OT: How many of you also own a Model A?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: OT: How many of you also own a Model A?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Constantine in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 11:14 am:

How do the two cars compare? Which do you prepare to drive?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timothy Kelly on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 11:20 am:

Constantine:

I have both letter series Fords, including a 1909 Model T, as well as second generation Model A Fords.

The Model A's are much more modern than the brass Fords...and tend to be easier to operate and require less regular maintenance.

I don't prefer one over the other. Rather, I chose the car that best fits the situation calling for an antique automobile.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Stitt-Southern Oregon on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 12:13 pm:

I agree with Timothy.
I would say if you are an attention whore (who isn't) the model T excites the crowd. It does not conform to what many people think of as a car. I get mobbed. I don't know how many times I been video taped in the T but it has been a bunch.
The Model A looks typical as hot rods are everywhere. My Model A is an enclosed car so it's my late fall early spring and winter car..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darel J. Leipold on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 12:20 pm:

All


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Perigo - Linton, IN on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 12:23 pm:

I really prefer the Model T; it's the most interesting and fun to drive. However, for long tours you probably need a trailer to get to the starting point if it's a distance. The "A" is more like a modern car to me, and, because mine is a fordor, it's a more all-weather car. Our "second" car when I was young was a Model A Coupe. My "T" is an unfinished depot hack, so it could be considered more weather-proof with its side curtains than a touring. Also, I would drive the "A" much further to start a tour.(It's faster:-))

But if I could only keep one, it will be the "T."

Mike


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 03:28 pm:

I have two Model A's, a 1931 Tudor and a 1930 PU. I prefer T's. I can't fit well into the A PU, and my wife doesn't care for the wobbly seats of the Tudor.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Alexander in Albion, Maine on Sunday, November 11, 2012 - 03:52 pm:

I have a '25 T roadster pick up and a 29 A std roadster. It depends upon where I am going and if there is a time constraint. I find that both cars get lots of attention but the T gets the more quizzical looks and many more questions / comments from bystanders. If I have no time issues, needing to be there soon, I'll take the T as I really enjoy a 25 mph ride although some behind me don't. With the A it is more likely a 35 to 40 mph ride. Our springer spaniel much prefers the A. go figure !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dane Hawley Near Melbourne Australia on Monday, November 12, 2012 - 04:44 am:

Constantine, the Model A is an ideal long-distance touring car from the Vintage era. Although I have had several many years ago, I used a 1928 Tudor for regular every-day driving from 1966 through to 1980. That included lots of Melbourne city and metropolitan driving, but also trips to Perth and back then Cairns and back, each time with the family on board and towing a home-built camping trailer. In that time I managed to clock up close to 200,000 miles. There is a short video of part of the Perth trip here-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_TfYlVUnrQ&list=UU91SYGtfHD9LaGagiGCEJgg&index=7 &feature=plcp


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Ashton Rosenkrans on Monday, November 12, 2012 - 08:56 am:

We have a spectrum of Fords, T, A, and early V8 including 5 A's. The A's are good "all purpose" vintage cars, very drivable, and still garner smiles and waves. Different folks from the general public seem to like different cars, some like the T's, some the A's, and some the V8s. We like them all and drive whatever the mood strikes us for.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Mahaffey on Monday, November 12, 2012 - 10:34 am:

I have a '27 Model T tudor and a '29 Model A tudor. I adore them both.

The Model A is easier to start. It idles effortlessly. It is very pleasant to drive, but you have to pretend that you have no brakes. Overall, the machine seems in perfect balance. The Model A is almost an automobile, and it will drive in most modern traffic situations, including on the interstate.

The Model T is noticeably cuter than the Model A, and it always gathers more attention. The 1927 Model T is not an automobile. Rather, it is a gas-buggy dolled up to look like a car. With accessory RM brakes, stopping the back wheels from turning is never a problem, but reducing the forward speed to zero requires one to be alert. Driving a heavy sedan in hilly traffic with very little horsepower making it to the rear axle is nicely challenging. The Ruck axle helps, and adds to the necessary skill set. I would never drive it on the interstate. Driving the Model T can be exhausting, while under similar conditions driving the Model A can be relaxing, but there's more fun and sense of accomplishment driving the Model T from point A to point B. The Model A is good for parades; the Model T is not.

The upholstery on the Model T is heavier and better built than on the Model A. The headlights on the Model A look like they are trying to be serious headlights, and the complicated electrical connections are prone to failure. The headlights on the Model T look friendly and are very reliable. Neither lights up the road in front of the car to any extent. Ignition and lubrication systems are, of course, vastly superior on the Model A. The gas gauge on the Model A is superb.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Monday, November 12, 2012 - 11:08 am:

Had a rust pile, sold it. I work on them almost everyday at the shop.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Constantine in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 11:00 am:

Thanks for your replies.

