PLEASE READ! So many comments about the wheel color. The wheels and pinstripe are "Hessian Blue". This is the exact color they came from the factory. The body is "Lombard Blue" and black. All the paint on this car was color matched to factory paint chips for authenticity. Thank you!
Oh come on.... a millennial would have seen plenty of older cars that were from the 1980's and so on, cars their family drove around, which did not have power windows.
@@wheelieblind You're right, and I still remember when my Father bought a 1979 454 powered Chevrolet Bonanza 10 pickup. It had power windows and I remember thinking it's the first truck I ever saw that didn't have hand operated windows. I think till the 80's almost everyone had no power windows.
I drove Grampa Birt's Model A when I was 10 years old. I looked under the steering wheel. One day, as we were leaving Oxford , Nebraska, where I grew up, I looked on my left and saw a red light flashing. It was a patrolman. He came to the car, leaned in the window and asked, "How old are you son?" I said 10. He looked at Gampa Birt and said "do you think he's old enough to drive?" Grampa said, "probably not"..... Years later, after Grampa Birt died, my aunt found a receipt for the fine Gampa Birt paid. Great memories of Gampa Birt and his model A. Today, I'm 85 but the memories of that car are fresh in my mind. Cheers, jerry
Your Model A is BEAUTIFUL! My '63 Ford Falcon, my '67 Plymoth Valiant, my '72 Fiat 128, my '87 Honda CRX all had window cranks. LOVE YOUR POST, though.
I live in Northern Michigan. An elderly gent who lives here drove his Model A to Alaska a few years ago with only one incident. He was driving along a remote highway in Alaska when the steering got a little loose. He noticed a service station just then and pulled in. The mechanic was standing outside and saw him drive in. He directed the gent. into a bay where he proceeded to work on the car. When the repair was done, the old fellow, surprised that the mechanic said nothing about a Model A pulling in, said "What do think?", pointing to the car. The mechanic said "I would have thought you'd have something newer by now." and went about his business.
It's hard for younger people to imagine, but before the Interstate Highway system in the late '50s, early '60s, cruising around at 45 or 50 mph was FINE, all that was required.
That is a beautiful car. I'm now 76 and a retired former motor mechanic in England. When I was 15, too young to drive in Britain, I had several old cars on my dad's smallholding, including a 1934 Morris Eight. Although I couldn't drive them on a public road, my mates and I taught ourselves to drive across dusty fields and along farm tracks. I was taking engines apart and putting them back together. It was such fun. Cars were so simple back then. When I look under the bonnet (hood) of a modern car, including my own small Suzuki, I don't know where to begin. I wish I could afford a Ford Model A. After my apprenticeship I moved to Germany for 10 years working for Ford in Cologne so I know from first hand how Ford thinks and operates. The legacy of Henry Ford lived on still in 1969 and probably still does today. Thanks for this fascinating view of the Model A. Very satisfying.
@@waynepollard6879 Surely the other way round? We call it an engine. A motor is an electric motor. We call the cover over the engine a bonnet, not hood. And we place luggage in the boot, not the trunk. A trunk is either a large case for transporting one's worldly goods on a ship, or it's part of an elephant.
Now THAT’s dedication to your car! I’ve not been so loyal to one car. At 37, I have had many cars in my 21 years of “Fahrvergnügen” (as the Germans might say… I’ve had a ‘95 Chevy Blazer, ‘99 Dodge Dakota, ‘03 Toyota Camry, ‘08 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and now a ‘20 Jeep Gladiator. I salute you for picking a car, and staying with it! P.S.: I also salute you for being in your 80’s and being able to use TH-cam! Way to go, dude! I like your style!
Paul, it was good to see you at Gilmore. As a long time Ford T owner with thousands of T miles behind me, I'm really enjoying our first Model A, the original paint and interior 30 Briggs Fordor that you saw at Model A Days. The most interesting thing to me, is that the A is such a great car because of the T. Ford had all of the things in place to manufacture quality parts and build cars, because of the success of the T. His best trait was that he surrounded himself with good people. He had forests, sawmills, sheep farms for wool, ships for iron ore, the Rouge Plant to make very high quality steel and iron. He was even making his own glass. He obviously hung on to the design of the T way too long, and every other manufacturer offered vehicles far advanced over the 1908 designed Ford. When the A went into production, the price was not raised substantially over the T, because everything was in motion. The A truly is a fantastic vehicle!
I'm an air-cooled VW Beetle driver, I totally appreciate you perspectives here. It's a very similar experience. No bells, no whistles, no computers, just man and machine. Much love brother.
I had two VW Beetles, one after the other. The second one was a Weltmeister model in metallic light blue with sculpted wheels, and VW built a limited edition to celebrate beating the Ford Model T production record of 15 million vehicles. One of these is for sale at 24,950 euros!
Yup. Never drove an A, but I learned to drive, mostly, in a Bug - and learned the beginnings of maintenance with one, too. Wish I could have owned one. I recall them being very “fun.”
You forgot to mention that the Model A was a multi-fuel vehicle and can run on alcohol since you can adjust the fuel mixture. Also, If you pull up on the gear shift lever, you can rotate the gear shift to be parallel with the dash board for comfort of a third passenger in the middle of the front seat. My family has a 1929 Ford Model four door Phaeton convertible which is stock and still runs. I drove it to high school every day back in the 1960's.
The 1930 Model A sedan I bought in 1960 for $85 was near perfect. My first car, and my most memorable auto, hands down. Not only was it beautiful, but it more fun to drive than anything I've seen since. I loved that car.
Just love that car. It was my first car: 1931 coupe. It was in 1969 and the ol' girl was already 38 years old; I rebuilt it and it just worked and worked. Beautifully simple and you drove with it. Nowadays I'm an old man and I ride a vintage motorcycle but I remember my five window coupe with love.
My father was a farmer and a mechanic. We had three Model A pickups in the Fifties because they were cheap, reliable transportation and addressed his need on the dirt roads of Kansas. I am not even certain that they had a tag. Sometimes, on the way home from chores at the dairy farm, Dad would make it backfire and pop and bang. He was adjusting the spark advance, and it took me a little bit to catch on to what he was doing. He would let me release the brake handle on the floor and told me about the choke. One time, as an eight year old, he asked me to drive a Model AA Truck along side some feed bunkers in the snow while he scooped off the insilage. These are memories money cannot buy. We moved away from the farm in 1960 when I was not quite nine.
I had a 1930 (I think) pickup in my teens. I have stories and memories. One thing is perplexing though. I NEVER had decent brakes. I was just a lad, and I worked and I worked at adjusting the 4 different length brake rods to synchronize the pedal pressure to the wheels. I never did get it right and often got around on one or two braking wheels. No confidence there. Thanks Paul for this beautiful ride. Nostalgia is alive and well!
I am now driving my fifth Model A and have now put 38,000 miles on it. Ford built about 4.5 million Models A's and there are about 500.0o0 still on the road. The quality of the materials and the excellent design have made this an outstanding car.
Some may know, the car was designed by Edsel, who struggled under Henry's supervision. Henry engineered the motor but was unable to obtain the desired 40 hp. Edsel had not participated at that point, he looked it over and said, "the valves are too small".
Another way you could start one if you lost your crank was to jack up one rear wheel, put it in third gear and give the wheel a flip. Also, I found about my 32 B model, if you are stranded in the country with no gas station nearby they will run on kerosene or acetone (paint remover) well enough to get you to a station. I love the chortle of the exhaust at cruising speed. My latest, the B model topped out at 50, but why rush when you are having fun? Possibly the best thing about the car is that you can work on it without a degree in computer engineering. Some day some rich genius may start building the Model A again and run a bunch of car builders out of business.
Thank you for your beautiful Modeĺ À and showing how to crank çorrectly. Watched one utube video in horror, where the guy grabbed it like a base ball bat.. 2 handed then stood over the crank handle and started winding it with both hands locked like he was winding a watch. Not realizing even a half turn of a back fire will brake both bones in his arms and can kill you if that steel handle hits your head. 40 hp not something you want to try doing wrong,,. Thank you for showing the proper way to use the Ford Crank perfectĺy...with out explaining the hazard of injury. Ps there are 53 different steel blends in the steels used in a Model A. Stainless to cast iron. That's the rèason there are so many more Ford's not Chevrolet's or GM's on the road today. Most parts are available. Drive on,
Hi Paul my name is Travis and i would like to know if i can own a Ford model a living in a condo building and you're not allowed to do work on your car but I have a Canadian tire and a oil and lube shop just up the road and i want to drive it every day besides winter and this is going to be my only car and my dad thinks it's a bad idea to get a model a he says it's going to be a pain to keep care of but that is why i am massaging you because you have three ford model a cars so who better to ask so is it possible to take care of a ford model a were i live i would love to know because the model a is a dream that I want to come true i really don't care for modern cars so not my style
Travis, Let's be realistic here. A Model A requires routine maintenance. More than your modern jellybean with wheels. Unless you have a fully enclosed garage and a few tools, you should hold off. Someday when you settle down and own a home with a garage, then you'll be ready to own a Model A. At the very least, find a place to live where you can work on your own car. That's a basic human right!
Great review. When I finally got to drive an original A, I was truly amazed at how much it was a "real car." The T got you there, but it was a terribly crude contrivance. The A, as you note, is perfectly adequate for everyday driving. The starting ritual isn't particularly different from starting a modern airplane, and it's less demanding than modern turbines. Yes, it doesn't have very good brakes by today's standards, and its lack of power steering means you have to use heavier inputs, but yes, it's a "real car," able to do whatever you reasonably need.
As I said to a M-A owning friend, a surefire way to prove how good these cars were, is by checking out how many of the competing cars are left., it takes only a good look at any antique show to see that the As have survived in droves, while contemporary Chevys are as rare as Whippets!
I loved this! Great Video! In 1971, my father and my uncle went halves and purchased a '29 Tudor that we kept in our garage. Dad took it out occasionally to drive around the neighborhood, but never really drove it much beyond that. It was, of course totally un-restored, and had the spare set into the left front fender, and a trunk on the back. We joined the MARC, and always went to the MARC shows at Ford's Greenfield Village near Detroit. When I was 17 and attending trade school for auto mechanics, dad gave me the car and said "restore it and it's yours." So I took the engine out, and took it to the trade school where I completely rebuilt it... except one thing - we never got around to the babbit bearings. in 1981, I joined the Navy after HS graduation. A couple years later, a man saw it in the garage and asked dad what he wanted for it (still disassembled like I had left it). Dad said, it's my son's and I won't sell it... so the man wrote a number on a piece of paper and handed it to dad. Dad said "Bring a trailer!" (it was twice what dad had paid for it in 1971). I still have very fond memories of that car... and one day when I can afford it, I'll get a 28 or 29 Phaeton, my favorite Model A!
