value of various body styles

oldforder

oldforder

Senior Member
Does anybody have opinions on the values of Model A's in the NADA guide. Somewhere here someone said that tudor's are cheaper than fordors. (unless I misunderstood) NADA shows the 2 drs to be worth more than the 4drs. I have a nice older restored 30 tudor spotted, also a 29 coupe with a 60 hp v/8 restored a while back, and a 29 roadster that needs a top (bows ok) and paint. but the mechanicals have been all rebuilt. Roadster is the cheapest, coupe and 2dr. aprox. the same price. Any body got any suggestions. I like them all!
 
There is a broad range of values, and not necessarily determined by body style, but rather by condition. As far as values go, perhaps the best barometer of intrinsic value should be more determined by what are you looking for in a Model A? Will it driven regularly or seldom shown, but shown noetheless? If you intend to drive the car, how many passengers do you anticipate will reoutinely ride with you? And in that event, do you intend to drive the car regularly during the winter months? We have three Model A's in our garage: a roadster when only my wife and I are going somewhere during the warmer months; a phaeton if we intend to have guests accompany us, and a fordor for use in the colder months of the year. Regardless, they are all enjoyable and if you are looking to ownership as only an investment, perhaps you may want to reconsider something that may provide a more attractive return. But if enjoyment is your ultimate goal, then I would not be persuaded by the "value" of one body style over another, but rather the condition of the vehicle. Good luck whatever your choice.

Dick
 
Rob your piggy bank and buy all 3.:D

It is tough when you have to make a choice and can only afford one. Think about which one you can use the most, or most enjoy. I like my Phaeton, but it's definately a fair weather car. Wish I had my Tudor on the road.:)
 
If I were you I would buy what fits your needs .

How big you are will determine what you will be comfortable driving .

If you have a family you cant go wrong with a 4 door .

Coupes and roadsters are small .

Drive it before you buy or sit in it for a while will make up your mind .

Its as important as price to be comfortable .
 
A Model A with a V8 60 in it cannot be classified as restored. But it may be the right car for you, depending on your needs and interests. Hicktick has good suggestions.
 
Value between a tudor and a fordor likely depends on your preference and the condition. A nicely resored fordor is likely more valuable than an older restoration in marginal conditon. However I would still likely purchase the tudor based on my preference. There are exceptions like the Towncar that would tip the scales the other way because of rarity. I chose to keep my delivery over my open cab pickup because of rarity of the body style even though the open cab had more curb apeal. Rod
 
I guess the real question becomes who/how are the prices in the book decided?

Like some of you I have seen in real life, roadsters going for more money that closed cars (at least in Florida) and Fordors (much less made) going for more than tudors in the same condition.
 
The price of the vehicle I bought had mostly to do with how much was in my "Model A Fund" when the vehicle became available.
 
Values in a book don't really mean much, in my opinion. Is it something you want?? Can you afford it?? How much work and more money will it need?? Can you do any of the work?? Can you and the seller come to an agreement.
Values in a book are a guideline, nothing is written in stone. Look in Hemmings or ebay, or MAFCA online and prices WANTED are all over the place. What (if they do sell) are they selling for?? With Hemmings I think a lot of the ads are ego trips for bragging rights at the next club meeting. JMO
Paul in CT
 
1931 flamingo said:
Values in a book don't really mean much, in my opinion. Is it something you want?? Can you afford it?? How much work and more money will it need?? Can you do any of the work?? Can you and the seller come to an agreement.
Values in a book are a guideline, nothing is written in stone. Look in Hemmings or ebay, or MAFCA online and prices WANTED are all over the place. What (if they do sell) are they selling for?? With Hemmings I think a lot of the ads are ego trips for bragging rights at the next club meeting. JMO
Paul in CT
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Good points. Not everyone wants their A in the same condition. You have to figure what it will cost you to get it in the condition that you want. Like they used to say."different strokes for different folks". That applies to Model A's also.
 
Having just purchased a '30 closed cab pick up in the last 2 months, I will give you the results of my Model A hunt.

