How many MPG with your A?
- Thread starter CornDog05
- Start date
goodoldvic
Senior Member
you will get some different responses. 10-18 mpg seems to be the ball park. Before my tired engine was rebuilt I was getting 12-14. I've only got like 300 or so on the new engine so no data yet. Good luck
Millage varies but a club in Fla. ran a test of sorts last year and my brother with a stock B engine and a volvo overdrive did no better than any of the others. He got around 18 on his town car. On the othger hand, I, with my 31 two-door that is worn out and stock will pull 20 on most trips. I have just rebuilt the engine and no data is available yet. Jack
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
I know i get over 20 locally, don't keep written record, but always 100 miles or more for 5 gal, on a long trip that I kept track, got 23mpg on the trip averaged over 1500 miles, rarely under 50, not over 65 ---3:78 rear, stock head, "B" cam, zenith carb, full advance
the before engine only got 15, the valve seats were ground deep, the cam worn, as a bonus the top speed went from 52 to 67 with the cam and valve seats along with some rod weight matching, thermostat
the before engine only got 15, the valve seats were ground deep, the cam worn, as a bonus the top speed went from 52 to 67 with the cam and valve seats along with some rod weight matching, thermostat
Marshall V. Daut
Well-known member
There was an article in a 1960's "Restorer" that described a California MAFCA club's efforts to measure typical gas mileage for a Model A. The club used such a similar test conducted by the Ford Motor Company in the Model A days as a benchmark to judge how well the members had restored their engines. As I recall, the CHiPS loaned the club special equipment to use during the tests so that accuracy could be assured.
It's been a LONG time since I read that article (maybe 25 years?), but as I recall, the results were all over the map, as "goodoldvic" states likely today. Some Model A's got very good mileage, while others didn't. There are so many variables involved in a test like this that to make a final definitive judgment of average mileage attained by a Model A is an exercise in futility. It could only fall into a range with an error margin of four or five MPG, which would drive a statistician to tears. I do recall that the modern test from the 1960's didn't result in any Model A achieving the mythical 32+ MPG or anywhere close to what old timers bragged about. Low to mid-20's was the high, with a loosey-goosey average falling into the mid-teens. Predictably, the Ford tests from the Model A era showed much higher MPG, as the results were used in advertising and sales pitches to mileage-conscious potential customers. Who knows how those result were skewed back in the days before truth in advertising guidelines and laws were passed? The general opinion of the people taking part in the 1960's test was that they were not able to meet the 1930's test results for mileage and therefore questioned Ford's figures.
You might try a search of back issue articles in the "Restorer" to find this article. Will the results still be relevant today, though? I imagine that with the many performance enhancement parts available to us today that weren't commonly available in the 1960's for restorations during that era, our result today would be different from 50+ years ago. More efficient cylinder heads of many favors being produced today, electronic ignition systems, flow tested jets, and advanced engine rebuilding parts/techniques have all contributed to possibly increasing the Model A's gas mileage these days. Of course, all it takes is one poorly rebuilt carburetor to throw all the results off.
My gut feeling for a TYPICAL MPG expectation would be about 16-19 if all is up to snuff and basically stock. This would be at normal 35 MPH speeds, not interstate driving or idling down the street. I think if one's Model A mileage is in this range, he has nothing or complain or brag about. Anything above 20MPG would be terrific; anything below 16MPG calls for attention to the various components of the engine.
Marshall
It's been a LONG time since I read that article (maybe 25 years?), but as I recall, the results were all over the map, as "goodoldvic" states likely today. Some Model A's got very good mileage, while others didn't. There are so many variables involved in a test like this that to make a final definitive judgment of average mileage attained by a Model A is an exercise in futility. It could only fall into a range with an error margin of four or five MPG, which would drive a statistician to tears. I do recall that the modern test from the 1960's didn't result in any Model A achieving the mythical 32+ MPG or anywhere close to what old timers bragged about. Low to mid-20's was the high, with a loosey-goosey average falling into the mid-teens. Predictably, the Ford tests from the Model A era showed much higher MPG, as the results were used in advertising and sales pitches to mileage-conscious potential customers. Who knows how those result were skewed back in the days before truth in advertising guidelines and laws were passed? The general opinion of the people taking part in the 1960's test was that they were not able to meet the 1930's test results for mileage and therefore questioned Ford's figures.
