the military after highschool and my parents got rid of it after we left. we would get it running and drive it around, i remember the gas tank kinda being behind the dashboard.
I bet that was cool model A! I like stories like that. Thank you for sharing.
They did not really change the Model A from late '30 to early '31. The new '31 models were the deluxe slant window types introduced to attract Depression buyers who could not afford a higher priced car. These models were not available until about mid '31. All the late '30 types carried over into early '31 or longer. Ford did not stop using the stock of old parts & a fresh new model each year was not the usual until later into the decade. The '31 radiator shell did not become used exclusively until after March in USA ; it was a cost cutting method as less s/s used & easier to make than the '30 s/s one. The later dash/tank, & one piece valance were introduced in late '30. The true indicator of a '31 model is the ' indented ' firewall with the fuel tap on it & this appeared about May 1931! Keep up the good work with your videos. Cheers.
Thank you so much for your input and educating me!! There was some details I missed and accuracy is very important to me. I am learning a lot and enjoying every minute of it! Once again thank you for your comments and please take care and I look forward to next time
-Josh
4:48 the car on the right in the video has some type of tray with stamped ribs under the radiator shell and with the car on the left, the radiator shell has a rounded bottom with no tray in front of the radiator shell.
Correct! The 31 does have a aftermarket tool box in the front
Just a comment about the instrument panels. The style with the round speedometer was introduced in June 1930, so a 1930 Model A could have either. Your 1930 is an early one built in the first half of the year.
Thank you for letting me know. I want to be as accurate as possible.
What is the arm for on the top left side of the instrument panel on the 31 ? Thanks!
The 2 levers on the left are a turn signal, and the smaller one is the spark advance lever. The one in the center of the steering wheel is for the lights. Thank you for watching!
1:54 those two cars have different aluminum step plates mounted to the running boards. Maybe those were a dealer accessory or aftermarket, but they are different on your two vehicles here.
Yes! That’s correct
Early 31 (built until march) has a flat firewall, just like 30s (gas opening inside). Late 31 has indented firewall (gas opening outside). The gas tank changed on march, so they had to change some parts to fit it in there.
Our 31 does have the flat firewall! Thanks for the info!
What is the different splash panel in front of the radiator you have on the ‘31?
That is actually a aftermarket tool box that fits in that space. Thanks for watching!
The turn signals were factory provided
No, the Model A Ford did not come standard with turn signals. Turn signals weren't widely adopted as standard equipment on vehicles until later, around the 1930s and 1940s.
Not legally required by DOT until 1958
Personally, I think the 1927 to 29 Model A was a better looking car. They're a very popular car here in the UK.
Thanks for watching!
I've always preferred the extra stainless steel at the top of the 1930 rad shell.
Fact Check: 1930 Model A cars had a round speedo as well and the same dash panel.. From June onwards. The round speedo was not unique to the 31.
Thanks for the correction!
2:55 Turn signal not stock so mine on left like most cars.
Thanks for watching the video!
Didn't some late 1930's have the 1931 Dash?
From what I have learned since this video, they can have the round speedometer after June of 1930
I'm a Dodge man to the core, but the 1931 car is far & away the better of the two. Not just the radiator shell, but many other features as well. But in the end [tongue in cheek] it's 'just' a Ford anyway.
You keep making video's & I'll keep watching.
Thanks!! I am partial to the 31 myself!
I wish you were my neighbor. We would be good friends! Great video.
I appreciate it that! Thanks for watching!
The 30 radiator cowling looks much better than the 31😊.
Mabel is good looking car!
Production was down as Chevrolet was outselling Ford because of their "buy a six for the price of a four!" Advertising campaign. Pop the hood on that 31 and see if the firewall has the late 31 teardrop indentation for the external fuel shut off.
I checked , no teardrop indent
@@ModelAForAday
Ahhh, ok, so that means it's not a late 31 but an earlier 31
@@danielbuckner2167 thanks for teaching me!
The '30 instrument dash should not be polished chrome plated, it should be a brushed finish, sometimes referred to as a "Butler Finish" -- and actually the '31 style dash is also Butler Finished. Also the finish on the dash rail in both cars is not authentic, nice, but not correct!
Thank you for letting me know! There is so much to learn about these cars
My dad had a '30 coupe. I don't have a preference between '30 and '31. I prefer the '28-'29 radiator. I think the '30-'31 looks a little too tall.
Oh wow I didn’t know that
Thanks for watching!
I see a Sleestak.
I had to search what is a Sleestak 😂 Are you talking about a fictional creature from the classic 1970s sci-fi TV series Land of the Lost?
30!
I appreciate the effort but covering add ons and after market items....really not the video for this.
You are correct. The video should be described as differences of these particular cars. Not necessarily the differences for the model years because there so many nuances about that. Thank you commenting
Isnt it his video? Seems like on his channel and in his video its "the video" for whatever he wants...
@tradrodsandcustoms yep but the title wasted my time. My opinion and I can post what I believe, yep
@@tntgators interesting perspective ya got there...
31
Your audio is terrible
Got a mic for the next one. Thank you for commenting
Which one looks best? The '32,😂😂 ha ha, just joking, the '29 looks best. 😂😂
To be honest I definitely wouldn’t mind a 32 or a 29 😂! Thanks for watching!
So your saying with a speaker they had a radio
34 Lincoln was the first with a radio
The 31 has a aftermarket blue tooth speaker. Not original equipment. Apologies for mis speaking