how fast can a model A be restored?

If it's inside, paint the inside of the window black or put mirror glass behind them. One of the resturants I used to frequent has an MGTD with holes in the hood for the dalad bar containers and a stainless steel tub that fit inside the intire cockpit area, full of ice with the rest of the salad bar.

I you are looking at only display, forget fixing anything. Prop up the sag, maybe weld in a brace, power wash everything, and put six coats of cheap acrylic black all over the whole thing. Polish the half dozen chrome bits and buy some repro hub caps.

Voila! Only a Model A nut like someone on this list will be pickey about the "cute old car" in the resturant.

RH
 
glenn in camino said:
I disassembled my 12/10/28 station wagon in the spring of 1973. I finished it and drove it to the MAFCA national in July of 1974 on the Queen Mary in Long Beach Calif. It was a 13 month restoration that I still have, drive, show and maintain in show condition. I was also working full time in 73 &/74. I was much younger then.
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Sorry for the double post. Computer problem
 
If your car runs, please sell it to someone who wishes to it as it was intended... If you're looking for a static car, I'd find a replica... Just my opinion...
 
mshmodela said:
If your car runs, please sell it to someone who wishes to it as it was intended... If you're looking for a static car, I'd find a replica... Just my opinion...
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I did try to sell it but no takers, that is when we decided to do a cosmetic make over and put in our new restaurant which should open next summer.
It is a complete roadster that was last painted in 1955. it does run but is very tired. everything is in pretty good condition and everything needs repainting. everything works and I did install a new wire kit about 8 years ago. It does have modern shocks that I plan on removing and add a new upholstery kit or I will do the upholstery myself. I am planning on starting the project this winter. As for frame sag it does have a lot.
 
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RobertB said:
If it's inside, paint the inside of the window black or put mirror glass behind them. One of the resturants I used to frequent has an MGTD with holes in the hood for the dalad bar containers and a stainless steel tub that fit inside the intire cockpit area, full of ice with the rest of the salad bar.

I you are looking at only display, forget fixing anything. Prop up the sag, maybe weld in a brace, power wash everything, and put six coats of cheap acrylic black all over the whole thing. Polish the half dozen chrome bits and buy some repro hub caps.

Voila! Only a Model A nut like someone on this list will be pickey about the "cute old car" in the restaurant.

RH
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This gets my vote, Power wash, convert the rust where you can, cut out where you can't and fill with foam insulation, smooth, skim coat and paint the parts shiny.

There was a guy in the 50's that bought several old airplanes ans was surprised on well the old tires were holding air. When he moved the plane he found out that the tubes were plywood disks inside rock hard tires. Looked great when parked there!!!
 
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Mike V. Florida said:
This gets my vote, Power wash, convert the rust where you can, cut out where you can't and fill with foam insulation, smooth, skim coat and paint the parts shiny.

There was a guy in the 50's that bought several old airplanes ans was surprised on well the old tires were holding air. When he moved the plane he found out that the tubes were plywood disks inside rock hard tires. Looked great when parked there!!!
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Wow, and to think this thread has the word Restored in the title!
ROFL.gif
 
Time is money, we all know it. People who are in the know state that it takes a minimum of 1,000 hours to restore a car, just basic restoration, nothing crazy. At $100 an hour, that's $100K for labor. But let's say your time is worth only half of that, and you are willing to work day and night to get 'er done. If so, you're considering investing $50K into a static display. You mentioned that you were not able to sell the car, but the restaurant is paying you enough to recoup the cost of the car, $50K in labor, plus parts? So they'll pay you at least $60K for it? If that's the case, sell that car for whatever you get for it, even if it's just $3K, buy a nice Roadster for $15K-17,5K (plenty of those around), and make a killing!
 
It should take no longer than two (2) days. Henry Ford built them in 1 day (8 hours, I think it was). But he had a big factory and lots of men and machines working on the project. So it may take you twice as long.
 
Hi ericr,

Agree 100% with your reply #19.

When I first read the maintenance hours allotted in the Model T Service Manual, I thought Ford may have had a hand crank movie camera photographer who recorded each Model T maintenance procedure with his hand crank camera & recorded times for each procedure.