Your Model A enthusiasm is infectious. Thank you for bringing back some of my cherished memories of riding in my cousin's 4-door Model A in the late 1960's and reflecting on my high school best friend's 1930 2-door Model A in 1971 when we graduated.
I bought a 1929 Model A Tudor for $50 from a farmer in 1953 while a junior in high school. It was a good car but the worst feature were the mechanical brakes. I could never adjust them to the point of locking up the wheels. I had some close calls as a result. The longest trip I took it on was fm Seattle, WA to Enterprise, OR to work for the US Forest Service the summer of 1956. It was an 888 mile round trip via I-84. One could buy many parts then fm Sears. I put on a Krager downdraft manifold and carb plus a high capacity water pump enabling me to remove the cooling fan w/o overheating. Top speed for my car was abt 65 mph.
Loved the video! Was in Kanab UT a few years ago when a national club was passing through. The guy in the motel room next to me had a 1931 Model A. He gave me a review of the car. I loved it! What's significant to me is that my house was built in 1931. I like to imagine a 1931 Model A parked out front when my house was new.
I took my mom to a quaint antique car show in Northern Michigan some years ago when she was in her 80's.... as we walked down the sidewalk (she with her walker) she smiled and pointed to both the Model T and the A, immediately recognizing them as cars she drove in her late teens & 20s. She proceeded to tell me what it was like to drive them in the snowy hills of the Allegany Mts. in northern PA... it gave me a whole new perspective on my mom, who later on never wanted to get out and pump her own gas! Thanks for the thorough explanation of how this car works. I think the airflow design through the windshield & vents was brilliant.
Restored and drove a 1931 on Cape Cod, and used it as a daily vehicle. Love the dance when you have to start her cold. What a great and practical car. Nothing extra and easy to repair. Lebaron Bonnie helped a lot, out of Boston with the upholstery. Nice job of explaining the simple elegance of the 28-31 Model A.
Nice video Paul, very interesting and factual. It accurately conveys the feeling of driving an antique car in today’s traffic. I did notice there was one item that you got wrong though - the foot rest indeed is there for a purpose. Remember, the accelerator on these cars is a simple direct mechanical linkage from the body of the car to the carburetor, not “hovering” over the floor boards or connected by wires as in newer cars. A good stiff bump or dip on a dirt road will cause the body of the car to move quickly in the vertical plane. The driver will also move vertically, but at a different rate and timing than that of the car body because of the seat springs. If you drive the car with your heel on the floor boards and the ball of your foot on the accelerator (as is modern car practice), this difference in vertical movement will cause the angle between the leg and foot to change, which causes a positional change of the accelerator, and thus the speed of the car. Usually a “bucking bronco” type of ride results as the driver tries to compensate following each bump or dip. This angular change is spread over the approximately 9” between your heel and ball of your foot. If you put the right side of your foot on the foot rest and the ball of your foot on the accelerator, the angular change is now spread roughly over only 2-1/2”. This results in considerably less movement and more stabilized positioning of the accelerator pedal on the same road and speed. So that foot rest is indeed there for a very specific and necessary purpose. Again, great video.
I waited quite awhile to watch the most popular video on your channel. Mainly because the title didn't grab me. But, I'm glad I watched it today. During the driving section one thing was evident - your PASSION for the model A. That really sells this video. Congrats & here's to a million views.
My stepfather bought a Model A when he was 14, with the intent of turning it into a hot-rod, but he didn't get around to it. It sat in a garage from 1960 to 2015. He had it worked on, and now it runs like new. Except for the wiper and tires, it is all original, even the paint-the mechanic advised to leave it original.
I drove an early ‘30 Model A standard rumble-seat coupe as my everyday work car for 7 years. I was a member of the only dual-affiliated club, as far as I know, in the nation. It was the Model A Restorers Club/Model A Ford Club of America (MARC/MAFCA) of San Diego, Ca. I also drove it to week end meets and caravans. I held minor officer positions in the club and became a real aficionado of the Model A Ford. Alas, the Navy transferred me overseas and I had to part with it. Back then (‘80-‘86 timeframe) there were still half a million Model As registered in the United States. Thanks for this video. It really brought back many fond memories.
It's beautiful. I'm class of 65 and my first car was a 36 3 window coupe with rumble seat and a kool little flathead twin mag engine. Same tranny. Listening to you describe all those ( common to me) strange oid fasion proceedures just made me smile. I grew up with cars from the 20s to 60s. You did the best review on this precious beauty with love and respect. I can't think of anyone else coming even close to your review. Thsnks for the sweet moments remembering America.
16:40 For the uninitiated, when he says that the Model A has "Great Engine Braking" what he means is that the car does not coast forward when you take your foot off the gas pedal. The engine RPM will drop suddenly when the gas pedal is let off, and thus the whole car also slows down as well. EDIT. and to clarify at 17:00 when he says that it does a good job of slowing you down when you let off the brake... well, he misspoke, and he meant to say "let off the gas"
My first car when I was 16 was a 1929 Model A Coup (hardtop). I am currently 84. I bought it used, of course, from a farmer who had had it tucked away for 20 years in his barn. That made it 23 years old when I bought it, thus it was already an antique. It was black, of course, but the first thing I did was make a trip to the local junkyard to swap the 21" spoke wheels for five 1940 16" disc wheels. (The lug spacing was exactly the same.) Tires for 21" wheels were no longer mass-produced, which made the few that were available very expensive. On those disc wheels, I put 600 x 16 tires, "used"... what else? The second thing I did to that car was paint it canary yellow everywhere it was black, and then painted 5" diameter purple pokadots all over the yellow. The girls loved it, and of course, that was the method to my madness. I left the top black, because it had a rubber covering instead of all steel. You didn't mention that all Model A's had a 6-volt system, and when you let up on the gas at night, the lights would almost go out, because the battery was charged with a generator, and not an alternator. So the third thing I did was rip out the 6-volt system and replace it with a 12-volt generator, battery and a voltage regulator. I drove that thing for two years before I went off to college. Incidentally, I bought it for $60 from the farmer but sold it to a buddy for three cases of beer. But I had $6,000 worth of fun in it. Thanks for the memories.
I bought a 31 Sports Coupe in 1955 and it had the 16-nch wheels and bigger tires on it. Paid $40 for it. Can't recall what the insurance was. The small town I lived had a softball tournament with a gravel road around the outfield. Parked for a while and for some reason the girls we not coming to see the car. Then accelerated hard and as the rear axle was bouncing up and down on the "washboard" the driver's side rear wheel came off and accelerated ahead. In stopping the left rear axle of the car settled to the ground. The crowd in the bleachers roared with laughter. The story became even more humiliating, but the problem was that while the bolt pattern seemed to fit, something was wrong. The other 3 wheels had cracks radiating out from the hole. Bob Hoye
Good morning Paul your video was such a gift to me, my dad restored 1931 model a coupe when I was just four years old . my dad just passed away two months ago at 92 and left sweet Sally 1931 model A to me. My husband is a mechanic but has never driven her so this morning will be his first time. I see that you might live in Sonora and we live in Modesto
Yes, we are near each other. I am so sorry about your dad. I'd suggest you guys come over and get proper Model A driving instruction if possible. Email me (it's in the video).
I always rode motorcycles the same way, look well ahead and have a plan if someone pulls right in front of you or comes out of nowhere. I love your Model A. It looks like a real pleasure to drive.
The BEST American car ever made! Had to sell mine when I went overseas after college, but I still dream of driving one again (70 years later). Someone in the comments mentioned the tall, skinny tires. One day, I was driving along this country road and came upon a muddy patch of road wherein there was a large Cadillac stuck up to its hubs in goo, and me and my Model A chugged right on by! I loved that car!
I've always loved the Ford Model A ever since my teen age neighbor Freddie Bell had one. It was about 1945. I was four years old, and I told my parents that when I grew up I wanted a car like Freddie had. Since then I've owned four of them, two coupes and two sedans. Of the five million that were made, several sources estimate the number of "A Model Fords" remaining at between 50,000 to 100,000. With a few modifications the car would still be useful transportation today. In seven more years this model Ford will be 100 years old. Keep on rolling well into the future.
@@punman5392 You really don't have to engine brake in the Prius as the regenerative system results in brakes lasting far longer than other cars. I'd be a lot more worried that you're stressing the CVT (transmission) as that would be a very expensive repair.
@@richardgray8593 Being a Toyota you may be correct. Especially since Toyota named it B for Braking. It seems to me that B-mode would be most favorable in city traffic where the Prius' consumes the most electricity, as B-mode seems to have the strongest regenerative output, or would it be input.
Best video I've seen on the 31 Model A. Not only do you go over it in detail, you actually relay the enthusiasm that a Model A brings! I have a "31 Tudor sedan and I think I'll have it til the end. Thank you so much for your videos.
1920s a 100 years ago, I can't believe how good the model A is. It must have been just space age stuff back then. It sounds pretty good too. Thanks for making this video. Makes me appreciate my econobox quite a lot for how old school and agricultural, simple and rugged it is. Model A does make people happy. 100 years is superb reliability indeed!
'75 AMC Hornet wagon here. My rear window defroster was a desk fan with a switch wired to the dash. Complete with 232 I6 and TF904, it was moderately gutless, but it was MINE. Until I tried to cut down a telephone pole with it not even a full month after getting my license. :)
My dad restored antique cars as his hobby so I grew up with T's and A's, and even a few Buicks. My first car was a '34 Ford 4-door sedan. Loved your video. It brings back a ton of fond memories. Thanks so much.
My dad decided not to buy the garaged, nice brass-era Model T for $15., because the widow wouldn't put a new battery in it. I ended up scrimping and saving to buy a Model A for $1,100
Just picked up a 1930 Coupe with my mom. She always wanted one and we found a really nice one that just needs the basics to be street ready. Your videos are a big help, THANKS!
True ! In 1969 I needed to get to my University of NH early morning classes in my '30 Model A , but there had been a heavy snowstorm . Nobody had driven, everyone was waiting for the snowplows. With snow past the hubs, I took off and was surprised the Model A drove normally, ignoring the snow. I looked to the rear and saw why- it was cutting two narrow little tracks in the drifts and cruising right along.. I almost sold that Coupe a number of times, but I never could. 55 yrs. later and I still love it.