I'm looking forward to learning about the Model A and seeing for myself what it's like.

Dane, great video, didn't know the road to Perth was still unpaved in 1975.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 12:27 pm:

:-) I own a Model A to go with my T. :-)

The last time I saw it was two years ago when we picked up the T. It is the one I drove it to high school etc. in the early 60's when I was fixing my "other" car. I couldn't get close to it because of the "stuff" piled around it but it looked to be in sad shape with the rubber around the windows dripping and rust beginning to show thru the original paint. At that time my mom wanted me to move it to NH with the T but I did not have time or space to deal with it. Now that she has passed I’ll have to figure out what to do.

As most have said an A is an antique car, while a T is a horseless carriage. An A drives like a car (with poor brakes) and you can change gears while using a clutch.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By allanwick on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 03:19 pm:

Some people don't know how to maintain or adjust Model A brakes. I can lock up all fours with the original brakes on the '31 Town Sedan and the '30 roadster which still has the original steel drums as opposed to the available cast iron drums. Cast drums reportedly stop the car better. For a 10k mile trip, the '14 Runabout and '25 TT would have to rest at home and keep the dog company. We have been on a few 2K mile trips in the roadster and only had to stop for gas.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Luke Dahlinger on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 03:46 pm:

I agree 100% with allanwick's post. Model A's were known for having very good brakes. Poor maintenance & repair by the inexperienced over the years has given Model A brakes a bad name.

Both my A Pickup and Roadster have brakes restored using nothing but NOS & quality repro parts. Taking the slack out of the system and watching your geometry as you repair the brakes makes a huge difference. More than one person has been surprised when I would have to do a panic stop.

A Model A properly restored is one hell of a fine machine. When I was driving the Pickup on a regular basis I had no qualms going on a weekend trip to Georgia or the Everglades, etc.

A reground cam and high compression head were the only mods I did to it. Everything else was stock including the 6V system.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darel J. Leipold on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 03:51 pm:

My A pickup and roadster have had the brakes rebuilt using correct Model A parts and adjustments. Both As have good brakes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 02:13 am:

I don't but would like to have one, some day...but after I get my Model T touring...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 09:12 am:

Like Danial, I may get one of those modern cars someday, but for now I'm plenty busy enough.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garry Houser on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 03:40 pm:

When I decided to buy an old car, my mind was set on a Model A. However my great uncle Clyde told me model T’s were more fun to drive. It had been 68 years since he last drove one, owning 12 T’s never paying over $12.00 for one and most he said was around $5.00. My mind was now set to buy a model T and leave it in his garage so he and his wife could enjoy it. The car was a 1923 touring that I still own and he enjoyed till age 94 and my grandmother till age 96. What great memories I have of the three of them in the model T. I have since bought a model A pick up from which he approved. I truly have more fun in my three model T’s than the A, Thanks’ Uncle Clyde.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike mclean on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 03:59 pm:

i have a 26 four door and a 28 tudor i lkie both they are differant one is good for one tour the other is better for an other kind of tour


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerome Hoffman, Hays KS on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 04:04 pm:

Here is my .02 and I will try not to drift off topic. I made the decision back in high school not to have anything to do w/Model A's BECAUSE growing up in the Denver area the only model A people who I encountered were snobbish and this is the nicest way of saying it. Think banker with way too much money, could buy anything already done, and spend too much over restoring the car so it can compete in some show for a trophy, and most likely never getting his hands dirty. At the time was a member of the MTFCA Mile High Chapter and was never left out if asked a question as a 14 year old. My mother is still a member even after my father died in 05'.
In recent years I have been thinking of adding to the garage a Model A but have not done it and without a club here that fellowship enjoyed with being a Model T owner would have for me to bee there.
I guess it for me comes down to one thing outside my love of Model T's and that is support, and I don't mean just what I can find on the internet, though that helps when you have no local club.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 04:34 pm:

I bought a Model A Tudor when I was 15 years old. It was a wonderful first car but I wanted more and got into T's a couple years later. I drove and worked on the A for 14 years but sold it and have enjoyed half a dozen T's which I still have 50 years later.
Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael W. Herndon on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 06:22 pm:

When I was young, I always wanted more T and A. Now, as an older guy, I have 4 Ts and one A. I must admit that I love driving the 29 A pickup most because I can get in it and go where ever I want and as far as I want at speeds that work well with today's traffic.

But one cannot surpass the enjoyment of driving a 27 TT or a 12 touring... you just cannot take it as far without others along. As for people enjoying the cars, the 29 pickup gets looks from everyone! I was in South shore Lake Tahoe early this summer and parked my pickup next to a McLaren. I waited for the guy to come out and I was going to ask him "Hey... if you let me drive your car, I will give you a ride in mine!" Ha.. he never showed up...


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