1929 Ford Model A

Description

Affordable when it was new and just as affordable today, this 1929 Ford Model A coupe offers a lot of old car fun for not a lot of cash. Charmingly basic, it is a great entry-level hobby car that will teach you all about how old cars work without driving you into the poor house and the elegant colors make it look a lot more expensive than it is.

Silver wasn't technically on the Ford color charts in 1929, but the combination of silver bodywork and black fenders and trim does have a certain appeal on the vintage Model A bodywork. It isn't a show car by any means, but the appeal of a Model A is that they are very drivable, so if you're yearning for some kind of old car, it's hard to go wrong with one of these. Fit and finish are good for a driver and you'll be happy to have it at local shows where it'll stand out among all the hot rods that everyone's so tired of seeing. The simplicity is the car's biggest selling feature, and with a painted radiator shell and a minimum of add-ons, it has a great working-class look. The stainless headlight buckets shine up nicely, the chrome bumpers are very good and the black vinyl top is configured in one of four different styles offered in 1929.

The gray fabric interior is like the outside of the car: not totally correct, but attractive and appealing and someone worked hard to give it a period look. The materials are comfortable and durable enough for regular use and with simple door panels and carpets on the floor, the low-priced Model A has a very upscale feel inside. The controls are the same as you'll find in any Model A, starting with the big hard rubber steering wheel and simple instrument panel in the center of the dash; it's a little tarnished, but reproductions are very inexpensive. Original handles and knobs help with authenticity and the tilt-open windshield aids with ventilation since a cowl vent isn't possible in the A (the gas tank lives in the cowl). In back, there's a spacious trunk instead of the usual rumble seat and it's lined in cedar, which is an interesting choice that isn't correct but definitely has some appeal.

Ford's rugged, torquey 200 cubic inch four cylinder engine is eager to please and runs well under just about any conditions. It doesn't take a lot of knowledge or money to make them run right and even though the specs are modest, performance is lively around town and it's happy cruising at 40 MPH all day. A few choice upgrades make it easier to live with, including an alternator and upgraded distributor, both of which help the engine spring to life with a touch of the starter pedal. Gray paint on the engine itself isn't totally correct, but has an industrial quality that I think Henry Ford would have appreciated and it still carries its correct-for-1929 2-blade cooling fan. A 3-speed manual transmission works best with a quick double-clutch between gears and despite what you've heard, properly adjusted Model A brakes work just fine. Modern tube shocks have been fitted, so this one rides and handles better than most and the exhaust system has that traditional Model A sound. Correct 21-inch wire wheels are painted Tacoma Cream and fitted with 4.40/4.50-21 blackwalls for an honest look.

It's easy to fall in love with a Model A and this coupe makes it more affordable than ever. Call today!