Thread: Model A Ford help needed...

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Need Model A help of all types here... Model 'A' Fords 28 thru 31 All Models... - Club Hot Rod Forums Yep its a new group we need to get it off the ground! Urgent, ASAP, Pronto, Hurry!

Since mine is a '32 (Brookville reproduction) I'd appreciate learning why some people prefer the Model A's. Is it just because they're older or are there features that some find more desirable?

They are easy to put on a 32 frame and then with the duece radiator they look like a 32

There were a Babillion of them built, hence there are still a bunch of them around. When there is an abundance of anything it seems to bring down the price... Another words, they are still affordable and still have the look. LOL You can buy them fairly cheap in today standards and after they are built they can bring a good profit. Its cost effective to build an A Bone into a hot rod. Not so much to restore one. A fully restored Model A Brings around $12,000 to $14,000. An A Bone built into a hot rod can double that easily. The evolution of the Ford body styles in the 20 and 30 were subtle but marked in the differences. The Model T's were still very small, really tall, and still very much horse buggy in its technology. I think Model A's are the first cars of the modern era in their design and the way they were made. The main thing that made the 32 popular in the day wasn't the body style as it was just a bit different than the 30, 31's, it was that monster power plant flat head V8 that made that car so desirable. It was the first of the ford V8's and the body style only lasted for 1 year. Not too many built, more power, and now they are rare and as a consequence they bring a pretty penny. Anyway that is the attraction as I see it. Im sure some may disagree and have other reasons for one over the other and Id like to hear their views... Thanks for the question and interest. On a side note I find that no mater what the make of the car there is a following and certain group of people that just love them. I for one am glad everyone has different tastes in vehicles and we all prefer different things in our vehicles. If we didn't hot rodding could get really old and boring quickly.

I can agree with MT that they are more abundant and thus less expensive, and the initial appeal of the '32 was the availability of the V8.....though there were quite a few 4 cylinder versions sold too (Model B for the 4 vs Model 18 for the 8). The A ran for 4 years of production, and, as noted, the '32 for only one. People sometimes think that the depression hit in '29 when the Stock Market crashed, but it took til '32 for the Great Depression to officially begin. I would differ on the popularity being just the engine though. Edsel Ford styled the '32 to pick up a number of design elements of the Lincoln, thus giving the "common" man a taste of high end luxury in a lower priced package. The styling of the '32s has had strong devotees since day one, to the point that even within Brookville's line of reproduction bodies, the '32 roadster sells for about twice what an A roadster body goes for. In original tin pricing the disparity is even wider.

To Jerry's point, the A body on deuce rails had several motivators; again, cost in the form of a cheaper and plentiful body swapped to the V8 chassis (say from a less desirable body such as a 4 door) equals instant improved performance. The lakes racers especially appreciated that the A body was somewhat lighter, and more aerodynamic with it's narrower cowl section (especially the '28-9). As for a particularly styled combination of parts looking like a '32, that may have been the motivation of some, but likely not the first point for most.

I get that all the time, folks thinking it's a '32, but most often they are enthusiastic about rods to a degree, but not informed enough to get the nuances. On this car the grille is a double curve ball for those folks. It's a '32 commercial, not passenger, and while it's similar, side by side they are pretty different to the discerning eye. The '34 trim ring helps with that confusion............