Attracting new Model A members.

M

Model "A" Fords

Senior Member
Seeing an ad for magazines reminded me of a clever idea.
I didn't come up with this, just remember some discussion here not long ago.

Anyone with Model A magazines to pass on, could drop one off at places with a waiting area. Doctors, Dentists, Hospitals, Dealerships, Hairdressers, Museums, Restaurants, Veterinarians, Lawers, Tax offices, Spaws, Tire shops, Flea markets, etc.

Some people don't know they are Model A enthusiasts until the magazine is sitting in front of them!
 
I shave, take a shower, and put on my good duds. That seems to attract interested members of the fair sex more than when I am grubby.
 
Model "A" Fords said:
Seeing an ad for magazines reminded me of a clever idea.
I didn't come up with this, just remember some discussion here not long ago.

Anyone with Model A magazines to pass on, could drop one off at places with a waiting area. Doctors, Dentists, Hospitals, Dealerships, Hairdressers, Museums, Restaurants, Veterinarians, Lawers, Tax offices, Spaws, Tire shops, Flea markets, etc.

Some people don't know they are Model A enthusiasts until the magazine is sitting in front of them!
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Strange you should mention this. I was in the doctors office last week and just yesterday at the Dentist. I noticed there were NO magazines in the waiting rooms. Everyone was diddling with their phones. I wonder if this is to prevent the spread of germs?

I don't know.
 
Placing club magazines in various places is a good idea, but it is ruined by a fear of getting COVID from them. Another attractant is Model "A" runs, especially parades. Handout club business cards.
 
I recently acquired an A, what magazines are you referring to? Let me know which magazines you would recommend. Thanks Larry
 
That is a good idea, and don't forget the waiting lounge of car dealerships particularly Ford dealerships!

Our dealership has all the old Ford coffee table books a lot of the old Lorin Sorensen books, T's-A's-V/8's, they get a lot of viewing.
 
Model t guys idea was to give the kids in the neighborhood a ride.
Simple to do. Pukkada pukkada engine back ground noise should
Add to the experience. Their eyes light up when they notice that you have to manually shift the transmission. No cell phone allowed.
 
I was never into the antique cars, I was a muscle car/hot rod kinda guy. Fast and loud cars, especially Mustangs. One day I was driving down the road behind a tan tudor Model A, first one I think I've ever seen in the wild. I thought to myself, "man, that is a gorgeous wicked cool car. We turned onto a two lane road and I gave the guy the thumbs up as I passed then he honked his ahooga horn at me. For some reason that just stuck with me as really cool

Maybe a month later I went to the local fall classic car auction and there it was. A tan, tudor Model A. "Old" 60s muscle cars were going for exorbitant prices and I figured that Model A would be well out of my price range. The Model A rolls up to the auction floor starting at $6k, after almost 30 seconds one guy takes the starting bid. More time passes, then the auctioneer says, "going once... going twice..." and I impulsively bid on it, fully expecting the other guy to outbid me. But nope, no one else bid on it and, to my astonishment, I ended up buying it.

Long story short, best way to attract new members is to drive them. If I hadn't seen that Model A going down the road, I probably wouldn't have ended up buying mine. That one interaction piqued my interest in the car, that I wouldn't have otherwise had just seeing it sitting in the auction parking lot
 
I drive my 2 A's regularly to town. Our town is very small where I live. Welcome, NC with a Lexington, NC address. My 28 roadster gets more looks than my 31 Tudor but I am sure that is because my 28 is better looking, paint, upholstery, etc. I get stopped constantly.
 
At car shows, be sure and have the hood sides up. The plug "wires" are always a hit. I like to let kids and anyone, really, sit in it. Kids like to honk the horn!
 
a good supply of hot java and fresh donuts.........lores them in every time!


works on cops................
 
I do the same as Bruce does, prop hood open. I have also put copper caps on top of the spark plugs just for show (using copper 1/2" pipe caps with a hole in the top) to mimic the old style ignitions. Looks cool with the copper wires. Many people have sat in it, from 5 to 90 year olds, always brings a smile to their faces, and some even say they would like to get one themselves......
 
I got into early Fords because my grandfather owned model A's and V8's. He would give me rides in them and take me touring. Eventually, when I was 16 he let me drive them. That's why I'm interested in them. I still have my Model A Victoria, however, I'm big into the early V8's. I've taken the hobby to a level above my gradfather.

My suggestion, if you have kids or grandkids, take them for a ride...often. Explain to them how the car operates and let them help you work on them. If you have a neighborhood kid that's into cars, do the same for them.

There is 19 year old kid that lives near me. He drives a BMW and likes fast cars. He saw me driving a '37 Ford and I took him for a ride. Then I let him drive all my cars. He loves early Ford cars and trucks now. The kid is getting his commercial pilots license. When he has a job he wants a '33 Ford roadster. You never know.
 
Banditorama said:
I was never into the antique cars, I was a muscle car/hot rod kinda guy. Fast and loud cars, especially Mustangs. One day I was driving down the road behind a tan tudor Model A, first one I think I've ever seen in the wild. I thought to myself, "man, that is a gorgeous wicked cool car. We turned onto a two lane road and I gave the guy the thumbs up as I passed then he honked his ahooga horn at me. For some reason that just stuck with me as really cool

Maybe a month later I went to the local fall classic car auction and there it was. A tan, tudor Model A. "Old" 60s muscle cars were going for exorbitant prices and I figured that Model A would be well out of my price range. The Model A rolls up to the auction floor starting at $6k, after almost 30 seconds one guy takes the starting bid. More time passes, then the auctioneer says, "going once... going twice..." and I impulsively bid on it, fully expecting the other guy to outbid me. But nope, no one else bid on it and, to my astonishment, I ended up buying it.

Long story short, best way to attract new members is to drive them. If I hadn't seen that Model A going down the road, I probably wouldn't have ended up buying mine. That one interaction piqued my interest in the car, that I wouldn't have otherwise had just seeing it sitting in the auction parking lot
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And how long ago was this? Have you regretted buying it? I have other cars (Muscle, streetrod, etc) I have had my A since 1994, and I was by far the youngest guy in my local chapter at that thime.
 
Kudos Seth , it’s stuff like that, that opens their eyes and sees the beauty and styling, charm and fun if these old cars.
Larry Shepard
 
Gene F said:
And how long ago was this? Have you regretted buying it? I have other cars (Muscle, streetrod, etc) I have had my A since 1994, and I was by far the youngest guy in my local chapter at that thime.
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I got it back in May '23 and got everything sorted out and roadworthy over that summer. The first week I had it I had a slight hesitation, this thing was so different from what I've always had. But, from then on I've had 0 regrets. This is the most fun I've had with a car since I was a teenager modifying my first car.

When I went to insure it, the agent told me I was half the age of most people that buy these things.
 
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