Unlikeable Aspects of the Model "A"

Bob Bidonde

Bob Bidonde

Well-known member
There are two aspects of the Model "A" that I find unlikable. They are the gangster image and a rear mounted trunk on a luggage rack. In my opinion, no gangster in his right mind would use a Model "A" car while doing shoot-im-up deeds for Capone, Moran, etc. Also, I think that the look of a trunk on the back of a Model "A" ruins the car's stylish look. What aspects of the Model "A" do you not care for.
 
Less of a car thing and more of an owner/artistic license thing…

I don’t like when the cars are so meticulously restored that they appear to be overdone. I agree with the trunk thing, but I really don’t like bling and add-ons. I personally like less, like no extra sheetmetal (fenders, running boards, hoods, etc.), but that’s just my tastes.

Seeing 90 year old men driving in parades with junk and flags on their cars does not make me interested in the cars. Seeing one that is a driver for real by someone who isn’t afraid to get out and fix it when it breaks is what I like. Nice thing about the old man thing is that whenever I see someone that old driving one, I always think the car is very close to getting a new caretaker. Such is life and the median age of the Model A fan, I suppose. My car was bought off an old feller who could no longer wrench and drive his, and I am grateful for that.

Perhaps this is because I’m relatively young for a Model A fan at a spry 61? That said, anything besides a nice, not overly-done original car or an old-school hot-rod (banger or flathead) not too radically altered car doesn’t pique my interests. I prefer open cars, because verts are fun, and considering I’ll probably die anyway if I were to wreck my junk, I might as well take my chances getting thrown out as opposed to being wrapped in metal and wood.
 
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In regards to my Model A; Yes I do have a trunk on the back, I can take it off at any time and put the 'spares' into the 'cab' and then flip up the trunk holder.

I feel that the trunk is good as a 'trunk' to keep the spares and what not when you go on a long drive or go to a show to keep them tucked away when onlookers want to take a peek inside!

Just my $.02 worth.
 
I could say I don't like sbc's, etc... in a Model A, but then I would not be telling the truth! :)

and while, i do prefer the 'authenticity of Ford themes' of the FB's many Ford threads... over any hot rod mentions or of hot rod parts for sale, etc... :cool: at the risk of being talking out of both sides of my mouth... even though a bit on the campy side of motion pictures production, I did get some grins :D:p:o other day when xFinity had a listing for the B&W film: Hot Rod Gang, cerca 1958. It was 'period perfect'... and staring mostly roadsters. well, all roadsters! Deuce roadsters to be specific. highboys and low boys. some nice gowjobs!! ~ and i did catch a glimpse of the famous rod: Ala Karte, too! nice...

the people acting was just short of 'barely usable' nomination level, imo at times, and Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps was always 'in tune'... but, however, the Deuce roadsters' performance and looks were 'period perfect' and all of the rod stars were at

Oscar Award level winners!!

oscarcars.jpe
9k=


(so now then, in an effort to try to redeem myself (XX hot rod mentions) i did find time last Saturday to watch one of my favs....
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The Three Stooges! in one episode the boys were out of work. and decided to apply to a store needing salesmen. watermelons. and as they entered the business out front was a 1929 Model A Ford pickup. full of watermelons. it was a B&W, but i could tell it was Ford 'green'! lol it was a rear view of the truck showing back of the bed, camper like lightweight canvas cover, tail gate and the tell-tale images of the Model A Ford rear end housing. I smiled. :)

what I did not like about that Model A truck was that it was only briefly in the show. i even recorded it to try to get a pix... thot maybe some here might like that view. bit dif than just a front or side pix.

in any event, i tried! :o)
2Q==
 
battery location in the floor is a big deal for me. I have trouble lifting some of those batteries out.
 
Canton_Model_A's said:
In regards to my Model A; Yes I do have a trunk on the back, I can take it off at any time and put the 'spares' into the 'cab' and then flip up the trunk holder.

I feel that the trunk is good as a 'trunk' to keep the spares and what not when you go on a long drive or go to a show to keep them tucked away when onlookers want to take a peek inside!

Just my $.02 worth.
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I don't mind a trunk on tudors and fordors but they look out of place on all other models, IMO. And yes, they can be folded up when not in use.

The only "Unlikeable Aspect" I have seen listed so far is the placement of the battery, and that can be amended somewhat by using a two piece floorboard.
 
The biggest thing for me would be the indented firewall on some 31's. The under hood fuel shut off is a total PITA. I know why they did it but they could have done a better job in the design of it.
 
The lack of leg room and the handling of the suspension compared to a V8 Ford. Even the '32 Fords were a night and day difference in driving and handling.
 
I hate anything that henry didn't authorize as an accessory, some go waaaaaaaaaaay overboard. I see the appeal of a trunk to carry more stuff, especially in a rumble seat roadster or coupe. I also despise supposedly "modern" upgrades. almost all upgrades make the car worse. only deviation from stock I do is in the cooling department, six blader, hd radiator, and a leakless rear bearing seal. that is it. Henry made the car the way he did for a darn good reason. he had hundreds of engineers working on the cars he made, think they all made mistakes in the car? nope.
 
Night time driving with all of the reflections in the windows, wide gear spacing between 2nd and 3rd gears , horse buggy springs that causes body roll, mechanical starter switch, and all of the thumbs up when I’am driving ( that’s a big distraction )
 
Big hammer said:
Night time driving with all of the reflections in the windows, wide gear spacing between 2nd and 3rd gears , horse buggy springs that causes body roll, mechanical starter switch, and all of the thumbs up when I’am driving ( that’s a big distraction )
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all the features mentioned except light glare are in my opinion advantages. the springs give better handling, especially when off road. the transmission ratios are perfect, if you use a bar graph you will actually see that they are pretty evenly spaced, it just doesn't seem that way when the rpms fall. the mechanical switch is FAR superior to anything made later with relays. the A was the only car i've ever had or even worked on that was reliable and pretty much perfect as is
 
Since Cadillacs, Lincolns and Packards are more costly and rare than a Ford Model "A" the typical gangster film can run over budget to financially insure the "high speed chase" so the "A" gets the spotlight.

Maybe the wiring and headlight harness could have been better designed so we enthusiasts 97 years later didn't have such a hard time tracing short circuits.
 
For me, the aspects I don't like include the 2-3 gear spacing and headlight wiring including light switch design. I feel items like trunks and accessories are add ons and not aspects of the Model A itself.
 
Glare when driving at night. I suspect coupes are the worst with the two parallel glassed so close to each other. Made much worse by modern headlights.

Floor mounted battery I could do without, but it does help with handling Ha!
 
Harpkatt said:
Glare when driving at night. I suspect coupes are the worst with the two parallel glassed so close to each other. Made much worse by modern headlights.

Floor mounted battery I could do without, but it does help with handling Ha!
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Yes glare is an issue. I pull the rear shade down in my Town Sedan at night, that helps a lot.
 
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