Ford Model A Pick-Up

The Ford Model A of 1928–1931 (also colloquially called

the A-Model Ford or the A, and A-bone among rodders and

customizers) was the second huge success for the Ford

Motor Company, after its predecessor, the Model T. First

produced on October 20, 1927, but not sold until

December 2, it replaced the venerable Model T, which

had been produced for 18 years. This new Model A (a

previous model had used the name in 1903–1904) was

designated as a 1928 model and was available in four

standard colors.

By 4 February 1929, one million Model As had been sold, and by 24 July, two million. The range of body styles ran from the Tudor at US$500 (in grey, green, or black)[3] to the Town Car with a dual cowl at US$1200. In March 1930, Model A sales hit three million, and there were nine body styles available. The Model A was produced through 1931. When production ended in March, 1932, there were 4,849,340[citation needed] Model As made in all styles. Its successor was the Model B, which featured an updated 4-cylinder engine, followed by the Model 18 which introduced Ford's new flathead (sidevalve) V8 engine.

Features

Prices   for   the   Model A   ranged   from   US   $385   for   a   roadster   to   $1400   for   the   top-of-the-line   Town Car.   The   engine   was   a   water-cooled   L-head   4-cylinder   with   a   displacement   of   201   cu   in   (3.3   l). This   engine   provided   40   hp   (30   kW;   41   PS). Top   speed   was   around   65   mph   (105   km/h). The   Model A   had   a   103.5   in   (2,630   mm)   wheelbase   with   a   final   drive   ratio   of   3.77:1. The   transmission   was   a conventional   3-speed   sliding   gear   manual   unsynchronised   unit   with   a   single   speed   reverse.   The Model   A   had   4-wheel   mechanical   drum   brakes.   The   1930   and   1931   editions   came   with   stainless steel radiator cowling and headlamp housings. The   Model   A   came   in   a   wide   variety   of   styles:   Coupe   (Standard   and   Deluxe),   Business   Coupe, Sport   Coupe,   Roadster   Coupe   (Standard   and   Deluxe),   Convertible   Cabriolet,   Convertible   Sedan, Phaeton    (Standard    and    Deluxe),   Tudor    Sedan    (Standard    and    Deluxe),   Town    Car,    Fordor    (2- window)   (Standard   and   Deluxe),   Fordor   (3-window)   (Standard   and   Deluxe),   Victoria,   Station Wagon, Taxicab, Truck, and Commercial. The   Model   A   was   the   first   Ford   to   use   the   standard   set   of   driver   controls   with   conventional clutch   and   brake   pedals;   throttle   and   gearshift.   Previous   Ford   models   used   controls   that   had become   uncommon   to   drivers   of   other   makes.   The   Model   A's   fuel   tank   was   located   in   the   cowl, between   the   engine   compartment's   fire   wall   and   the   dash   panel.   It   had   a   visual   fuel   gauge,   and the   fuel   flowed   to   the   carburetor   by   gravity. A   rear   view   mirror   was   optional.   In   cooler   climates, owners   could   purchase   an   aftermarket   cast   iron   unit   to   place   over   the   exhaust   manifold   to provide   heat   to   the   cab. A   small   door   provided   adjustment   of   the   amount   of   hot   air   entering   the cab. Model A was the first car to have safety glass in the windshield. The   Soviet   company   GAZ,   which   started   as   a   cooperation   between   Ford   and   the   Soviet   Union, made   a   licensed   version   of   the   Model A   from   1932-1936.   This   itself   was   the   basis   for   the   FAI   and BA-20 armored car, which saw use as scout vehicles in the early stages of World War II. In   addition   to   the   United   States,   Ford   made   the   Model A   in   plants   in Argentina,   Canada,   France, Germany and the United Kingdom and Denmark. In   Europe,   where   cars   were   taxed   according   to   engine   size,   Ford   equipped   the   Ford   Model A   with a   2,033   cc   (124.1   cu   in)   engine   providing   a   claimed   output   of   just   40   hp   (30   kW;   41   PS). However,   the   engine   size   was   still   large   enough   to   equate   to   a   fiscal   horsepower   of   14.9   hp      (as opposed   to   the   24   hp   of   the   larger   engine)   and   attracted   a   punitive   annual   car   tax   levy   of   £24   in the   UK   and   similar   penalties   in   other   principal   European   markets.   It   therefore   was   expensive   to own   and   too   heavy   and   thirsty   to   achieve   volume   sales,   and   so   unable   to   compete   in   the   newly developing   mass   market,   while   also   too   crude   to   compete   as   a   luxury   product.   European manufactured   Model   As   failed   to   achieve   the   sales   success   in   Europe   that   would   greet   their smaller successor in England and Germany.