Kudos....nice job on the video. I too am a daily Model A driver. I've done the 165 mph deal, in fact 600,000 + miles in 911 'P' cars. That being said driving a Model A Ford is a Symbiotic 'relationship' not a a point a to be conveyance. When asked about the 'physicality' of driving my A I inform/remind the asker that only 16 years before my car was made (1930) most people RODE HORSES!! Drive one and you'll fall in love with the 'event' After just a few cessions you'll one again or probable for the first time understand why people went just for 'a drive' (and you'll be planning the same thing) Great JOb!
Very well done Paul enjoyed your video . My first car was a Model A Ford in 1958 it cost 25 dollars I was 16 It came in pieces and I put it together with help from my Hi School friend Tom who knew more about it than I did . I have had several Model A Fords over 60 years Tudor sedan , Special Coupe ,Truck and now a 1929 Phaeton which I have owned now for 15 years . I agree it is the best car EVER Bob in Cassopolis Michigan .
I just found your channel yesterday, Paul - sent over by Derrick from Vice Grip Garage. That car of yours is absolutely stunning! I think that color combo is beyond beautiful! I am envious... and there isn't much in this life I envy others for. Great vids, and carry on!
Man I love your Chanel , the model A is why I’ve become a car enthusiast, ever since I was a kid the model A is what started it all for me and is how I learned to drive a stick , at 21 years of age I couldn’t even name a single human being my age that shares the love and obsession I have for model As , if it wasn’t for the model A I don’t know what I would do , it is my dream car and hope to own one as soon as I can ! , I would love to hang with you and share our love for these As and wrench on your As with you and learn any knowledge I don’t already know from you , keep up the great videos man I’m always excited to see a new video posted !
My father was an enthusiast and we always had Model A’s in the 60’s and 70’s. A 29 metal roof Rumbleseat Coupe and a an unrestored 30 Fordor sedan. We went everywhere. In the 80’s he bought himself a perfect 4 door convertible Phaeton. Thanks for a great vid and the memories.
Thank you. I once had a long conversation with a fellow who had a two door sedan. It was the only car he had ever owned, having inherited it from his father. Stored winters, 12V conversion, hydraulic brakes and a heater (it was in Vermont). Very cool. Thanks again.
Paul, I wish you could have met my Dad, named Paul! Born in 1924, he grew up with a Model A as THE car, and he loved to tell stories about his and his buddies' escapades in that car as teenagers. Then he would get real sober, and turn to me and say, "Now don't you try any of that crazy stuff!" Many thanks for sharing a ride in THE car with me!
The Ramblin Wreck of Georgia Tech is a 1930 Ford Model A Coupe and all Tech people love her. Ford refurbished our Wreck several times and she leads our Football Team onto the field every game.
Yes, fully aware. The Ramblin Wreck is a 1930 Sport Coupe. Slight modification to the running boards and supports to support cheerleaders when taking the field. Go GT!!!
It reminds me of my 1981 Mercedes 240d diesel. Simple, indestructible, and you can still work on these cars. I see Ford Model A cars all the time in our area during late fall, winter and early spring in the San Joaquin Valley.
Paul, I love ❤️ your dark blue, sport coupe Awesome. When I was 17, I had a 1931 Model A dark green w/light apple green wheels & pinstripes same color as the wheels. Spare tire on the back w/a vinyl tire cover, that had the Ford emblem on top of vinyl cover. A sticker in back window they said original Ford Parts, in blue & white. The Seat & rumble was naugahyda covered like a vinyl. The Model a was completely restored like new, the man that owned passed & left it to me at 17 years of age. I drove it for 2 years & then traded it in at a Chevrolet Dealer Ship, & ordered a brand new 1975 Camaro, Type LT completely loaded with all the options. I loved the Model A but was so young & did not know how to service it or maintain it. It broke down one day 😢 and I was lost, did not know how to fix it 😢. The dealer gave me $6,000.00 as a trade in.😊
We had a '31 2 door sedan in 1960 in Nebraska. There were a few times during the winter that our 1959 Rambler wouldn't start, because it was too cold. Those days my Dad would drive the Model A to work. It would start every time, no matter how cold it was outside.
My late uncle told me a story of when his dad took the family from New York to Illinois when he was a small child. There were no real roads, just trails and he swore too that the Model A was the best car he had ever been in. The car did however break down once in the middle of nowhere on that trip; but no problem, mama’s pantyhose substituted just fine as a fan belt! As a teenager he took my cousins and I from Dallas to Alaska and back in his pickup camper. We had all sorts of mechanical troubles. Looking back, I wish we could of taken a Model A truck camper instead; just hope the brakes held and we had spare gas cans on board.
In 56 , built a hot rod from a 31 modes a convertible z ed frame , divide front frame moved , channeled, subside front suspension , 1965 Chevy v8 motor we got from a junk yard out in Edina mn , wow, a hot rod !!!!,
My mother used to complain about the rumble seat, but she never mentioned how difficult it was to get into. She hated it because it ruined her hairdo! She wore a “snood” to keep her hair looking good! It was green velvet, and she was a redhead with pale green eyes. Bet she looked great!
You have a beautiful car, Paul. My little experience with Model As - about 15 years ago a friend of mine and I restored another friend's Model A - a coupe - that had been in her family almost since new. It sat out in a field - unprotected - for 40-50 years. We quickly learned that the body was secured on the frame by 6-8 (?) nuts. I figured, sitting out in a field that rusty nut is going to just sheer the stud. Nope. A dab of penetrating oil, and those nuts despite being on there for 80 years - came right off - just surface rust. We learned that Henry Ford bought some surplus WW1 battleships, and that high-grade steel became Model As. For that reason a huge percentage of Model As survive to this day, as opposed to a sliver of Chevrolets and Dodges. The other thing I remember? Well, I am used to Mercedes - not a professional mechanic but I am used to them. And over the years different manufacturers have different solutions for the e-brake design. For many decades, Mercedes has utilized a small drum brake on the hub of the rear disk - actually a brake within a brake, with its own small drum and set of brake shoes. And guess what? The Model A had that, too (minus the disk brake, of course). I thought what an impressive and well-thought out design. Thank you for the enjoyable and informative video and again, beautiful car. I do suspect though for me, like an airplane, I would for a short time need a checkoff list to start the car ;-)
Great presentation! Honest, enthusiastic, and wonderfully informative. These are still great cars. A lot of the people you mentioned, that ask the inane questions, don't know the difference between an antique and the classic car. Although I dearly love your 31, I have a real crush on the late.1930s Ford trucks, like the 1937 trucks and even the Chevys. The glory years, when cars were truly works of art are worth keeping alive. Your 31 is a beauty.
Thanks for posting this. My late father had an A Sport Coupe as his first car in the early ‘40s. He had brush painted it yellow and red with “Miss Shirley” painted on the spare tire cover. He often spoke of double dating with his friends Nobby and Flo in the rumble seat. I miss him dearly. Your video brought back wonderful memories❤️
Awesome restoration! And in such great condition, considering you drive it daily! In 1971 when I attended MSC (now MSU), there was a grandma living nearby with an original Model A in her garage with only about 100miles on it!!! Everybody wanted it, but she refused to sell it. Her husband had passed a few days after buying it, and she couldn’t part with it & never drove it.
I owned everal Model A's---my first car in 1955 a 1931 deluxe roadster I paid $15 U.S. for. Bought another roadster for $20 with a better motor, and swapped the motors and sold the non deluxe with the not so good motor for $40. The last car I made money on. Fast forward to the early 60's. Had a '31 pickup that could haul most anything including 2 12"x20foot steel channel beams for a house I was building chained to the front and rear axels. I was then in the San Francisco model A club and received a call from a family near Candlestick Park who had purchased a house with a old car in the garage with a room built around it and did I want it---free for taking. It turned out to be a late '31 slant window sedan. We got it out after tearing down a wall and pushing it into the daylight. It was straight, no rust or rot, original mohair upholstery etc. I had brought some fresh gas and a battery, checked the oil, and it fired right up and drove it 40 miles to my home. Did a three month frame off restoration with a motor built by the famous 4 banger racer in El Monte CA...Joe Gemsa, ( C crank, internal pressure oil, balanced, Oldsmobile pistons, Denver head etc.), new mohair, fresh paint and an overdrive welded into the torque tube drive line. On flat ground it would cruise at 65 all day. Completely stock appearing. The day after it came out of the upholstery shop. we left for a Modal A convention in Victoria Canada with the wife and 2 kids under 6, full luggage, tools in a trunk on the back. What a fun trip. Made it up and back, then a couple of trips to Reno and three trips to Los Angeles area. And daily driving in the San Francisco area. No major issues Truly one of the best cars I ever owned the 1931 truck second.
I loved your tour of the Model A along with the guided road tour. It is truly a lovely car. In comparison I owned a 1928 Pontiac 2 dr sedan with a flathead inline 6 cyl. I restored and painted the car back in the 80's, replacing only a couple of pieces of wood and doing a complete overhaul of the upholstery. I was also president of the Pontiac Oakland Club - Ontario Chapter. I drove my young family across much of central and eastern Ontario to club meets and larger car shows and local parades. The biggest issue I had was an overheating problem, so I had to make sure I had a jug of water or two and some spare tools to tighten the nut on the water pump shaft. Other than that, the car drove quite nicely at 40 to 50 mph getting lots of cheers and waves from the locals. The car is now sold to a nice fellow in Michigan. I have moved on to solving problems on my 1984 Porsche 944.
This was the car our family had until I was about 11. After that my brother got a hold of it and modifted it. I remember going with my mother to a shopping area in a city about 12 miles away at lest once a week. Thank you for posting this video. This was about 1940 to about 1947.
I would say a late ‘60’s VWBug was probably the best car ever made. My wife had one for the first years of our marriage. It was just as simple as your Model A, just as reliable. I will still take my CRV for a long distance trip over any car I have ever owned.
Paul, you gave a fantastic overview of the Model A that brought memories from my youth. In the late 40's and early 50's, my dad had a '34 Ford that was tough as boot leather. When I was pretty young, it was our daily driver (in fact, our ONLY driver). After I got into my early teens, (and we had a newer daily driver - a '50 model Ford), I got to drive '34 some - really thought I was something special! I really enjoyed your appraisal of the Model A! Thanks!
As a millenial, i as sure as heck do know what manual windows and no air conditioning is- Me and lots of my peers cannot afford well-equipped cars yet (unless financing hahah) Long story short, i love your video and your Model A. Robust cars, which i have always been admiring in these earlier year cars. Bless ya for giving it a nice home
Back in the 60s I had the same feelings about driving my VW beetle. The foundation of quality is 'will it start', another quality question is 'can it be fixed', the answer for a lot of fancy cars is a definite maybe, depends on how much you can spend.. Easy to fix is very important.