Next, when the Model T book was written, it appears that Ford's book author had lost the previously original recorded times for each repair, so he asked the janitor to hand crank the projector through each repair procedure film to see how long it took to turn the hand crank through each film.

As a result, if one would have seen the movie film when the janitor was turning the hand crank, the repairmen would look like our speeded up films of today with Ford's maintenance people moving at 75 mph.

Just one shared opinion on Ford's reported hours it takes to repair a Model T Ford. LOL
 
It seems that I remember you saying several years ago that you turned down an eighteen thousand dollar offer for this roadster.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
It seems that I remember you saying several years ago that you turned down an eighteen thousand dollar offer for this roadster.
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Yes that is when I first bought the roadster and wasn't interested in selling then. I am glad I did not sell it as it is going to be perfect for our restaurant. I was trying to sell it when we were moving to Oregon so I wouldn't have to haul it up here I had it listed for $17,000.00 and was offered $12,000.00 My wife really didn't want me to sell it so I am glad it didn't sell.
 
Model A Man said:
Yes that is when I first bought the roadster and wasn't interested in selling then. I am glad I did not sell it as it is going to be perfect for our restaurant. I was trying to sell it when we were moving to Oregon so I wouldn't have to haul it up here I had it listed for $17,000.00 and was offered $12,000.00 My wife really didn't want me to sell it so I am glad it didn't sell.
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Now I see the big picture!! :o

Forget what i wrote before! :D

The honest answer lies in what you are looking for as a result.

1) High point car, if it were to be judged.
2) High end Touring class car, that has functional reproduction parts.
3) High shine driver
4) High shine non functional unsafe to push never mind drive.

A time for completion would be difficult to pin point. I would guess if money is no object the job would be shorter. I have seen here basket cases that were show ready by the owner in less then a year.

So what level are you looking for?
 
Well I started the teardown two days ago. So far I have roughed out the fenders and removed the body, fenders, bumpers, running boards and splash aprons. I am planning on rolling the chassis outside to pressure wash it before I remove the motor and trans. The body it self is very straight and the only rust I have found is in the rumble seat curved panel. I bought this roadster about 10 years ago and knew it was repainted and upholstered in 1955 except the rumble seat has the original upholstery which is well worn and torn. When I removed the front upholstery one of the side panels had the original upholstery under it which also was well worn and torn. When I lifted the body I found that the frame number matches the motor number :0). I also have bagged and labeled all nuts and bolts so I know which goes where when I put it back together. It also appeared to have had the original fender welting which I tried to save it but it disintegrated upon removal. I will try to take pictures and post when I get some time.
 
It is interesting as most of the talk is about getting the body and interior done with little about chassis restoration.

Throwing together a car that has shiny paint and a nice interior should only take a few weeks. Taking the time to correctly put the car together so it functions well and is painted well will take months if you have a lot of time and a few friends.

The chassis is another story. You can slam together something that moves in a few more months. That chassis will be one of those never go over 45 MPH cars and in my view point not safe over 30. If you take the time to return the chassis to Ford specs so it drives like new then you are talking many more months. You will also need lots of money or access to some special and expensive tooling. Done right the car will run sweet at 60-65 MPH all day long and get 20+ MPG.

Now keep in mind I am not talking about building a points car. Just a car that is reasonably correct with fully restored mechanical parts.

Quite frankly the gross majority of the cars at the show (all year all models) are paint and interior cars. I have even seen a very high end Pierce Arrow level car with zero mechanical restoration (still has 4" of crud on the chassis-not kidding) but a perfect paint job and interior.

It is not cheap or quick to actually restore the Model A mechanically.
 
"Restored" is just a general term to most people. It doesnt mean the same thing to everybody.
A VERY large percentage of people consider new paint and interior, and if you're lucky new tires, to be a restored car. Raise the hood and there's the alternator and if you can drive it, its a struggle to hold it between the ditches at 50mph.
A truly restored chassis is a sweet driving machine, but good luck finding one, especially done in a rush. That's just one of those things where you should do it yourself, of have somebody you can really trust.
 
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