Historical context of Model A development

From   1913   through   the   early   1920s,   the   Ford   Motor   Company   dominated   the   automotive   market with   its   Model   T.   However,   during   the   mid-1920s,   this   dominance   eroded   as   competitors,   notably General   Motors,   caught   up   with   Ford's   mass   production   system   and   began   to   outcompete   Ford   in some    areas,    especially    by    offering    more    powerful    engines,    new    convenience    features,    or cosmetic   customization.   Also,   features   Henry   considered   to   be   unnecessary,   such   as   electric starters, were gradually shifting in the public's perception from luxuries to essentials. Ford's   sales   force   recognized   the   threat   and   advised   Henry   Ford   to   respond   to   it.   Initially   he resisted,   but   the   T's   sagging   market   share   finally   forced   him   to   admit   a   replacement   was needed.   When   he   finally   agreed   to   begin   development   of   this   new   model,   he   focused   on   the mechanical   aspects   and   on   what   today   is   called   design   for   manufacturability   (DFM),   which   he had   always   strongly   embraced   and   for   which   the   Model   T   production   system   was   famous. Although   ultimately   successful,   the   development   of   the   Model   A   included   many   problems   that had   to   be   resolved.   For   example,   the   die   stamping   of   parts   from   sheet   steel,   which   the   Ford company   had   led   to   new   heights   of   development   with   the   Model   T   production   system,   was something   Henry   had   always   been   ambivalent   about;   it   had   brought   success,   but   he   felt   that   it was   not   the   best   choice   for   durability.   He   was   determined   that   the   Model A   would   rely   more   on drop   forgings   than   the   Model   T;   but   his   ideas   to   improve   the   DFM   of   forging   did   not   prove practical.   Eventually,   Ford's   engineers   persuaded   him   to   relent,   lest   the   Model   A's   production cost force up its retail price too much. Henry's   disdain   for   cosmetic   vanity   as   applied   to   automobiles   led   him   to   leave   the   Model   A's styling   to   a   team   led   by   his   son   Edsel,   even   though   he   would   take   credit   for   it   despite   his   son doing more of the work. It   was   during   the   period   from   the   mid-1920s   to   early   1930s   that   the   limits   of   the   first   generation of   mass   production,   epitomized   by   the   Model T   production   system,   became   apparent. The   era   of "flexible mass production" had begun.

Film and media

The   Ford   Model A   was   well   represented   in   media   of   the   era   since   it   was   one   of   the   most   common cars. Model kits are still available from hobby shops in the 2000s, as stock cars or hot rods. Perhaps   in   reference   to   the   remarkable   upgrade   from   the   previous   Model   T,   a   song   was   written about   the   Model   A   by   Irving   Kaufman   called   Henry's   Made   a   Lady   Out   Of   Lizzie,   a   reference   to the moniker Tin Lizzie given to the Model T. Several   Model As   have   obtained   particular   notoriety.   The   Ramblin'   Wreck,   a   1930   Sport   Coupe,   is the   official   mascot   of   the   student   body   at   the   Georgia   Institute   of   Technology   and   appears   at sporting   events   and   student   body   functions. Ala   Kart,   a   customized   1929   roadster   pickup   built   by George   Barris   won   two   straight   "America's   Most   Beautiful   Roadster"   awards   at   the   Oakland Roadster   Show   before   making   numerous   film   and   television   appearances.   Between   October   1992 to   December   1994,   Hector   Quevedo,   along   with   his   son   Hugo,   drove   a   1928   Model A   22,000   miles (35,000   km)   from   his   home   in   Punta   Arenas,   Chile   to   the   Ford   Motor   Company   headquarters   in Dearborn,   Michigan.   The   car   required   minimal   service   including   a   flat   tire   and   transmission   work in Nicaragua and is now housed in the Henry Ford Museum. Charlie    Ryan's    Hot    Rod    Lincoln    was    a    Model    A    with    a    Lincoln    flathead    V12    and    other modifications.

1929

Engine 201 cc / 3.3 l 4 cylinders Power 40 HP Top speed 105 km/h Lenght/width 4,19 m/1,7 m Weight 1.027 kg The collections A-model was bought from USA as the collector noted it in traffic. The car is now inspected by museum authorities and registerd to Finland. The car played a role in the movie Hella W.