You might try a search of back issue articles in the "Restorer" to find this article. Will the results still be relevant today, though? I imagine that with the many performance enhancement parts available to us today that weren't commonly available in the 1960's for restorations during that era, our result today would be different from 50+ years ago. More efficient cylinder heads of many favors being produced today, electronic ignition systems, flow tested jets, and advanced engine rebuilding parts/techniques have all contributed to possibly increasing the Model A's gas mileage these days. Of course, all it takes is one poorly rebuilt carburetor to throw all the results off.
My gut feeling for a TYPICAL MPG expectation would be about 16-19 if all is up to snuff and basically stock. This would be at normal 35 MPH speeds, not interstate driving or idling down the street. I think if one's Model A mileage is in this range, he has nothing or complain or brag about. Anything above 20MPG would be terrific; anything below 16MPG calls for attention to the various components of the engine.
Marshall
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Rex_A_Lott
Well-known member
Its going to make a fair amount of difference just what fuel you put in it....Ethanol or not, Marvel Mystery Oil or not, winter or summer blend, etc. It wont burn any more than you put in it, just enjoy the car. If it makes you happy to keep up with all that, and have something to sit around and discuss, then more power to you. FWIW, if youre getting any less than 15, something needs attention, but thats just my opinion.
. Good Luck!
. Good Luck!
Gold Digger
Well-known member
I've watched this real close for the past 4 years. If I keep the points set between .018 and .020 I get the best mileage which is between 19 and 21 mpg. I run a straight rear end and always buy no-ethanol fuel. I drive around 35 to 45 mph in mountainous conditions most of the time.
Jeff/Illinois
Well-known member
We'd get 20 MPG with the '29 Tudor running Sunoco regular, in the 70's. Driving 40 MPH average.
My Dad had a 1960 Dodge that he bought new, (why he bought that thing I'll never know, got rid of it soon after and went back to Fords) and struggled to get 12 MPG. Guys at the restaurant he frequented that had '59 and '60 cars of that same ilk bragged about getting 18 and 20 MPG. Pop took that thing into the local Mopar garage several times complaining about the gas mileage, they timed and fiddled and fooled with it, and it never got better. When he told the Service Mgr. about the gas mileage the others were getting, the Serv. Mgr. told him 'The difference is, YOU'RE telling the truth.'
I never forgot that lesson he told me
And I was just a kid back then.
My Dad had a 1960 Dodge that he bought new, (why he bought that thing I'll never know, got rid of it soon after and went back to Fords) and struggled to get 12 MPG. Guys at the restaurant he frequented that had '59 and '60 cars of that same ilk bragged about getting 18 and 20 MPG. Pop took that thing into the local Mopar garage several times complaining about the gas mileage, they timed and fiddled and fooled with it, and it never got better. When he told the Service Mgr. about the gas mileage the others were getting, the Serv. Mgr. told him 'The difference is, YOU'RE telling the truth.'
I never forgot that lesson he told me
And I was just a kid back then.Rex_A_Lott
Well-known member
That reminded me, of something Pop told me once, " You gotta watch these people, a man will lie about how much gas mileage and how much ***** he gets".We'd get 20 MPG with the '29 Tudor running Sunoco regular, in the 70's. Driving 40 MPH average.
My Dad had a 1960 Dodge that he bought new, (why he bought that thing I'll never know, got rid of it soon after and went back to Fords) and struggled to get 12 MPG. Guys at the restaurant he frequented that had '59 and '60 cars of that same ilk bragged about getting 18 and 20 MPG. Pop took that thing into the local Mopar garage several times complaining about the gas mileage, they timed and fiddled and fooled with it, and it never got better. When he told the Service Mgr. about the gas mileage the others were getting, the Serv. Mgr. told him 'The difference is, YOU'RE telling the truth.'
I never forgot that lesson he told me
JOHN CT
Senior Member
I don't keep track. I just enjoy the ride!
1931 flamingo
Well-known member
Don't really care. I enjoy a ride to a show/cruise. When it gets down to about a 1/4 tank I put another 10$ in and a couple of glugs of MMO.
Paul in CT
Paul in CT
