1931 Ford Model A Huckster Woody

Introduced to the public in December 1927, the 1928 Model A was an immediate sensation.  Some 10 million people viewed the new vehicle in the first week.  The crowds gathered in such numbers that many cities needed to send police to help direct traffic around those who lined up to see the new Ford. While enthusiasm and demand were high, production lagged.  The newly installed assembly line for the Model A at the Rouge was not up to full capacity until the middle of 1929, when they were able to produce 9,000 units a day.  The Model A showed that customers' tastes were developing as fast as the newly installed paved roads and manufacturers needed to change as quickly.  It also showed that Henry was indeed “able to make a lady out of the Lizzie!”

For consignment, a beautifully completed 1931 Model A woody huckster which was the beneficiary of a full restoration performed in 2005.  This former Texas truck, looking authentic with two tone exterior, wire wheels, beautifully installed and stained wood sides, vinyl interior, and even carrying a bed load of fruit, albeit wax, that may or may not have been pilfered from someone's grandmother's buffet or hutch.  This 2005 AACA National Senior first place winning car also works on a 6-volt positive ground system, has a wonderfully restored undercarriage, roll down sides for the cargo area and like new tires.

Exterior
Looking the part of a traditional Model A up front with its tall roofline, fenders and running boards, along with the essential cowled hood, chromed radiator surround with its flying goose topper flanked by chromed encased head lighting, and dual bar bumpers in front.  The steel body is bathed in shiny red and down below is black for the fenders and running boards.  A polished stainless strip delineates the hood from the cowl assembly and even the fuel filler cap atop the cowl is mirror polished.  The Briggs style windshield is framed in red and can be tilted forward to allow some extra air flow and the polished door handles on the sturdy oak doors all show nicely.  More wonderfully stained blonde oak makes up the passenger compartment and cargo area and incorporates canvas roll up sides to show off your wares at market.  Out back, dual tail lights flank a short fold down oak tailgate and rear roll up canvas curtain.  A note to the top, which is wrapped in vinyl in black, as technology of the day would not allow for a large piece of steel to be pressed into shape and frankly looks much better than being finished simply in wood.  Black 19-inch wire spoke wheels are wrapped in like new wide whitewall rubber for that perfect 30's look.

Interior
A tree's worth of oak covers most surfaces of the door panels with a black door release and nifty shiny handles.  Inside a long smooth black vinyl bench seat runs door to door and has the added safety benefit of lap belts for your travels.  More wood makes up the vertical surfaces of the interior and the headliner all looking like new.  The full metal jacket dash fronts the bench and is painted body matching red around a center chromed “mask” style shiny instrument cluster.  A nice shiny original steering wheel is mounted and extending proudly from this nice dash, and textured vinyl in black covers the wood and steel front floor.  Moving rearward to the cargo area, we note grandma's aforementioned wax fruit, a bushel full and then some in quantity, all fitting snugly into the well restored wood bed.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a nicely restored and award winning 201ci 4-cylinder engine.  It is fed fuel by a 1-barrel carburetor and the original 3-speed transmission is on back pushing power rearward to a 3.78 gear rear axle.

Undercarriage
Extremely clean with no rust in sight, frame and running boards, as well as body hangers are solid and rust free.  Some wood is on for the under floor pans and is all solid and painted black.  Transverse leaf springs is the suspension down below and mechanical drum brakes show up also on all 4 corners.

Drive-Ability
This old gal fired right up running on all 4 cylinders, and as I slipped it into gear, we were ready to take on the test track.  It has a nostalgic feel to the ride, nice smooth acceleration, a wonderful sound, and good handling.  Braking needs to be planned a bit ahead but works just fine and I made it to the local market right on time, but nobody seemed to want to purchase my fruit after a taste sampling.

A nice older restoration with AACA provenance, a fine mix of Ford steel and well done oak all rust and rot free, and looking good in the two tone paint along with the highlighting chrome.  Amazingly clean undercarriage, and definitely meant to be a shower as well as a driver.  Just do not plan open cruising down the highway at more than 40mph, you don't want your fruit falling out and having to face grandma's broom...

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.