I am a Model A Traditionalist
- Thread starter Ed in Maine
- Start date
My cabriolet was a survivor when I got in 1958. My dad bought it new in the fall of 1929.
He gave it to his mother a couple years later. Headlights, wheels and tires, and wiper motor had all been changed before I got it. It was mostly original, but a well worn surviver from 200,000+ miles supposedly put on it by my grandmother.
It was running but barely driveable when I got it and the first thing, my father insisted on it having hydraulic brakes before I did anything else. It was clear, he never liked those original brakes, even when the car was new! As I rebuild it again, now fifty years later, it will not be restored to where it was in 1929, but it will be a much more solid car than when I got it. It will be better than I was able to do as a kid, just wanting a car of my own to drive in high school. In about two more years, it will in many ways be much closer to restored than it was when I got it in 1958, but mostly it will be an old four banger Ford that still survives, runs, and looks pretty good for her age. My desire is to enjoy this car even more than my father did when he bought it new once I get it back on the road again.
The car won't make any restorers excited for its purity; but I am still keeping all the original unused pieces I have in safe storage for a restorer if it is sold after I am gone. I have kept all the mechanical brake parts, including all the rods, since I removed them 50 years ago. I have buckets of original nuts and bolts, original seat wood and springs, you name it. That is for someone else, not me. I will be happy with my imperfect survivor, that has modifications that started being made in the '40s and '50s, that destroyed its originality many years before I ever got it. To me, the car is family history, and a car that has survived.
He gave it to his mother a couple years later. Headlights, wheels and tires, and wiper motor had all been changed before I got it. It was mostly original, but a well worn surviver from 200,000+ miles supposedly put on it by my grandmother.
It was running but barely driveable when I got it and the first thing, my father insisted on it having hydraulic brakes before I did anything else. It was clear, he never liked those original brakes, even when the car was new! As I rebuild it again, now fifty years later, it will not be restored to where it was in 1929, but it will be a much more solid car than when I got it. It will be better than I was able to do as a kid, just wanting a car of my own to drive in high school. In about two more years, it will in many ways be much closer to restored than it was when I got it in 1958, but mostly it will be an old four banger Ford that still survives, runs, and looks pretty good for her age. My desire is to enjoy this car even more than my father did when he bought it new once I get it back on the road again.
The car won't make any restorers excited for its purity; but I am still keeping all the original unused pieces I have in safe storage for a restorer if it is sold after I am gone. I have kept all the mechanical brake parts, including all the rods, since I removed them 50 years ago. I have buckets of original nuts and bolts, original seat wood and springs, you name it. That is for someone else, not me. I will be happy with my imperfect survivor, that has modifications that started being made in the '40s and '50s, that destroyed its originality many years before I ever got it. To me, the car is family history, and a car that has survived.
Tom in SW VA
Well-known member
In my early years, I was a "hot rodder" amd read every hot rod magazine published. Fortunately, my first car was a stock 1930 Model A Coupe for which I paid $95. I loved this car and it started my lifelong pursuit to own other orginal Fords. I now own a 28 Roadster, a 29 Fordor (Marc of Excellence award) and a 37 5-window coupe. All completely original. Today, I can tolerate modified cars, but I have a great more respect for those original and "restored to original" cars! It is easy to modify, but much harder to restore! IMO.
TinCup
Well-known member
It's a big tent and their is plenty of room for everyone. I think anyone who has seen a fine point or stock model a readily appreciates the effort to keep them that way. Any Model A Ford driving down the road or rolling in a parade does the hobby good. I drive the heck out of my coupe and would not want to be afraid to do so. I am still running 6 volts however with an alternator. I replaced the clutch and pressure plate with modern v8 parts. A cheesy 1960's vinyl interior doesn't do the cab much good but other than that the car is as it was delivered.
mkmskm
Senior Member
All of my cars are pretty much the way they left the factory to practical limits. I'm rebuilding an engine to have as a spare and its amazed me how much input I get because I'm NOT putting in inserts, balanced crank, B cam...... For me if I want to go 70, I'll drive my 50's DeSoto, Buick or Mercury. For me an old car is a link to a time in history so extensive modifications lose that link.