On the Ford Motor Co Facebook page is this....
"Just in time for Henry Ford's 150th birthday, a key part of Ford Motor Company's heritage is returning home as a Model A built in 1903 is again with the Ford family. Today, Bill Ford unveiled the 1903 Model A that he bought at an auction in October."
John Stokes
New Zealand
The tag in the photo above states " oldest in the world" are they speaking about Fords? If so is the Quadracycle not included? are they speaking of production Ford cars?
The oldest car was French in 1889.
I took it as the oldest Model A Ford in the world.
I believe that car was discussed on the forum a few times over the past few years.
I wouldn't necessarily believe what that plaque says. It may or may not be the oldest Model A Ford in the world.
Also, if it were my car, I would remove that plaque, even if it actually were the oldest Model A Ford in the world. The plaque detracts from the car.
I'd think Mr. Ford would have the resources and records to research whether it is or is not the oldest extant Model A 1903 Ford. It appears to me that Ford was, and is, proud of their heritage and think better of the Ford family for helping to continue the preservation of artifacts related to the company.
OK so what I am to understand that it is the oldest "Model A" and does not mean the oldest Ford or the oldest car in the world.
Thanks for clearing that up for me.
That could very well be the oldest known surviving car produced by the Ford Motor Company. The Quadracycle was not made by the company.
What is the serial number?
Here's a link most of y'all will find interesting.
http://www.henryford150.com/
On Jan. 19 there will be a two hour special on Henry Ford on PBS. It's part of the "American Experience" series.
Prior discussions and a YouTube video regarding the "oldest surviving Model A."
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/23719.html?1169222881
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/23847.html?1169298610
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/89409.html?1240645269
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnwtmxWkG3U&feature=related
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/309968.html?1346930081
And - a list of Model A serial numbers provided by Kim Dobbins:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/89757.html?1240944509
If it is the one I'm thinking of it would be No.30.
What the auction bill said was that it is the oldest survivor out of the three listed as being sold on the same day.
Wouldn't one with a lower number still be older?
It just might have been pushed back in the corner for an extra day!
There is supposed to be another one from that day.
It is called the "equal oldest". Look on youtube for that. There is a video. The car was in Australia when the video was made.
Herb
This car was lot number 247 at the RM auction in January 2007. It is car serial #30. It sold for $693K dollars.
They determined it was the oldest surviving Model A based on where it appeared sold in the ledger book. I believe it was McNary's car.
Ford Motor Car Company apparently didn't build cars in numerical sequence back then.
Stan Howe's post in this thread say's it more clearly:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/309968.html?1346930081
Stan's post is verbatim what the auction listing posted.
One cannot totally rely upon serial number considering the way they were hand built at the time. They did not begin and finish one before moving on to the next. And, they did not follow in a singular line. Also, there are two legitimate ways to consider "oldest". Earliest built? Or earliest sold? Today, the earliest built surviving Ford is not the earliest sold surviving Ford. I hope they never will be one and the same because there could very well not be any one car that would even out the numbers.
And I am glad to see someone in the Ford family taking an interest in their heritage. I think every human on Earth should take an interest in their heritage. Just not their hatred.
Drive carefully, and enjoy the holidays! W2
I work for Ford Motor Company. As stated above, we have a little better information regarding what vehicles are were built when, and when they were shipped. Vehicle numbers are not necessarily shipped or completed in order.
Where is this "little better information" that is possessed by Ford Motor Company if it does not already reside at the Benson Center?
David, what information does Ford have on those early cars? The 1903 sales ledger is in possession of the Edison institute. I wrote to Ford years ago about some research I was doing about early 1909 cars and was told that Ford had no information, it had all been donated to the Edison institute.
True, information on early vehicles resides at Edison Institute. These were Ford records. The previous posts seem to place doubt on the credibility of Ford records. The information clearly shows what has already been outlined in the referenced post. This is the oldest known remaining Model A. It is believed to be car 3#, chassis #30. As stated previously, lower serial numbers to not necessarily mean they were completed and/or shipped previous to this car.
You know,I am tickled pink that the old Ford is back in the family.
But If I were Mr. Ford,I would be peeod about that tacky plaque being screwed into the original floor boards of the car! :>0
So if this one of the first three sold, cool. Would there be any way to get a handle on the amount of vehicles produced since then?
David, so Ford has no other information? All the information you are referring to comes from the 1903 sales ledger? There are 4 places the early A's are numbered,the engine frame, flywheel, body and sometimes the inside of the glove box door. How is Ford coming to the conclusion that the car in question is car #3 and car #30?
I think we're all getting caught in semantics.
Good for Bill Ford...period. Somebody was going to buy it and he brought it home.
Chassis number 30 was the 3rd Ford 'A' sold chronological...on the first day of sales. It's that simple. OK, so it shipped out about 20th in line on the shipping ledger. This part is well understood and documented. Kudo's to Bill Ford, it should have a nice home.
I'd be more interested in hearing the legacy and lore of those 'missing' numbers of the early 'A'. The legacy of the so-called #29 for example
Especially since someone says the booked value of the sale was '0'. With all due respect to Kim Dobbins and his exhausting hard work this may very well have been #29 which is undocumented in most of the other sources. Then again, the timing of the sale and the sale amount could it be a re-stamp another early...say #2? Not trying to fuel a debate, but something happened or there is reason to those missing numbers, eh?