Bought my 1930 Model A coupe in march of 2019. It had not been run for 9 years. I added gas checked the plugs and fluids. new battery and he Fired up . like you say its a blast to drive.
Great video Paul ! Growing up in New Zealand in the 60's and 70's and there were still plenty of these on the roads back then even though they were 40yo cars . Even the local gas station had a tow truck version ! Lived in Sydney Australia in the 1990's and 2000's and whenever you saw an oldie in the traffic it was either a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost or you guessed it a Ford Model A Proof of what Paul is saying - add seat belts, turn indicators and maybe some slight mods to ignition and gearbox and this old girl has no trouble mixing it with modern traffic - cheers
This is the first of your videos that I stumbled on. Now I have to be a subscriber! I do, however, think you missed one important aspect -- the club. You mention it briefly. Yet, you didn't give it enough credit. I have owned a lot of cars and been active in many car clubs for the last 37-years. Nothing prepared me for being a part of MAFCA, MARC or the local chapter. My wife and I were at the Gilmore Museum just over 3-years ago. We really enjoyed the Model A building and we were still talking about it as we were walking out to our rental car. A Model A club was pulling in to the parking lot. We took a moment to ask them about about owning a Model A and the club. A gentleman that was listening to our questions asked if we had ever ridden in one. He offered to give us a ride, escorted us to a stunning Phaeton, and took us for a ride out into the Michigan countryside. We were enjoying the top down ride too much to notice we had been on the road for awhile. Then... He pulled to the side of the road, looked at me, and said: "Go around and get in. You're going to drive it home." He waived off my protests and explained how the Model A was designed for people who have never driven a car before. He had faith in me and in the car enough to know it would be fine. I drove it back to the Gilmore museum without a single issue. He even challenged me to try my hand and downshifting since it was clear I was comfortable double-clutching. Only a couple of slight misses before I could shift it up and down through the gears. We made it back, thanked him for the ride and sat down in our rental car to gather our thoughts on what just happened. My wife turned to me and said: "You can have one of those." We have owned our 1929 Model A Sport Coupe for the last 3-years. It is one of the best decisions we have made with regards to buying a hobby or enthusiast vehicle. The car is easy to work on, quality parts are readily available in addition to reasonably priced, and the car is fun to drive. Yet, it is the club that makes owning a Model A special. And, like the Phaeton owner in Michigan, we get a lot of pleasure being a part of a group that lends a hand whenever you ask for help, loves to tour or just get together for coffee, and - especially - serve as true ambassadors to the car hobby. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked to let kids sit in the rumble seat for pictures or called to tell the people I was scheduled to meet I was going to be a little late - again - since I was giving someone a ride around the block. It may not be the best American made car. It is, however, one of the most enjoyable hobby/collector cars I own today and have owned over the last 40-years. Thank you for this wonderful video and looking forward to viewing many more like it.
@Brian Foster Paul did such a great tour of his model A. And really appreciate your comments about riding with a car club. Sharing our joys is the real juice of life. Finally, the clincher was your wife's statement about owning a model A. Almost choked with glee and laughed real hard. A match made in Heaven. 🤗🌴🌈
I owned a 1957 Chevy Bel Air (automatic) and a 1975 Chevy Van (three on the column) among other cars and I really appreciated this video. I really got the sense of driving this car from your video with good filming, editing, and commentary coupled with my past experience with cars. I'm 70 and remember my granddad's 1940s and 1950s cars well. Thanks for posting this excellent educational video.
first car I ever drove was a 1929 model A phaeton, 100% original. grandpa took me out in the big field, and said "alright, drive the bitch. i'll whoop your ass if you burn up my clutch." it was extremely simple. i've owned seven motorcycles, one manual jeep cherokee that I still own, and that beautiful beige soft top. a phaeton did not have windows, but it did have elegance. grandpa insisted on the best, and he got it. when he was unable to drive it anymore, I got it. and boy, did I drive that car everywhere. the beach was the fun part. until the last year or so, I lived in clearwater, Florida. everyone knew my car and loved it. even some of the local celebs. I almost got T-boned by tom cruise while driving it, and Hulk Hogan did a double take the first time he saw it, and waved to me. like... the hulkster WAVED at me. not me waving at some massive celebrity, but the celebrity waved at some plebian who just happens to own a Model A. that's the power of these cars. they just bring people together, and they all have a good time.
Your Grandpa sounds like a man I would like. And I'll bet you have never paid as much attention to working a clutch as you did that day. Lesson to last a lifetime.
The design philosophy of this almost reminds me of eastern bloc cars lol In fact eastern bloc cars make sense considering this. It seems like over there they decided that this level of features and bare bones-ness was all that was needed. Old Ladas could even still be crank started which a cranks tart is actually a nice idea youll never be stranded if your battery dies
As an owner (or I should say driver--it's my wife's car), I also find it kind of fun to drive. It's a 1930 5 Window Coup, with a rumble seat, added, and hydraulic breaks. The head was modified slightly to give it just a bit more compression. I can go 55. Adeline (the car's name) is a bit temperamental at times.
I can't believe that the FORD Doesn't rebuild it at the factory today. I definitely want the 32 pickup, Right off the line. In 2020!!! I could SEE that in 2020.
My dad bought one new he drove it over the mountain from Alabama to Tennessee and it didn't have a drop of oil in it , of course it locked up he called the dealership and they brought him another one when they picked it up this time with oil in it, that was a long drive with out oil in it
Hi again: Here is a funny story; I pulled into a gas station with a head light out. A cop was there and saw me. He started righting a ten day ticket to get it fixed. I had a box of spare bulbs behind the seat. All Model A owners do. I replaced the bulb while he was righting the ticket. You don't need any tools to replace a head light bulb. He said I see you don't need this ticket. :-) Gary
A cop pulled me over in my college car- '30 Model A coupe, and with a scowl, was writing me a ticket for illegal tail-light lenses. "Only red lenses for rear lights and yours have amber STOP in them", he snapped. I said "How can STOP be misinterpreted?". He kept writing. I said "Those are one-piece original glass lenses". He stopped writing and said "One-piece lenses? You didn't add the STOP?" I said "Nope". He slammed his ticket book closed, stomped back to his car, and sped off.
I had a tudor when I was 15. Drove it to high school for a few months. It had the death wobble and one tire with a patch of another tire inside. I still miss that car. If "A's" were still made you would be in charge of marketing for Henry for sure.
PLEASE READ! So many comments about the wheel color. The wheels and pinstripe are "Hessian Blue". This is the exact color they came from the factory. The body is "Lombard Blue" and black. All the paint on this car was color matched to factory paint chips for authenticity. Thank you!
Abandoning your thesis and getting lost in details doesn't help. Better to begin with a stronger overview before getting into the weeds.
So how much to build one?
In 1954 I was 16 years old and drove my 1931 model A from Iowa to Spokane. This was before the Interstates. Made the trip in about two weeks.
Oh come on.... a millennial would have seen plenty of older cars that were from the 1980's and so on, cars their family drove around, which did not have power windows.
@@wheelieblind You're right, and I still remember when my Father bought a 1979 454 powered Chevrolet Bonanza 10 pickup. It had power windows and I remember thinking it's the first truck I ever saw that didn't have hand operated windows.
I think till the 80's almost everyone had no power windows.
I drove Grampa Birt's Model A when I was 10 years old. I looked under the steering wheel. One day, as we were leaving Oxford , Nebraska, where I grew up, I looked on my left and saw a red light flashing. It was a patrolman. He came to the car, leaned in the window and asked, "How old are you son?" I said 10. He looked at Gampa Birt and said "do you think he's old enough to drive?" Grampa said, "probably not"..... Years later, after Grampa Birt died, my aunt found a receipt for the fine Gampa Birt paid.
Great memories of Gampa Birt and his model A.
Today, I'm 85 but the memories of that car are fresh in my mind.
Cheers,
jerry
That's hilarious, what a great memory.
You probably drove better then than most adults today.
@@saran.4001 😂😂😂😂
Great story Jerry, thanks for sharing!
Your Model A is BEAUTIFUL! My '63 Ford Falcon, my '67 Plymoth Valiant, my '72 Fiat 128, my '87 Honda CRX all had window cranks. LOVE YOUR POST, though.
I live in Northern Michigan. An elderly gent who lives here drove his Model A to Alaska a few years ago with only one incident. He was driving along a remote highway in Alaska when the steering got a little loose. He noticed a service station just then and pulled in. The mechanic was standing outside and saw him drive in. He directed the gent. into a bay where he proceeded to work on the car. When the repair was done, the old fellow, surprised that the mechanic said nothing about a Model A pulling in, said "What do think?", pointing to the car. The mechanic said "I would have thought you'd have something newer by now." and went about his business.
😁🤣😅👍
Great comment
now that is funny !
Good to see an American car outlast the payment book
🤣😆😄😂😆😄🤣😀
It's hard for younger people to imagine, but before the Interstate Highway system in the late '50s, early '60s, cruising around at 45 or 50 mph was FINE, all that was required.
Had to drive over the road in the early 90's with the 55 limit. Talk about a great time for a motivated trucker willing to take a risk...
Plus most of the roads were dirt
Well, depends on where you lived. 70 or more in my uncle's '53 Packard from NYC to DC.No problems...VERY comfortable.
Younger than 80 you mean?
I don't drive much faster than 55 or 60 on interstate
That is a beautiful car. I'm now 76 and a retired former motor mechanic in England. When I was 15, too young to drive in Britain, I had several old cars on my dad's smallholding, including a 1934 Morris Eight. Although I couldn't drive them on a public road, my mates and I taught ourselves to drive across dusty fields and along farm tracks. I was taking engines apart and putting them back together. It was such fun. Cars were so simple back then. When I look under the bonnet (hood) of a modern car, including my own small Suzuki, I don't know where to begin. I wish I could afford a Ford Model A. After my apprenticeship I moved to Germany for 10 years working for Ford in Cologne so I know from first hand how Ford thinks and operates. The legacy of Henry Ford lived on still in 1969 and probably still does today. Thanks for this fascinating view of the Model A. Very satisfying.
❤fvjuggcxxv jgfthutjr❤ I like your face, my.
Typical Britt . calling an engine a motor !
@@waynepollard6879 Surely the other way round? We call it an engine. A motor is an electric motor. We call the cover over the engine a bonnet, not hood. And we place luggage in the boot, not the trunk. A trunk is either a large case for transporting one's worldly goods on a ship, or it's part of an elephant.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
"hardest thing about driving model A is wiping the smile off your face"
Classy
I believe you could say that about any vintage car. Model A, Mustang, or a 1955 V8 Customline 3 on the tree.😊
The best presentation of the A that I have seen. By the way, got mine when I was 18. At 86 still driving it.
