Lets see those 180 A Deluxe Phaetons
- Thread starter Alex Dragone
- Start date
Alex Dragone
Member
Here is the answer to an email from Ross Milne (President of the 180 A club)that I recently sent to him. He writes:
"There were about 7,500 Deluxe Phaetons assembled. The late Roger
Kaufman studied the numbers and in general stated that in his opinion
5% of the production still exists. That would mean about 375 Deluxe
Phaetons remain. You will see from the Club data base that I will send
you that we know the whereabouts of about 220 spread amongst 11
Countries. You will see from the Body Tag Registry that there are very
few remaining 180-A's with indented firewalls.Actually production
ended early in 1931 so very few with indented firwalls were assembled.
The number 375 can be argued up and down. Many were exported to South
America where they encountered a very tough life - the body cut to
make a "home made" truck. Some from S. A. have been imported to be
restored but most of them came in pretty tough shape. On the other
hand the 180-A being a low production, highly prized Model A seems to
have resulted in cars being stored away rather than being scrapped.
The real answer is that nobody knows the answer to your question with
100% accuracey.
A number of 180-A owners have found original 180-A's that have never
been disassembled but soon after obtaining them have taken them apart
before they realized how rare a car they had.
I do not know of a completely 100% original 180-A. I do know of a
couple that are totally original with the exception of the top.
In summary you have a very rare 180-A minus the original top and interior."
"There were about 7,500 Deluxe Phaetons assembled. The late Roger
Kaufman studied the numbers and in general stated that in his opinion
5% of the production still exists. That would mean about 375 Deluxe
Phaetons remain. You will see from the Club data base that I will send
you that we know the whereabouts of about 220 spread amongst 11
Countries. You will see from the Body Tag Registry that there are very
few remaining 180-A's with indented firewalls.Actually production
ended early in 1931 so very few with indented firwalls were assembled.
The number 375 can be argued up and down. Many were exported to South
America where they encountered a very tough life - the body cut to
make a "home made" truck. Some from S. A. have been imported to be
restored but most of them came in pretty tough shape. On the other
hand the 180-A being a low production, highly prized Model A seems to
have resulted in cars being stored away rather than being scrapped.
The real answer is that nobody knows the answer to your question with
100% accuracey.
A number of 180-A owners have found original 180-A's that have never
been disassembled but soon after obtaining them have taken them apart
before they realized how rare a car they had.
I do not know of a completely 100% original 180-A. I do know of a
couple that are totally original with the exception of the top.
In summary you have a very rare 180-A minus the original top and interior."
swo4rd
Senior Member
Alex, are you still on this blog? The register maintained my Ross and myself shows about 20 or so indented firewall 180As interestingly all on chassis assembled after July 1931.
Brent, I have searched high and low for those POs and not found even a note...but I am going to turn on one of the "Hired Gun" researchers at the archives to go to work on that...
D
Brent, I have searched high and low for those POs and not found even a note...but I am going to turn on one of the "Hired Gun" researchers at the archives to go to work on that...
D
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
Don, Sturm is probably your man on this.
McMimmcs
Well-known member
After his attachment to this fine vehicle expressed in his first post, I am surprised he ever parted with this treasure. I thought he would keep it forever. Surprise, surprise !
john charlton
Well-known member
I have 1931 180 A *A4744031* body 159 5596 .It is original RHD and one of 143 built at Fords Buenos Aries Argentina plant ,166 built in 1930 . It was imported into England in the early eighties then went to Ireland then back to England I bought it in 2004 and sadly not done any restoration yet . It was complete even top irons rear valance and rear luggage rack . I had been out in outside storage for many years so the upholstery was beyond saving it had VW bug front seats . it was mechanically shot from front to back but near new gears in the transmission none "Made in Argentina" !!! Engine was an early 1928 with "Ford made in USA" under the serial number on the block . The body and doors are solid, most wood still good it has the flat cowl . Right now I am halfway through a 1930 de luxe roadster which I bought in 1973 it came from Santiago de Chile and it was very dire I do a bit at a time as you can see, 1930 68 B cabriolet, 1931 AA truck , 1928 phaeton, 2 x 1930 pickups got in the way plus WW 2 Ford GPW jeep . BUT the 180 A will be next . I got enthused as a friend in sunny Chandler AZ also has one from the BA plant a bit of mathematics showed it was built the day before mine on June 30th 1931 .His is a lovely car and has been converted to LHD . One of my early Restorers showed a line of phaetons at the dockside in Montevideo Uruguay ready to be shipped ot to the States . Also that later article about a man who had two and traded one to get the other fully restored .
John in locked down Suffolk County England .
John in locked down Suffolk County England .
Last edited:
Tudortomnz
Well-known member
Very interesting to hear of your A's John.
Probably Argentina received the most Deluxe Phaetons , they were a wealthy market pre War [ they were a huge primary product supplier to Gt Britain] until Peron stuffed it up.
I have seen a very nice '31 Deluxe Phaeton RHD ex Argentina here in NZ, believe it is now in Auckland. There are a couple of other ones also here but in sad condition requiring a lot of $.
Only 3 Canadian Dlx. Phaetons came new to NZ & all have disappeared although one may have gone to US in '60's & changed to LHD. I have written info about one of the 3 that was traced to the upper Sth Islnd of NZ in the '50's & then vanished.
I have a list of current British Model A's & nearly all the passenger ones are imports [ even ex NZ] but all the AA's are British from new. This appears to confirm that Model A car sales new in Britain were dismal but the truck market was very healthy.
I have never seen an English produced Model A but have learnt a bit about them from your posts.
Probably Argentina received the most Deluxe Phaetons , they were a wealthy market pre War [ they were a huge primary product supplier to Gt Britain] until Peron stuffed it up.
I have seen a very nice '31 Deluxe Phaeton RHD ex Argentina here in NZ, believe it is now in Auckland. There are a couple of other ones also here but in sad condition requiring a lot of $.
Only 3 Canadian Dlx. Phaetons came new to NZ & all have disappeared although one may have gone to US in '60's & changed to LHD. I have written info about one of the 3 that was traced to the upper Sth Islnd of NZ in the '50's & then vanished.
I have a list of current British Model A's & nearly all the passenger ones are imports [ even ex NZ] but all the AA's are British from new. This appears to confirm that Model A car sales new in Britain were dismal but the truck market was very healthy.
I have never seen an English produced Model A but have learnt a bit about them from your posts.