1930 Ford Model A

The Ford Model A was a car made by the Ford Motor Company. It had a four-cylinder engine. It replaced the Ford Model T and was replaced by the Ford Model B and Ford Model 18. Though it was only made for five years. 4,849,340 Model As were made and sold.

An interesting story, which I'm always on the prowl for, and it's amazing how many of these cars do not have one! This one does, and it's worth working into this description. I'll start by saying our consigner's husband bought this car from a junkyard in Philadelphia in 1960 for 75 dollars. It did not run, needed bodywork and everything else. So, this Coast Guard service member took to learning as he went, consulting with those who did know, took the engine apart, worked it, and completely rebuilt it. Read on!

Exterior
After leaving the Coast Guard in 1965, our consigner decided to become an apprentice at a body shop, which he pursued for 4 years. A frame off restoration of this now working engine car was begun in 1969 and completed in 1973. The finish is from 1973 and it is a two-tone job with maroon on the middle and black for the top and bottom. The roof is vinyl, and this is due to the fact that back in 1930 the technology did not exist to stamp a panel large enough to fit the entire roof, so it was left to be canvas with lath structure. Today it is black vinyl and looking great, no fade or tears. Our example pictured here has well minded thin gaps throughout, is all rust free, and the paint is still looking deep and shiny. Some red pin striping is seen between the black and maroon painted panels and pillars, and the curved fenders and adjoining running boards are black as well. All glass is clear, chrome trimmings are excellent and not pitted or faded. This chrome includes the radiator surround, headlight casings and bezels, door handles, hood cowl trimming right before the firewall cowl, rear tail lighting, and dual flat bar split bumpers on back and a solid one in front. A Ford liquid indicator tubed radiator cap is now on and still shines leading the way. Optional wind window glass is noted hanging off of either side of the front side glass and has a small chromed mirror attached. 19-inch wire wheels in beautiful restored red are on all 4 corners as well as the rear mounted spare.

Interior
A swing of any door and we are now in mohair heaven! Covering each door in a tan color way, with a pocket for storage in the center, shiny actuator handles and window cranks and even the lock flip toggle are beautiful shining examples within this mohair. Window sills are faux wood graining and metal, and lowers are brown carpeting. Inside 2 bench seats covered in... mohair! have nice fabric that has large tuck and roll inserts with buttons on the seat and backs. Bolsters and tubs for seating are also covered in tan mohair. The floors are brown carpeting and have a tan edging. In front of the driver is a black rubber panel protecting the heavy use under the pedals. A nicely wood grained metal curved dash swoops across the bottom of the windshield. Below on the front of the dash is a pointed oval metal panel which is bathed in deep maroon and has a highlighting red pinstripe bordering the edges and a centrally mounted chromed “mask” style dash with the old gauges which are all working. The headliner is more stitched mohair and presents nice and tight with no stains or tears.

Drivetrain
Lifting either side of the cowled hood we are greeted with an inline 4-cylinder, 201ci that appears to have just been driven off the showroom floor. Nice wiring in the old style, new hoses and a coating of steel green engine paint are all within a near perfectly restored engine bay. This engine is fed by a 1-barrel carburetor and has a 3-speed manual transmission attached to the back, which is shifted from the long posted floor shifter. 3.77 gears are noted in the rear axle.

Undercarriage
So the key words here are frame off restoration, and 4 years of bodywork apprenticeship and it shows in the great looking undercarriage as a result. Nary even a hint of road dirt or rust, the X frame body hangered, running board and exterior fendered underside is all pristine. Transverse leaf springs were the suspension of the era, and these are on all 4 corners. Mechanical drum brakes are seen all around as well.

Drive-Ability
Starting is a breeze once you figure out the choke and which pedal to push, but it was off to the races with this car and on our test track it certainly did not break any speed record, but what it did do was run smooth as silk, smooth effortless shifting, and even steering was not too bad when not moving all that fast. Brakes are good, and all was working on this beauty of a build.

All in all it took 4 years of actual work to finish the project, but if you count the earlier years of ripping the engine apart, and learning bodywork it was 13 years in the making, and this now awarded several times for the efforts car is on the market and is a wonderful earlier restoration still holding its own which is a testament to the drive and fortitude the consigner went through to have such a beautiful example. Yours for the taking!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.