Wow!
Now THAT’s dedication to your car! I’ve not been so loyal to one car. At 37, I have had many cars in my 21 years of “Fahrvergnügen” (as the Germans might say… I’ve had a ‘95 Chevy Blazer, ‘99 Dodge Dakota, ‘03 Toyota Camry, ‘08 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and now a ‘20 Jeep Gladiator.
I salute you for picking a car, and staying with it!
P.S.: I also salute you for being in your 80’s and being able to use TH-cam! Way to go, dude! I like your style!
Paul, it was good to see you at Gilmore. As a long time Ford T owner with thousands of T miles behind me, I'm really enjoying our first Model A, the original paint and interior 30 Briggs Fordor that you saw at Model A Days. The most interesting thing to me, is that the A is such a great car because of the T. Ford had all of the things in place to manufacture quality parts and build cars, because of the success of the T. His best trait was that he surrounded himself with good people. He had forests, sawmills, sheep farms for wool, ships for iron ore, the Rouge Plant to make very high quality steel and iron. He was even making his own glass. He obviously hung on to the design of the T way too long, and every other manufacturer offered vehicles far advanced over the 1908 designed Ford. When the A went into production, the price was not raised substantially over the T, because everything was in motion. The A truly is a fantastic vehicle!
I'm an air-cooled VW Beetle driver, I totally appreciate you perspectives here. It's a very similar experience. No bells, no whistles, no computers, just man and machine. Much love brother.
I had two VW Beetles, one after the other. The second one was a Weltmeister model in metallic light blue with sculpted wheels, and VW built a limited edition to celebrate beating the Ford Model T production record of 15 million vehicles. One of these is for sale at 24,950 euros!
Yup. Never drove an A, but I learned to drive, mostly, in a Bug - and learned the beginnings of maintenance with one, too.
Wish I could have owned one. I recall them being very “fun.”
i'm 81 years old and had a 31 ford coup while in high school. It had a lic plate frame that said "Dont laugh lady, your daughter may be in here"
Perfect!
Better still if you had a Model A today with the same plate. I'm sure such a thing would be a magnet for the young'uns.
;)
So you were like Archie Andrew's and his jalopy. 1950 teenager with his pop's generation car
@@dondesnoo1771 STEADYJERKER.....HEHE
You forgot to mention that the Model A was a multi-fuel vehicle and can run on alcohol since you can adjust the fuel mixture.
Also, If you pull up on the gear shift lever, you can rotate the gear shift to be parallel with the dash board for comfort of a third passenger in the middle of the front seat. My family has a 1929 Ford Model four door Phaeton convertible which is stock and still runs. I drove it to high school every day back in the 1960's.
The 1930 Model A sedan I bought in 1960 for $85 was near perfect. My first car, and my most memorable auto, hands down. Not only was it beautiful, but it more fun to drive than anything I've seen since. I loved that car.
Even in 1960 I bet it was an oddity to see one on the road.
I doubt you still have that 130 sedan. Would you want another one to drive nowadays ?
Just love that car. It was my first car: 1931 coupe. It was in 1969 and the ol' girl was already 38 years old; I rebuilt it and it just worked and worked. Beautifully simple and you drove with it. Nowadays I'm an old man and I ride a vintage motorcycle but I remember my five window coupe with love.
My father was a farmer and a mechanic. We had three Model A pickups in the Fifties because they were cheap, reliable transportation and addressed his need on the dirt roads of Kansas. I am not even certain that they had a tag. Sometimes, on the way home from chores at the dairy farm, Dad would make it backfire and pop and bang. He was adjusting the spark advance, and it took me a little bit to catch on to what he was doing. He would let me release the brake handle on the floor and told me about the choke. One time, as an eight year old, he asked me to drive a Model AA Truck along side some feed bunkers in the snow while he scooped off the insilage. These are memories money cannot buy. We moved away from the farm in 1960 when I was not quite nine.
I had a 1930 (I think) pickup in my teens. I have stories and memories. One thing is perplexing though. I NEVER had decent brakes. I was just a lad, and I worked and I worked at adjusting the 4 different length brake rods to synchronize the pedal pressure to the wheels. I never did get it right and often got around on one or two braking wheels. No confidence there. Thanks Paul for this beautiful ride. Nostalgia is alive and well!
Thanks for the sharing these stories.
They are becoming scarcer and scarcer.
I am now driving my fifth Model A and have now put 38,000 miles on it. Ford built about 4.5 million Models A's and there are about 500.0o0 still on the road. The quality of the materials and the excellent design have made this an outstanding car.
I'm 80, in my youth they were everywhere, u could buy a used one for a few hundred or less. They were bulletproof.
Some may know, the car was designed by Edsel, who struggled under Henry's supervision. Henry engineered the motor but was unable to obtain the desired 40 hp. Edsel had not participated at that point, he looked it over and said, "the valves are too small".
My daily driver is a 1953 army Jeep and I get the same feeling driving it. Smile-inducing.
Another way you could start one if you lost your crank was to jack up one rear wheel, put it in third gear and give the wheel a flip. Also, I found about my 32 B model, if you are stranded in the country with no gas station nearby they will run on kerosene or acetone (paint remover) well enough to get you to a station. I love the chortle of the exhaust at cruising speed. My latest, the B model topped out at 50, but why rush when you are having fun? Possibly the best thing about the car is that you can work on it without a degree in computer engineering.
Some day some rich genius may start building the Model A again and run a bunch of car builders out of business.
Thank you for your beautiful Modeĺ À and showing how to crank çorrectly. Watched one utube video in horror, where the guy grabbed it like a base ball bat.. 2 handed then stood over the crank handle and started winding it
with both hands locked like he was winding a watch. Not realizing even a half turn of a back fire will brake both bones in his arms and can kill you if that steel handle hits your head. 40 hp not something you want to try doing wrong,,.
Thank you for showing the proper way to use the Ford Crank perfectĺy...with out explaining the hazard of injury.
Ps there are 53 different steel blends in the steels used in a Model A. Stainless to cast iron. That's the rèason there are so many more Ford's not
Chevrolet's or GM's on the road today. Most parts are available.
Drive on,
A brilliant review by an enthusiastic and very proud owner of a great car, you've just got to love it
Thank you!
Hi Paul my name is Travis and i would like to know if i can own a Ford model a living in a condo building and you're not allowed to do work on your car but I have a Canadian tire and a oil and lube shop just up the road and i want to drive it every day besides winter and this is going to be my only car and my dad thinks it's a bad idea to get a model a he says it's going to be a pain to keep care of but that is why i am massaging you because you have three ford model a cars so who better to ask so is it possible to take care of a ford model a were i live i would love to know because the model a is a dream that I want to come true i really don't care for modern cars so not my style
Travis, Let's be realistic here. A Model A requires routine maintenance. More than your modern jellybean with wheels. Unless you have a fully enclosed garage and a few tools, you should hold off. Someday when you settle down and own a home with a garage, then you'll be ready to own a Model A. At the very least, find a place to live where you can work on your own car. That's a basic human right!
Ok thank you for your feedback first i will look into a getting a personal garage and then i will get my ford model a thanks again for your help
@@ModelA vi
Great review. When I finally got to drive an original A, I was truly amazed at how much it was a "real car." The T got you there, but it was a terribly crude contrivance.
The A, as you note, is perfectly adequate for everyday driving. The starting ritual isn't particularly different from starting a modern airplane, and it's less demanding than modern turbines. Yes, it doesn't have very good brakes by today's standards, and its lack of power steering means you have to use heavier inputs, but yes, it's a "real car," able to do whatever you reasonably need.
Excellent video! I want one!
1:06 "...and then, I'm going to give it a Doug Score!"
This guy gives off serious Doug vibes he's even got the cargo shorts!
@@armchairgeneralissimo He gives me more of a Roy Clark vibe. He seems to have Roy's character.
Would he let DeMuro anywhere near this car? Should he? Scotty Kilmer would probably be more trustworthy.
@@MisterMikeTexas This is the ideal car for Scotty, only fault he could come up with is that it's not a 1994 Toyota Celica.
@@MisterMikeTexas I resemble that remark.
As I said to a M-A owning friend, a surefire way to prove how good these cars were, is by checking out how many of the competing cars are left., it takes only a good look at any antique show to see that the As have survived in droves, while contemporary Chevys are as rare as Whippets!
Good point!
I loved this! Great Video!
In 1971, my father and my uncle went halves and purchased a '29 Tudor that we kept in our garage. Dad took it out occasionally to drive around the neighborhood, but never really drove it much beyond that. It was, of course totally un-restored, and had the spare set into the left front fender, and a trunk on the back. We joined the MARC, and always went to the MARC shows at Ford's Greenfield Village near Detroit. When I was 17 and attending trade school for auto mechanics, dad gave me the car and said "restore it and it's yours." So I took the engine out, and took it to the trade school where I completely rebuilt it... except one thing - we never got around to the babbit bearings. in 1981, I joined the Navy after HS graduation. A couple years later, a man saw it in the garage and asked dad what he wanted for it (still disassembled like I had left it). Dad said, it's my son's and I won't sell it... so the man wrote a number on a piece of paper and handed it to dad. Dad said "Bring a trailer!" (it was twice what dad had paid for it in 1971). I still have very fond memories of that car... and one day when I can afford it, I'll get a 28 or 29 Phaeton, my favorite Model A!
My dad's slogan for the Model A: "You couldn't keep it from running."
So true. Check out the video I posted today where my dad starts his new motor in his yellow coupe for the first time. Fired up on half a crank.
Your Model A enthusiasm is infectious. Thank you for bringing back some of my cherished memories of riding in my cousin's 4-door Model A in the late 1960's and reflecting on my high school best friend's 1930 2-door Model A in 1971 when we graduated.
Thanks, Ken!
I bought a 1929 Model A Tudor for $50 from a farmer in 1953 while a junior in high school. It was a good car but the worst feature were the mechanical brakes. I could never adjust them to the point of locking up the wheels. I had some close calls as a result. The longest trip I took it on was fm Seattle, WA to Enterprise, OR to work for the US Forest Service the summer of 1956. It was an 888 mile round trip via I-84. One could buy many parts then fm Sears. I put on a Krager downdraft manifold and carb plus a high capacity water pump enabling me to remove the cooling fan w/o overheating. Top speed for my car was abt 65 mph.
Loved the video! Was in Kanab UT a few years ago when a national club was passing through. The guy in the motel room next to me had a 1931 Model A. He gave me a review of the car. I loved it! What's significant to me is that my house was built in 1931. I like to imagine a 1931 Model A parked out front when my house was new.
