1930 Ford Model A

Description

Model A Fords make great hobby cars, both for beginners and experienced hobbyists, and there are guys who fall in love and stay with them forever. It's hard to argue against cars like this wonderful 1930 four-door sedan, which offers peppy performance, rugged mechanicals, and an upscale look that will attract attention everywhere you go.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Model A sedans, and longed for one when I was contemplating my first car at about age 14. The sedan is practical, but it's also impressive and grown-up-looking, and appears far more expensive than it is. This one is finished in brown and tan, a handsome, popular combination from a few years back, and the two-tone paint scheme shows off the many intricate details that made the Model A a big step up from the T. Very few body parts are reproduced for the sedans, so it's all Henry Ford steel complemented by classic black fenders. This particular body was built by Murray, easily identified by the arched windows, and new Ford owners were never certain which style they'd get until it arrived. Ford pioneered the use of stainless steel (which they called "rustless" steel) on the radiator shell and headlamps, along with chromed bumpers front and rear, all of which are in good condition today. There are also twin side-mounted spares and a handy rear luggage rack, making this a fine tour candidate that's eminently practical.

Ford should be commended on the quality of their interior materials, and the brown mohair upholstery in the sedan is the same stuff they were using in Lincolns. Pleated patterns were used throughout, and matching door panels were fitted at the same time, complete with map pockets that you'll undoubtedly find quite useful. Closed cars also got beautiful wood garnish moldings for the doors, which really give it an upscale feel inside, but the rest of the controls will be immediately familiar to anyone who has driven a Model A before. Gauges are simple, just a speedometer, ammeter, and fuel gauge that looks directly into the cowl-mounted gas tank. Have a look around inside, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by Henry's lovely little Model A's ability to look like a million bucks without even trying.

The erstwhile 200 cubic inch inline-four makes 40 horsepower, but torque is really what moves this Ford, and there's plenty of it. With a distinctive sound and a peppy attitude, the engine moves the sedan with aplomb, cruising happily at 45 MPH all day, with bursts of up to 60 MPH possible for short periods. The engine looks to have been restored not too long ago, and these are extremely reliable machines, so you shouldn't think twice about putting it on the road. An auxiliary fuel filter works in conjunction with the original sediment bowl, feeding the Zenith carburetor via gravity-the ultimate fuel system! It fires up quickly and while not exactly smooth, it has a great mechanical feel that's all part of the Model A's charm. Underneath it looks pretty stock, including solid floors, a brand new exhaust system and bright straw-colored wheels wearing 19-inch whitewalls.

Get a Model A. Cars like this sedan are a great way to learn about old cars without any headaches. Call today!