A495's chassis will be in San Diego

dean from bozeman

dean from bozeman

Well-known member
It has been a long crazy ride but the chassis of A495 will be on display at the San Diego MARC meet. After years of looking for parts, restoring parts and doing a ton of research we are at a milestone.

Eight years ago I bought A495 from Charlie Bass. At first I was going to do the restoration myself but when the significance of this vehicle became apparent I sought the help of a professional. Mark Welch of Toledo was the perfect guy for the job. He was young, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and had just opened up his own shop. Mark was a metal magician. He was a metal shaper with uncommon skill. It was a shame when cancer claimed Mark while still in his early 40's.

After a delay work continued with Mark's friends at Bob's Classic Autoworks in Toledo. They literally picked up the pieces and started the reassembly. They have sent me CDs full of photos to watch the progress from afar. In about a week I will see A495 again in person.

Its first journey will be to San Diego. Folks will be able to see the chassis of the earliest Model A Phaeton known to still exist. I call A495 the "Odd Duck" because there are so many parts that you don't see on other A's. In reality many of these unique parts are really mistakes that Ford would fix.

The second journey A495 will take is next summer when, as a complete car, it will visit the Oshkosh, WI (MARC) and Marquette, MI (MAFCA) meets.

See many of you in San Diego in a couple weeks.

Dean
 
Dean,

I will be thinking about you and have a safe trip to San Diego with A495.

It will be great to see (I won't be able to) two very early restored Model A's...your chassis and Ron Rude's A1276.

Pluck
 
My wife and I will be in town and hoping to meet some barners and say hello. This early early chassis will be very interesting to see!
 
Dean, got home this afternoon completing the 5700 mile round trip. It was great to see you. Have a safe trip to Toledo, San Diego and back to Big Sky Country.
 
Dean,
Having your chassis on display is great. Mine will be there as well, for the Kids to take apart & put back together. It just came out of the Hansen Ford Garage, but the younger folks need something to play with. Looking forward to seeing A495. Vern
 
Roadster 62 - I will take a bunch of photos of it and will learn how to post them here.

Vern - Those activities are great to give the kids something to do and to stimulate interest in the younger generation. Amazing that the kids will get your chassis done in an hour or so and mine took the better part of 8 years!

I wrote the original post when thinking about my upcoming trip. I wanted folks to get pumped up about San Diego and the upcoming national meets. I remember as a kid going to Leon's Custard stand in Milwaukee early in the morning to see off a contingent of people and A's heading to Dallas for the national meet. Little did I know that as an adult I would be able to go to several meets myself. Great times.

See you in San Diego!
Dean
 
I've had my Roadster project since 1962 so 8 years to do a chassis sounds quick to me. Were there a lot of upgrades that had to be reversed? Are any parts the same as later '28's or is everything unique?
 
So that's why you go as Roadster 62.

Were there a lot of upgrades that had to be reversed?
When bought it had gone through a driver-type restoration that was 75% complete. Yes, there were upgrades but nothing irreversible.

Are any parts the same as later '28's or is everything unique?
Some parts are totally unique to the first 200 to 1000 cars. Things like the oil return pipe, timing gear cover, headlight lenses, firewall, timing pin, P1 generator, spindle arms, pitman arm, leather grease boots, front cross member, floor pans, running board brackets, on-off-dim switch, open bail, distinct early red steering wheel, rear bumper cross brace, drag link, front backing plate, Zenith carburetor, retaining bearing housing, u-joint housing, rear bumperettes, muffler bracket, rear axle housings, oil filler pipe, shocks and shock links, radius rods, coil brake spring, nickel plated lug nuts, motor mounts, and the engine number pad are all items unique to the very early A's. Parts other than those mentioned similar to later 1928 A's.

A495's body has some very unique features, some obvious and others noted as body work was done but that is for next year's edition.

Dean
 
Congrats, Dean.

I am anxiously awaiting the pics as well. Can't wait to see it in person.

I really enjoyed your visit when you and Don Turley stopped by the shop. Please, feel free to come again. You too, Don!
 
Dean, I can't wait to see A495 chassis. that is the best way to see everything, before the body and fenders are mounted. I had hoped to get my E-28 chassis (A3261) ready in time to display but work, moving, helping plan a national meet, and other Model A projects got in the way! I am anxious to show you what I've done.
 
Wonder how much of the original vehicle was there when found? IF all the original running gear is still around could a "Fine Point" restoration be performed with bodywork coming from another doner? In the Vintage race car world the chassis is the key component, and documented race cars have been built/restored from a rolling chassis. How is this viewed in the Model A Ford World?
Clem Clement said:
Dean,
Look in the eV-8 swap section. The 29 AR for sale has a serial number of 365!! It is a hot rod now, but maybe he has some of the AR stuff laying around. http://fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9
clem
Click to expand...
 
Clem, I contacted the guy and he wrote that all the parts were sold or traded. I will follow up on this. I do wonder if it was engine A365 or body SFA365.

Roadster62, I believe that it is fine in the Model A world too. Of course the optimum would be a complete original car but from there it is just a degree to which parts get added, upgraded and replaced.

Dean
 
Thanks Dean, I would think an early '28 is no different than a REAL early 1909 Model T, many out there are made from bits of many cars. I'd rather see a correct collection of parts become a vehicle that scattered over the world.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top