Thanks Wardell! That Kanab trip was a national meet. A bunch of people from my club went.
I took my mom to a quaint antique car show in Northern Michigan some years ago when she was in her 80's.... as we walked down the sidewalk (she with her walker) she smiled and pointed to both the Model T and the A, immediately recognizing them as cars she drove in her late teens & 20s. She proceeded to tell me what it was like to drive them in the snowy hills of the Allegany Mts. in northern PA... it gave me a whole new perspective on my mom, who later on never wanted to get out and pump her own gas!
Thanks for the thorough explanation of how this car works. I think the airflow design through the windshield & vents was brilliant.
I bet if we put your mom behind the wheel, she would have remembered exactly what to do! I love people from that generation and their attitudes.
Love the gravity feed gas. No fuel pump to fail.
Hill near Evanston wyomington they would ack up because the carb would be higher then the gas tank
My favorite is the 2nd gen 6BT fuel pump. It's a mechanical pump driven off of the camshaft.
Restored and drove a 1931 on Cape Cod, and used it as a daily vehicle. Love the dance when you have to start her cold. What a great and practical car. Nothing extra and easy to repair. Lebaron Bonnie helped a lot, out of Boston with the upholstery. Nice job of explaining the simple elegance of the 28-31 Model A.
Nice video Paul, very interesting and factual. It accurately conveys the feeling of driving an antique car in today’s traffic. I did notice there was one item that you got wrong though - the foot rest indeed is there for a purpose. Remember, the accelerator on these cars is a simple direct mechanical linkage from the body of the car to the carburetor, not “hovering” over the floor boards or connected by wires as in newer cars.
A good stiff bump or dip on a dirt road will cause the body of the car to move quickly in the vertical plane. The driver will also move vertically, but at a different rate and timing than that of the car body because of the seat springs. If you drive the car with your heel on the floor boards and the ball of your foot on the accelerator (as is modern car practice), this difference in vertical movement will cause the angle between the leg and foot to change, which causes a positional change of the accelerator, and thus the speed of the car. Usually a “bucking bronco” type of ride results as the driver tries to compensate following each bump or dip. This angular change is spread over the approximately 9” between your heel and ball of your foot.
If you put the right side of your foot on the foot rest and the ball of your foot on the accelerator, the angular change is now spread roughly over only 2-1/2”. This results in considerably less movement and more stabilized positioning of the accelerator pedal on the same road and speed. So that foot rest is indeed there for a very specific and necessary purpose.
Again, great video.
I concur.
I waited quite awhile to watch the most popular video on your channel. Mainly because the title didn't grab me. But, I'm glad I watched it today. During the driving section one thing was evident - your PASSION for the model A. That really sells this video. Congrats & here's to a million views.
Thank you TMH! This video was a surprise hit. Since it still gets so many views, I am afraid to change a thing and mess it up!
Yep, best to leave things alone on this one.
My stepfather bought a Model A when he was 14, with the intent of turning it into a hot-rod, but he didn't get around to it. It sat in a garage from 1960 to 2015. He had it worked on, and now it runs like new. Except for the wiper and tires, it is all original, even the paint-the mechanic advised to leave it original.
I drove an early ‘30 Model A standard rumble-seat coupe as my everyday work car for 7 years. I was a member of the only dual-affiliated club, as far as I know, in the nation. It was the Model A Restorers Club/Model A Ford Club of America (MARC/MAFCA) of San Diego, Ca. I also drove it to week end meets and caravans. I held minor officer positions in the club and became a real aficionado of the Model A Ford. Alas, the Navy transferred me overseas and I had to part with it. Back then (‘80-‘86 timeframe) there were still half a million Model As registered in the United States. Thanks for this video. It really brought back many fond memories.
It's beautiful. I'm class of 65 and my first car was a 36 3 window coupe with rumble seat and a kool little flathead twin mag engine. Same tranny. Listening to you describe all those ( common to me) strange oid fasion proceedures just made me smile. I grew up with cars from the 20s to 60s. You did the best review on this precious beauty with love and respect. I can't think of anyone else coming even close to your review. Thsnks for the sweet moments remembering America.
16:40 For the uninitiated, when he says that the Model A has "Great Engine Braking" what he means is that the car does not coast forward when you take your foot off the gas pedal. The engine RPM will drop suddenly when the gas pedal is let off, and thus the whole car also slows down as well. EDIT. and to clarify at 17:00 when he says that it does a good job of slowing you down when you let off the brake... well, he misspoke, and he meant to say "let off the gas"
Thanks! I once had a young guy state that "engine braking" is actually regenerative braking. SMH
My first car when I was 16 was a 1929 Model A Coup (hardtop). I am currently 84. I bought it used, of course, from a farmer who had had it tucked away for 20 years in his barn. That made it 23 years old when I bought it, thus it was already an antique. It was black, of course, but the first thing I did was make a trip to the local junkyard to swap the 21" spoke wheels for five 1940 16" disc wheels. (The lug spacing was exactly the same.) Tires for 21" wheels were no longer mass-produced, which made the few that were available very expensive. On those disc wheels, I put 600 x 16 tires, "used"... what else? The second thing I did to that car was paint it canary yellow everywhere it was black, and then painted 5" diameter purple pokadots all over the yellow. The girls loved it, and of course, that was the method to my madness. I left the top black, because it had a rubber covering instead of all steel. You didn't mention that all Model A's had a 6-volt system, and when you let up on the gas at night, the lights would almost go out, because the battery was charged with a generator, and not an alternator. So the third thing I did was rip out the 6-volt system and replace it with a 12-volt generator, battery and a voltage regulator. I drove that thing for two years before I went off to college. Incidentally, I bought it for $60 from the farmer but sold it to a buddy for three cases of beer. But I had $6,000 worth of fun in it. Thanks for the memories.
Thank you so much for sharing this story - so cool
I bought a 31 Sports Coupe in 1955 and it had the 16-nch wheels and bigger tires on it.
Paid $40 for it. Can't recall what the insurance was.
The small town I lived had a softball tournament with a gravel road around the outfield.
Parked for a while and for some reason the girls we not coming to see the car.
Then accelerated hard and as the rear axle was bouncing up and down on the "washboard" the driver's side rear wheel came off and accelerated ahead.
In stopping the left rear axle of the car settled to the ground.
The crowd in the bleachers roared with laughter.
The story became even more humiliating, but the problem was that while the bolt pattern seemed to fit, something was wrong.
The other 3 wheels had cracks radiating out from the hole.
Bob Hoye
Good morning Paul your video was such a gift to me, my dad restored 1931 model a coupe when I was just four years old . my dad just passed away two months ago at 92 and left sweet Sally 1931 model A to me. My husband is a mechanic but has never driven her so this morning will be his first time. I see that you might live in Sonora and we live in Modesto
Yes, we are near each other. I am so sorry about your dad. I'd suggest you guys come over and get proper Model A driving instruction if possible. Email me (it's in the video).
@@ModelA Hi Paul , Thank you for your words about my dad.. I will email you .that would be wonderful to come and get proper driving instructions.
@@ModelA I have a spam filter that you have to agree with on my email . sorry about that .
@@ModelA Hi Paul, I did send the email not sure if you got it or if it might of gone to a spam filter :)
@@faithinwhatChristdidonthecross I haven't received anything from you. Please try again.
I always rode motorcycles the same way, look well ahead and have a plan if someone pulls right in front of you or comes out of nowhere.
I love your Model A. It looks like a real pleasure to drive.
The BEST American car ever made! Had to sell mine when I went overseas after college, but I still dream of driving one again (70 years later). Someone in the comments mentioned the tall, skinny tires. One day, I was driving along this country road and came upon a muddy patch of road wherein there was a large Cadillac stuck up to its hubs in goo, and me and my Model A chugged right on by! I loved that car!
I've always loved the Ford Model A ever since my teen age neighbor Freddie Bell had one. It was about 1945. I was four years old, and I told my parents that when I grew up I wanted a car like Freddie had. Since then I've owned four of them, two coupes and two sedans. Of the five million that were made, several sources estimate the number of "A Model Fords" remaining at between 50,000 to 100,000. With a few modifications the car would still be useful transportation today. In seven more years this model Ford will be 100 years old. Keep on rolling well into the future.
As a guy who has a Prius *and* a Model A, I can say the comparisons are pretty spot on. Great video Paul!
You're the man, Elliott. Thanks!
Honestly yeah with my prius I always use the engine brake mode to reduce brake wear.
@@punman5392 You really don't have to engine brake in the Prius as the regenerative system results in brakes lasting far longer than other cars. I'd be a lot more worried that you're stressing the CVT (transmission) as that would be a very expensive repair.
@@discerningmind The CVT transmission is made to withstand the stress of B mode. Don't worry about it.
@@richardgray8593 Being a Toyota you may be correct. Especially since Toyota named it B for Braking.
It seems to me that B-mode would be most favorable in city traffic where the Prius' consumes the most electricity, as B-mode seems to have the strongest regenerative output, or would it be input.
Best video I've seen on the 31 Model A. Not only do you go over it in detail, you actually relay the enthusiasm that a Model A brings! I have a "31 Tudor sedan and I think I'll have it til the end. Thank you so much for your videos.
Keep that Tudor rolling! Thank you.
Thanks for the great video. I have been double clutching my 31, but now I see I don’t have to.
Thanks for the great video. I have been double clutching my 31, but now I see I don’t have to.
1920s a 100 years ago, I can't believe how good the model A is. It must have been just space age stuff back then. It sounds pretty good too. Thanks for making this video. Makes me appreciate my econobox quite a lot for how old school and agricultural, simple and rugged it is. Model A does make people happy. 100 years is superb reliability indeed!
Couldn't agree more!
Fun fact: The oldest Millenials turned 40 this year. Most of us had 80's hoopties as our first cars and are well aware of how to crank a window.
Ba Humbug! I graduated in 2001, but I'm not calling myself a Millennial
'75 AMC Hornet wagon here. My rear window defroster was a desk fan with a switch wired to the dash. Complete with 232 I6 and TF904, it was moderately gutless, but it was MINE. Until I tried to cut down a telephone pole with it not even a full month after getting my license. :)
I still crank my window
Wait, they have self-rolling windows now? Like you press a button and the window goes down? Must be one of those luxury features for boomerblobs.
Hey, so millennials DO actually know something!
My dad restored antique cars as his hobby so I grew up with T's and A's, and even a few Buicks. My first car was a
'34 Ford 4-door sedan. Loved your video. It brings back a ton of fond memories. Thanks so much.
Who doesn't like T & As?!!
I owned 3 Model A's when I was in high school. I paid $25 for the coupe, $15 for 2 door sedan, and $10 for a 4 door sedan. Thanks for this video.
