Are there still a million Model A's?

700rpm

700rpm

Well-known member
I noted in Mr. Edsel Ford II's remarks at Marquette that he says there are 250,000 Model A's on the road today, and another 750,000 awaiting restoration. With all due respect to Mr. Ford, can this be right? With about 15,000 members in the combined two national clubs, and figuring an average of 3 cars per member, we're only at 45,000 cars. That is a long way from a million. Does Mr. Ford know something I (or we in the hobby) don't know?
 
You can double count, one Model A gives up its body to a Hot Rod and the chassis gets a Depot Hack or Speedster body that makes two cars. Bob
 
There are a lot of cars out there that have owners that do not belong or participate in clubs. I think I can come up with at least 10 unaffiliated cars I know of in a 10 mile range of my house. Heck, there is a local guy that has probably not driven any of his 10 cars he owns in 20+ years.

So I would not be surprised that you could come up with a lot of A's in various conditions. A million might be a stretch, but one can imagine a lot of cars around. They are constantly being found today.
 
I have a 1930 Coupe and not in any club. At one time many years ago I belonged to the local chapter of the AACA but haven't been a member in over 35 or so years so add one more.
 
I have 3 model A's and I know of about 20 more not driven and not members of clubs.
A million would be a stretch I think also. But I am suprised as to how many keep showing up!
Paul
Winthrop, WA.
 
I would have been tempted to raise my hand and say that a million of something is a significant market and how about stamping out some body parts for us LOL
 
On the other side, I belong to both MARC & MAFCA, and I only have one Model A. Subtract 5?
 
I also see NO corrrelation between national club membershipa and Model A ownership.
I think the best way to establish a Model A owners list, at least, would be to draw a list of subscribers to the various Model A vendor catalogs, purified of duplicates.
 
FWIW, following are some survival estimates from authorities in the hobby quoted in Peter Winnewisser's The Legendary Model A Ford: The Ultimate History of one of America's Great Automobiles (2005) - take your pick:

Les Henry (Henry's Fabulous Model "A" Ford; 1959) - 920,000

Murray Fahnestock (The Restorer; 1963) - 300,000

Roger Kaufman (Model "A" News; 1990) - 4% passenger and 1% commercial

Lyle Meek (former MAFCA officer; no quote date) - 250,000

George Tynan (former MAFCA officer; 2004 quote) - 500,000 to 600,000
 
IF somebody wanted to go through the work AND had access to DMV statistics in every state then it would be possible to count up all Registered Model A's. But there are non-running cars in barns all over the place also that we don't know about. I probably wouldn't count rusty hulks in the woods because they are more than likely to be used as parts cars than restored. More likely, but not always.
I guess I would have to say it is nearly impossible, but is it really significant to count a car that isn't running or won't be for maybe 10-20 years into the future?
 
I know one old guy nearby that probably has 35 "driver" and/or "restorable" Model A's in the dry. (No, he will not sell any.) Most of the Model A guys that I know have three or more.
 
I have 2 model a coupes and 1 model a truck and im not in any club.usually the people i know that like model a's they usually own several
 
Check out the Orange County Ca. Chapter's pancake breakfast next Spring. Usually 250-300 Model As. A large percentage never seen anywhere else.
 
700rpm said:
I noted in Mr. Edsel Ford II's remarks at Marquette that he says there are 250,000 Model A's on the road today, and another 750,000 awaiting restoration. With all due respect to Mr. Ford, can this be right? With about 15,000 members in the combined two national clubs, and figuring an average of 3 cars per member, we're only at 45,000 cars. That is a long way from a million. Does Mr. Ford know something I (or we in the hobby) don't know?
Click to expand...

His numbers are as good as any.
 
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