Driving an "a" in snow..?

I play in the snow with my cars from time to time. I agree with the comments above that they handle pretty well in the snow at a reduced speed. The big issue is traction and several times I've wrapped rope around the rear wheels for better bite in the snow. From what several old times told me, it was a common practice back in the day.
 

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When I was in high school I used to use dad's model A to rescue modern cars when they got caught on the Emergency Snow Routes in Kansas City. $10.00 to the top of the hill as opposed to a $50.00 ticket. Towed a brand new 1959 Cadillac up 5 hills in a row on Troost. Model A's were great in snow.
 
George Miller said:
For those of you that have never driven in deep snow or on ice. Wide tires are not a blessing in snow and ice. They do work good on a dry road.
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I found that out back in the 70's when I drove my 1949 Chevy 1 1/2 ton truck in the snow. I thought the big dual tires would get me right through the snow covered gravel roads, but I found out they were about as good as a rear wheel drive car on steel rims. I had to install my tire chains to make it home over the two mile gravel road. I left it parked for the winter after that and drove my Scout.

The bad thing with a 4 wheel drive is that you take more chances and when you try to plow through a Dakota snow bank you are really stuck.:mad:
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I found that out back in the 70's when I drove my 1949 Chevy 1 1/2 ton truck in the snow. I thought the big dual tires would get me right through the snow covered gravel roads, but I found out they were about as good as a rear wheel drive car on steel rims. I had to install my tire chains to make it home over the two mile gravel road. I left it parked for the winter after that and drove my Scout.

The bad thing with a 4 wheel drive is that you take more chances and when you try to plow through a Dakota snow bank you are really stuck.:mad:
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Another thing not to do is park in deep snow. The heat from the car will melt some of the snow. The car will sink down in the snow, then some of it will turn to ice. Then you will have to dig it out, not fun.
 
In my experience, my '29 roadster with 450x21's was helpless in the snow compared to my late model 2wd PU and my wife's FWD Buick. Others of you may have better results. A couple years ago, my son and I took my CCPU out after most of the snow had melted off of the roads and most of you have already seen the video of that. If you want to see it again, google "Cabin Fever of a Model A Ford". The key jangling against the instrument panel, the rough roads and the long ride will make the drive less fun for you than it was for me.
 
yea tires go like this:

narrower the better IF there is solid ground under you (gravel, asphalt, concrete etc)

wider the better if there is NOT solid ground under you (sand, mud, dirt, etc)

and yes dont park on deep snow on a new gravel driveway, my friend learned that the hard way when he came outside in the morning and the tires/car had melted the snow and sank up to the axles...
 
Another thing the tires on late model cars have a lot better tread for snow now, then they did 30 years ago. We used snow tires then. Regular tires were not much good in snow then. Studs in the tires were good for ice.
 
The rubber compound has a lot to due with traction! Hard compound, long wearing, not
very good in wet or snow. Soft compound, faster wearing, better in wet or snow. Then
the tread design comes in second. My grandfather always bought model A's to travel country muddy roads to teach in one room school houses. He stated, the model A's skinny
tires would plow though, of course not much traffic. Grandpa's are always right :-)
 
In the '50s I ran a '28 open cab several winters around Ithaca, NY, which is very hilly. Roads were plowed but not salted except the worst hills. outside the city the roads were very hard pact snow (ice) to 3/4 inch. Yes, I've hit road drifts with the front bumper, but you'd better have lots of momentum, because there was no traction. Chains were usually a necessity, however getting up the bare wet brick city hills, chains gave no traction. I still have my chains, but don't drive on wet salted roads. Today, in the summer I have no traction on wet grass on my barn ramp. With momentum you're good, otherwise traction is not worth a darn without chains and something for them to grab onto.
 
I save my sandblasting media from the dust collector to spread on ice in the driveway and sidewalk.
It helps a lot and is free.
 
For us in the snow belt went the snow does come --4WD wins the day... Yes my Model A is parked in the snow and salt season...
 
Thanks ronn, it's an International Autowagon built in 1912. It has a two cylinder air cooled engine (5" bore X 5" stroke) and a two speed transmission. It was called an Autowagon because it was designed as a light truck but could also be used as a car to haul the family by clipping in an optional rear seat . . or two if you had a big family.
 

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Now that's an engine, and that sure looks like fun.
Every summer Minnesota hosts the "New London to New Brighton Run", and it's only open to these types of vehicles.

That third picture is a winner and should be on calendars and posters.
 
We had just completed our friends 29 Sport Coupe to the "road ready" state and it had snowed the day before.........well, I can't just have him come pick it up untested so.......fortunately, the plow had already been by in the morning so out we went on my little test road on my street.
It ends in a cul-d-sac and on the turn around I got it stuck! What a laugh we had over this.
I couldn't get it loose doing the "first to reverse" boogie so my partner in crime got out and jumped up and down on the rear bumper while I "first to reverse" and out she came.
We laughed all the way back to my garage!
 
I really hate reading "back in the day"! :mad:

People, they perform the same today.... it's just that 97.645% only get driven on sunny days in the heat of the "driving season" so most owners don't know this.

To paraphrase another phrase that drives me loopy... "drive them like Henry designed them"... drive them year round.
 
I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to get any snow..? But, I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I want to try the nylon rope.
 
thx for the photos Roger-

5x5 is what my 07 Maxwell has, so guess you are right around 20 hp?
 
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