I can pay $50 for the coupe,you could double your money! LOL.
@@gogogeedus Sold! HaHa. I wish I still had it. I traded it even for a 1941 Chevrolet coupe in 1956. Those were fun days.
@@bykotatwoIf I could buy A models for 50 bucks each I would buy a boat load, I'm sure they were fun days
My dad decided not to buy the garaged, nice brass-era Model T for $15., because the widow wouldn't put a new battery in it. I ended up scrimping and saving to buy a Model A for $1,100
Just picked up a 1930 Coupe with my mom. She always wanted one and we found a really nice one that just needs the basics to be street ready. Your videos are a big help, THANKS!
Good choice!
Another honorable mention is how well they do in the snow. Those tall skinny tires do the job of hooking up with the road very well indeed.
True ! In 1969 I needed to get to my University of NH early morning classes in my '30 Model A , but there had been a heavy snowstorm . Nobody had driven, everyone was waiting for the snowplows. With snow past the hubs, I took off and was surprised the Model A drove normally, ignoring the snow. I looked to the rear and saw why- it was cutting two narrow little tracks in the drifts and cruising right along.. I almost sold that Coupe a number of times, but I never could. 55 yrs. later and I still love it.
Kudos....nice job on the video. I too am a daily Model A driver. I've done the 165 mph deal, in fact 600,000 + miles in 911 'P' cars. That being said driving a Model A Ford is a Symbiotic 'relationship' not a a point a to be conveyance. When asked about the 'physicality' of driving my A I inform/remind the asker that only 16 years before my car was made (1930) most people RODE HORSES!! Drive one and you'll fall in love with the 'event' After just a few cessions you'll one again or probable for the first time understand why people went just for 'a drive' (and you'll be planning the same thing) Great JOb!
Very well done Paul enjoyed your video . My first car was a Model A Ford in 1958 it cost 25 dollars I was 16 It came in pieces and I put it together with help from my Hi School friend Tom who knew more about it than I did . I have had several Model A Fords over 60 years Tudor sedan , Special Coupe ,Truck and now a 1929 Phaeton which I have owned now for 15 years . I agree it is the best car EVER Bob in Cassopolis Michigan .
I just found your channel yesterday, Paul - sent over by Derrick from Vice Grip Garage. That car of yours is absolutely stunning! I think that color combo is beyond beautiful! I am envious... and there isn't much in this life I envy others for. Great vids, and carry on!
Awesome, thank you Dave!
Man I love your Chanel , the model A is why I’ve become a car enthusiast, ever since I was a kid the model A is what started it all for me and is how I learned to drive a stick , at 21 years of age I couldn’t even name a single human being my age that shares the love and obsession I have for model As , if it wasn’t for the model A I don’t know what I would do , it is my dream car and hope to own one as soon as I can ! , I would love to hang with you and share our love for these As and wrench on your As with you and learn any knowledge I don’t already know from you , keep up the great videos man I’m always excited to see a new video posted !
That was a cool video Paul. My dad had a model A for his first car. It was long gone by the time I came along but I’ve always loved them.
My father was an enthusiast and we always had Model A’s in the 60’s and 70’s. A 29 metal roof Rumbleseat Coupe and a an unrestored 30 Fordor sedan. We went everywhere. In the 80’s he bought himself a perfect 4 door convertible Phaeton. Thanks for a great vid and the memories.
Thank you. I once had a long conversation with a fellow who had a two door sedan. It was the only car he had ever owned, having inherited it from his father. Stored winters, 12V conversion, hydraulic brakes and a heater (it was in Vermont). Very cool. Thanks again.
Awesome!
Paul, I wish you could have met my Dad, named Paul! Born in 1924, he grew up with a Model A as THE car, and he loved to tell stories about his and his buddies' escapades in that car as teenagers. Then he would get real sober, and turn to me and say, "Now don't you try any of that crazy stuff!" Many thanks for sharing a ride in THE car with me!
The Ramblin Wreck of Georgia Tech is a 1930 Ford Model A Coupe and all Tech people love her. Ford refurbished our Wreck several times and she leads our Football Team onto the field every game.
Yes, fully aware. The Ramblin Wreck is a 1930 Sport Coupe. Slight modification to the running boards and supports to support cheerleaders when taking the field. Go GT!!!
It reminds me of my 1981 Mercedes 240d diesel. Simple, indestructible, and you can still work on these cars. I see Ford Model A cars all the time in our area during late fall, winter and early spring in the San Joaquin Valley.
I drive through the San Joaquin valley all the time!
Paul, I love ❤️ your dark blue, sport coupe Awesome. When I was 17, I had a 1931 Model A dark green w/light apple green wheels & pinstripes same color as the wheels. Spare tire on the back w/a vinyl tire cover, that had the Ford emblem on top of vinyl cover. A sticker in back window they said original Ford Parts, in blue & white. The Seat & rumble was naugahyda covered like a vinyl. The Model a was completely restored like new, the man that owned passed & left it to me at 17 years of age. I drove it for 2 years & then traded it in at a Chevrolet Dealer Ship, & ordered a brand new 1975 Camaro, Type LT completely loaded with all the options. I loved the Model A but was so young & did not know how to service it or maintain it. It broke down one day 😢 and I was lost, did not know how to fix it 😢. The dealer gave me $6,000.00 as a trade in.😊
Ouch!! Well, you did what you had to do, nobody will judge you for that. Question is- Did the Model A or the Camaro get you more chicks?
We had a '31 2 door sedan in 1960 in Nebraska. There were a few times during the winter that our 1959 Rambler wouldn't start, because it was too cold. Those days my Dad would drive the Model A to work. It would start every time, no matter how cold it was outside.
My late uncle told me a story of when his dad took the family from New York to Illinois when he was a small child. There were no real roads, just trails and he swore too that the Model A was the best car he had ever been in. The car did however break down once in the middle of nowhere on that trip; but no problem, mama’s pantyhose substituted just fine as a fan belt! As a teenager he took my cousins and I from Dallas to Alaska and back in his pickup camper. We had all sorts of mechanical troubles. Looking back, I wish we could of taken a Model A truck camper instead; just hope the brakes held and we had spare gas cans on board.
I own a 1930 Tudor sedan and I take it on trips everywhere. I would have no problem using it as a daily driver. Thanks John, I love your videos!!!
In 56 , built a hot rod from a 31 modes a convertible z ed frame , divide front frame moved , channeled, subside front suspension , 1965 Chevy v8 motor we got from a junk yard out in Edina mn , wow, a hot rod !!!!,
My mother used to complain about the rumble seat, but she never mentioned how difficult it was to get into. She hated it because it ruined her hairdo! She wore a “snood” to keep her hair looking good! It was green velvet, and she was a redhead with pale green eyes. Bet she looked great!
I'm surprised that no one has asked what a snood is. I've never read of one being mentioned before.
You have a beautiful car, Paul. My little experience with Model As - about 15 years ago a friend of mine and I restored another friend's Model A - a coupe - that had been in her family almost since new. It sat out in a field - unprotected - for 40-50 years.
We quickly learned that the body was secured on the frame by 6-8 (?) nuts. I figured, sitting out in a field that rusty nut is going to just sheer the stud.
Nope. A dab of penetrating oil, and those nuts despite being on there for 80 years - came right off - just surface rust. We learned that Henry Ford bought some surplus WW1 battleships, and that high-grade steel became Model As. For that reason a huge percentage of Model As survive to this day, as opposed to a sliver of Chevrolets and Dodges.
The other thing I remember? Well, I am used to Mercedes - not a professional mechanic but I am used to them.
And over the years different manufacturers have different solutions for the e-brake design. For many decades, Mercedes has utilized a small drum brake on the hub of the rear disk - actually a brake within a brake, with its own small drum and set of brake shoes.
And guess what? The Model A had that, too (minus the disk brake, of course). I thought what an impressive and well-thought out design.
Thank you for the enjoyable and informative video and again, beautiful car.
I do suspect though for me, like an airplane, I would for a short time need a checkoff list to start the car ;-)
Thank You for this Really Cool info! I hope that Car is still traveling well on the road. ~- *
@@kareno8634 You are welcome!
Great presentation! Honest, enthusiastic, and wonderfully informative. These are still great cars. A lot of the people you mentioned, that ask the inane questions, don't know the difference between an antique and the classic car. Although I dearly love your 31, I have a real crush on the late.1930s Ford trucks, like the 1937 trucks and even the Chevys. The glory years, when cars were truly works of art are worth keeping alive. Your 31 is a beauty.
Glad you enjoyed it! Spot on comment about the glory years.
Thanks for posting this. My late father had an A Sport Coupe as his first car in the early ‘40s. He had brush painted it yellow and red with “Miss Shirley” painted on the spare tire cover. He often spoke of double dating with his friends Nobby and Flo in the rumble seat. I miss him dearly. Your video brought back wonderful memories❤️
Very sorry that your dad is gone. Glad this made you think of him.
Awesome restoration! And in such great condition, considering you drive it daily!
In 1971 when I attended MSC (now MSU), there was a grandma living nearby with an original Model A in her garage with only about 100miles on it!!! Everybody wanted it, but she refused to sell it. Her husband had passed a few days after buying it, and she couldn’t part with it & never drove it.
Wonder where that car is today?
I don't think it's in East Lansing anymore!
I owned everal Model A's---my first car in 1955 a 1931 deluxe roadster I paid $15 U.S. for. Bought another roadster for $20 with a better motor, and swapped the motors and sold the non deluxe with the not so good motor for $40. The last car I made money on. Fast forward to the early 60's. Had a '31 pickup that could haul most anything including 2 12"x20foot steel channel beams for a house I was building chained to the front and rear axels. I was then in the San Francisco model A club and received a call from a family near Candlestick Park who had purchased a house with a old car in the garage with a room built around it and did I want it---free for taking. It turned out to be a late '31 slant window sedan. We got it out after tearing down a wall and pushing it into the daylight. It was straight, no rust or rot, original mohair upholstery etc. I had brought some fresh gas and a battery, checked the oil, and it fired right up and drove it 40 miles to my home. Did a three month frame off restoration with a motor built by the famous 4 banger racer in El Monte CA...Joe Gemsa, ( C crank, internal pressure oil, balanced, Oldsmobile pistons, Denver head etc.), new mohair, fresh paint and an overdrive welded into the torque tube drive line. On flat ground it would cruise at 65 all day. Completely stock appearing.
The day after it came out of the upholstery shop. we left for a Modal A convention in Victoria Canada with the wife and 2 kids under 6, full luggage, tools in a trunk on the back. What a fun trip. Made it up and back, then a couple of trips to Reno and three trips to Los Angeles area. And daily driving in the San Francisco area. No major issues
Truly one of the best cars I ever owned the 1931 truck second.
