The Best Model A Books

T

Tony in Tassie

Junior Member
Hi All, I'm new to the forum, have been interested in early Fords for along time especially the Model A, can anyone recommend some good books about the Model A,thanks Tony
 
Start with the free catalogues from Bratton's, Mac's and Sacremento Vintage Auto Parts. They have the best pictures AND descriptions of parts.
Then get "How to Restore Your Model A" series from MAFCA and the "Technically Speaking" series from MARC.
Get a copy of "Service Bulletins".
Get "The Model A Ford as Henry Built It"
Then read anything you can on this forum about the subject you will have questions about. Do searchs by person's name or subject,etc.
Last but not Least get all 3 vol of Les Andrews' Shop manuals.

That's about it. These will give you hundreds of hours reading and with time you will wonder how you learned so much. Good Luck. Bill G
 
If you wish to see a list of ALL KNOWN publications (I know there are more), go to my website and go to "Additional Studies"...there you will find a list.

Pluck
 
If you are interested in the mechanical aspect of the Model A, a must book is the first of the three Les Andrews books. All are available from any of the Model A parts vendors.
 
I agree with Greg that "Henry's Lady" has little to offer other than some color pictures of restored cars, and some show incorrect things done to the car.

For someone new and just getting into the Model A's I think "The Model A Ford as Henry Built It" is probably the best book I can think of.

Once you own a Model A you'll want/need at least a half dozen other books such as:
1. Owner's Manual
2. Service Bulletins (be sure to buy the full size edition from one of the 2 national clubs)
3. Judging Standards
4. Parts Price List
 
thanks for all the information guys,you have all been very helpful, now I will start to search the internet,starting with Amazon for the titles you have mentioned,Tony
 
Murray Fahnestock's book "The Gem from River Rouge" is a good book also. Older editions were titled "Know your Model A Ford"

It's actually a compilation of 2 books printed during the Model A era, "Know the Ford" and "Questions & Answers on Ford Service"

Fahnestock was editor of Ford Dealer & Service Field magazine for many years.
 
I'll "second" all of the above, and add a few more. As an owner of the same car since 1967, I've always been fascinated by how Americans' perceptions of the "A" have evolved (and how so many "A's" ended up being "restored" the way they were:)). I'd add two of the old Floyd Clymer books: "Henry's Fabulous Model A" and "Ford Model A Album," both of which contain many factory images and much insight into the state of the old car hobby in the 1950's.

Also get a copy of "Those Wonderful Unauthorized Accessories" for insight as to what was available (and what the salesmen were pushing).

Last, but by no means least, get James Thomas' "Advertising the Model A Ford." It's the best compilation of ads, bar none. If you've never studied "A" ads, the story is fascinating. Ford's ads connect the cars, society, public perception, and the image Edsel Ford hoped to create for the "New Ford."
 
very interesting, thanks everyone,I'll continue searching Amazon, does anyone have any internet sites for these other Model A book retailers,in Australia I don't know of any, thats why I use Amazon, thanks Tony
 
My favorite web site is abebooks.com
http://www.abebooks.com
They list millions of books from tens of thousands of dealers world wide.
It's a great site to comparison shop. Try their "MORE SEARCH OPTIONS" link.
If you want brand new, why not buy from one of the 2 national groups? They can always use the help.
 
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P.S.:
Using abebooks, if you put "quote marks" around "model a ford" and type it into KEYWORDS you will get 330 listings or you can just type in title or author of particular book you're looking for
 
The "Service Bulletins" is like my bible same with the judging standards. Those would be the first two books I recommend getting!
 
And another series of books I recommend getting is the model a restorer volumes. The restorer puts the series out. It's a collection of articles from there magazine. Very very very helpful and recommended series!
 
In addition to the other books listed
several groups of books are really good
"how to restore your Model A'
this one is printed by the Model A Ford Club of America MAFCA
there are 8 issues of it.lots of good articles in them,a few are outdated
then theres

"technically speaking"
published by the Model A Restorers Club MARC
its another group of soft back books that have pulled the best articles out and put them in book form
and i really like "the model A as Henry built it" lots of good information in it

tom
 
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