My first car was a '31 std coupe, my second a '30 tudor sedan. Both sold to go to college. Miss them both.
I loved your tour of the Model A along with the guided road tour. It is truly a lovely car. In comparison I owned a 1928 Pontiac 2 dr sedan with a flathead inline 6 cyl. I restored and painted the car back in the 80's, replacing only a couple of pieces of wood and doing a complete overhaul of the upholstery. I was also president of the Pontiac Oakland Club - Ontario Chapter.
I drove my young family across much of central and eastern Ontario to club meets and larger car shows and local parades. The biggest issue I had was an overheating problem, so I had to make sure I had a jug of water or two and some spare tools to tighten the nut on the water pump shaft. Other than that, the car drove quite nicely at 40 to 50 mph getting lots of cheers and waves from the locals. The car is now sold to a nice fellow in Michigan. I have moved on to solving problems on my 1984 Porsche 944.
This was the car our family had until I was about 11. After that my brother got a hold of it and modifted it. I remember going with my mother to a shopping area in a city about 12 miles away at lest once a week. Thank you for posting this video. This was about 1940 to about 1947.
One fun video! You did a great job explaining everything about this car in a very humorous way.
Sweet. Thanks.
I would say a late ‘60’s VWBug was probably the best car ever made. My wife had one for the first years of our marriage. It was just as simple as your Model A, just as reliable. I will still take my CRV for a long distance trip over any car I have ever owned.
@@adamnoman4658 .
Thank you!
Definitely trying to copy Doug
Paul, you gave a fantastic overview of the Model A that brought memories from my youth. In the late 40's and early 50's, my dad had a '34 Ford that was tough as boot leather. When I was pretty young, it was our daily driver (in fact, our ONLY driver). After I got into my early teens, (and we had a newer daily driver - a '50 model Ford), I got to drive '34 some - really thought I was something special! I really enjoyed your appraisal of the Model A! Thanks!
As a millenial, i as sure as heck do know what manual windows and no air conditioning is- Me and lots of my peers cannot afford well-equipped cars yet (unless financing hahah)
Long story short, i love your video and your Model A. Robust cars, which i have always been admiring in these earlier year cars. Bless ya for giving it a nice home
Thank you!
Back in the 60s I had the same feelings about driving my VW beetle. The foundation of quality is 'will it start', another quality question is 'can it be fixed', the answer for a lot of fancy cars is a definite maybe, depends on how much you can spend.. Easy to fix is very important.
Bought my 1930 Model A coupe in march of 2019. It had not been run for 9 years. I added gas checked the plugs and fluids. new battery and he Fired up . like you say its a blast to drive.
Great video Paul ! Growing up in New Zealand in the 60's and 70's and there were still plenty of these on the roads back then even though they were 40yo cars . Even the local gas station had a tow truck version ! Lived in Sydney Australia in the 1990's and 2000's and whenever you saw an oldie in the traffic it was either a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost or you guessed it a Ford Model A Proof of what Paul is saying - add seat belts, turn indicators and maybe some slight mods to ignition and gearbox and this old girl has no trouble mixing it with modern traffic - cheers
Absolutely love your review…. Looks like you are doug de mouro for old vehicles…. Keep up this good work.
This has to be one of the better auto reviews out there of any car ever built.
The first pickup truck I ever drove was a 1930 ford. I loved it! That was in the 60's.
This is the first of your videos that I stumbled on. Now I have to be a subscriber!
I do, however, think you missed one important aspect -- the club. You mention it briefly. Yet, you didn't give it enough credit. I have owned a lot of cars and been active in many car clubs for the last 37-years. Nothing prepared me for being a part of MAFCA, MARC or the local chapter.
My wife and I were at the Gilmore Museum just over 3-years ago. We really enjoyed the Model A building and we were still talking about it as we were walking out to our rental car. A Model A club was pulling in to the parking lot. We took a moment to ask them about about owning a Model A and the club. A gentleman that was listening to our questions asked if we had ever ridden in one. He offered to give us a ride, escorted us to a stunning Phaeton, and took us for a ride out into the Michigan countryside. We were enjoying the top down ride too much to notice we had been on the road for awhile. Then... He pulled to the side of the road, looked at me, and said: "Go around and get in. You're going to drive it home." He waived off my protests and explained how the Model A was designed for people who have never driven a car before. He had faith in me and in the car enough to know it would be fine. I drove it back to the Gilmore museum without a single issue. He even challenged me to try my hand and downshifting since it was clear I was comfortable double-clutching. Only a couple of slight misses before I could shift it up and down through the gears.
We made it back, thanked him for the ride and sat down in our rental car to gather our thoughts on what just happened. My wife turned to me and said: "You can have one of those."
We have owned our 1929 Model A Sport Coupe for the last 3-years. It is one of the best decisions we have made with regards to buying a hobby or enthusiast vehicle. The car is easy to work on, quality parts are readily available in addition to reasonably priced, and the car is fun to drive. Yet, it is the club that makes owning a Model A special. And, like the Phaeton owner in Michigan, we get a lot of pleasure being a part of a group that lends a hand whenever you ask for help, loves to tour or just get together for coffee, and - especially - serve as true ambassadors to the car hobby.
I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked to let kids sit in the rumble seat for pictures or called to tell the people I was scheduled to meet I was going to be a little late - again - since I was giving someone a ride around the block.
It may not be the best American made car. It is, however, one of the most enjoyable hobby/collector cars I own today and have owned over the last 40-years. Thank you for this wonderful video and looking forward to viewing many more like it.
That's a great story. Thanks for sharing! I am in the process of working with MAFCA to promote them in my videos. MARC was uninterested.
@Brian Foster
Paul did such a great tour of his model A.
And really appreciate your comments about riding with a car club. Sharing our joys is the real juice of life.
Finally, the clincher was your wife's statement about owning a model A. Almost choked with glee and laughed real hard.
A match made in Heaven. 🤗🌴🌈
I owned a 1957 Chevy Bel Air (automatic) and a 1975 Chevy Van (three on the column) among other cars and I really appreciated this video. I really got the sense of driving this car from your video with good filming, editing, and commentary coupled with my past experience with cars. I'm 70 and remember my granddad's 1940s and 1950s cars well. Thanks for posting this excellent educational video.
Thanks for sharing!
first car I ever drove was a 1929 model A phaeton, 100% original. grandpa took me out in the big field, and said "alright, drive the bitch. i'll whoop your ass if you burn up my clutch." it was extremely simple. i've owned seven motorcycles, one manual jeep cherokee that I still own, and that beautiful beige soft top. a phaeton did not have windows, but it did have elegance. grandpa insisted on the best, and he got it. when he was unable to drive it anymore, I got it. and boy, did I drive that car everywhere. the beach was the fun part. until the last year or so, I lived in clearwater, Florida. everyone knew my car and loved it. even some of the local celebs. I almost got T-boned by tom cruise while driving it, and Hulk Hogan did a double take the first time he saw it, and waved to me. like... the hulkster WAVED at me. not me waving at some massive celebrity, but the celebrity waved at some plebian who just happens to own a Model A. that's the power of these cars. they just bring people together, and they all have a good time.
Nice story! And, well said.
Your Grandpa sounds like a man I would like. And I'll bet you have never paid as much attention to working a clutch as you did that day. Lesson to last a lifetime.
I can't believe after all this time there's on in such immaculate condition.
That's what happens when you combine a very high quality car with someone who cares about it.
My dad's already in 1953 was repainted by hand (with a brush) and it was painted orange with black fenders!
The design philosophy of this almost reminds me of eastern bloc cars lol
In fact eastern bloc cars make sense considering this. It seems like over there they decided that this level of features and bare bones-ness was all that was needed. Old Ladas could even still be crank started which a cranks tart is actually a nice idea youll never be stranded if your battery dies
How do you remember how many 7's are in your use name ? :)
@@michaelb.42112
As with mostly everything I just guess and hope I get it right
Except those cars are generally crap
I'm 37 and been into Model A' s for several years now. My uncle took me for a ride in his 29 tudor sedan and I was hooked lol
Nice!
I drove one as a daily for years. You're video nails the experience :)
As an owner (or I should say driver--it's my wife's car), I also find it kind of fun to drive. It's a 1930 5 Window Coup, with a rumble seat, added, and hydraulic breaks. The head was modified slightly to give it just a bit more compression. I can go 55. Adeline (the car's name) is a bit temperamental at times.
If you had named it Frank you have fewer problems.
Really good presentation on a classic that would intimidate the heck out of me. That is, firing the thing up - the secret handshake oh my god.
I never thought a model A was this amazing and such a large part of human history. Great video thanks for sharing!
It's amazing to think a nice looking car like this was made over 90 years ago.
I can't believe that the FORD Doesn't rebuild it at the factory today. I definitely want the 32 pickup, Right off the line. In 2020!!! I could SEE that in 2020.
That's what my dad always said. "The Model A was the best car ever made!" I wasn't sure until now.
Great in warm weather, but the heater sucker.
My Grandpa said the same thing. But I didn't think he was right until now.lol.
Love that sound. This is the first car I got to drive. Knew a girl in high school who drove one every day to school. These are indeed still good.
My dad bought one new he drove it over the mountain from Alabama to Tennessee and it didn't have a drop of oil in it , of course it locked up he called the dealership and they brought him another one when they picked it up this time with oil in it, that was a long drive with out oil in it
Wow!
What an absolutely gorgeous little car. I love the light blue trim.
This is one of my favorite videos on the Model A.
Hi again: Here is a funny story; I pulled into a gas station with a head light out. A cop was there and saw me. He started righting a ten day ticket to get it fixed. I had a box of spare bulbs behind the seat. All Model A owners do. I replaced the bulb while he was righting the ticket. You don't need any tools to replace a head light bulb. He said I see you don't need this ticket. :-) Gary
A cop pulled me over in my college car- '30 Model A coupe, and with a scowl, was writing me a ticket for illegal tail-light lenses. "Only red lenses for rear lights and yours have amber STOP in them", he snapped. I said "How can STOP be misinterpreted?". He kept writing. I said "Those are one-piece original glass lenses". He stopped writing and said "One-piece lenses? You didn't add the STOP?" I said "Nope". He slammed his ticket book closed, stomped back to his car, and sped off.
I had a tudor when I was 15. Drove it to high school for a few months. It had the death wobble and one tire with a patch of another tire inside. I still miss that car. If "A's" were still made you would be in charge of marketing for Henry for sure.
Ha! Thanks, Bryan