1. I had no desire for any type of open cab, so I did not even look at those.

2. Coupes were by far the most plentiful, they seemed to be everywhere.

3. Tudor sedans were harder to find. Prices were about the same, but less of them for sale.

4. Four door sedans were harder to find than Tudor sedans. Prices were about the same, but less of them for sale.

5. The closed cab pickups were very rare. I bought the first and only one that was for sale within 400 miles of my home. The price I paid was more than I wanted to spend, but was in line with coupes, tudors, and four doors in the same general condition. Even though the ccpu's were harder to find, demand did not drive up the price any higher that the other models.

6. All that said, I bought the body style that I wanted at a price that was reasonable. I had no desire to purchased any of the other body styles. I was just looking for a truck to putt around town in.

Hugh in NC
 
I don't own an A, yet. Just started shopping really. But I also have seen that CCPUs command a higher price than other body styles in similar condition. A man in my town is a T and A collector and buys and sells cars continually. Probably has 30 or so cars at any one time. Right now he has a 31 "wide-bed" pickup that is far from perfect for 12K. Is that about right or can a good one be bought for less? (I know, its all about condition...) Thanks
 
I always considered that a restored Model A could be bought for about the price of a new "cheap" car. Yunno, a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla, or a Ford Escort. Perhaps $15-$20K.

It's been that way for a while.

Certain body styles seem to command more based on interest. I would consider that roadsters, phaetons and rpus probably add about $2K for the attraction factor. Maybe a little more for the Phaeton since getting to a completed Phaeton involves a fair cost in top canvas.

Region seems to affect also with coastal cars commanding more. You can still find an operable Model A tudor mid country for about $6K. But that car will need work/updating.

I like my CC pickup though. I wouldn't necessarily say pickups command a premium. But it's always fun to pull into the dump with a load of stuff for the pile and the Dump Nazi says "you want to leave that piece of junk over here?" (Pointing to his parking spot.) But you can see the envy in his eyes and the smirk on his lips.

Small towns are nice. Everyone knows each other. For good or for bad.

Joe K
 
I have made the statement that nowadays, fordors are going for more money then tudors. I have only seen this trend in the last few years, as many fordors were scrapped as the least valuable cars out there. Ironically, they were originally one of the most expensive. What is occurring, I think, is that many young families like the room in the fordor and also, everyone is growing larger today then they were 80 years ago.
Have seen numerous tudors coming in lower in price and the fordors rising. Also, the fordors are more expensive to restore regarding woodwork. As some have mentioned,
try getting in and out of a roadster vs a sedan and you will see a big difference if you are not a small guy. Bottom line, buy what you like and what you can afford.
 
I used to have a CCPU and they are great for putting around town,but they are terribly uncomfortable on long trips if you are 6'2" like me.I am very comfortable in either my 30 coupe or 31 S/W 4-door.If you get a 4-door,get the S/W model as there is very little wood in the body.Of the 16 A,s Ive had over the past 60 years,not one has been a Tudor as I always felt that they were too common and would use them as parts cars. Not to belittle the Tudor as they are practical cars especially with young families as the kids cant open back doors & fall out.
 
columbiA said:
...not one has been a Tudor as I always felt that they were too common and would use them as parts cars.
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That's exactly what makes them a good "first A". Plenty of them around, and plenty of parts, etc. Also, they are the easiest cars to get in/out due to the wider doors and seats set back farther from the steering wheel.

The slant window fordors are the best of the fordors, agree with that. But still not as easy to enter or exit as a tudor.
 
1931 flamingo said:
Values in a book don't really mean much, in my opinion. Is it something you want?? Can you afford it?? How much work and more money will it need?? Can you do any of the work?? Can you and the seller come to an agreement.
Values in a book are a guideline, nothing is written in stone. Look in Hemmings or ebay, or MAFCA online and prices WANTED are all over the place. What (if they do sell) are they selling for?? With Hemmings I think a lot of the ads are ego trips for bragging rights at the next club meeting. JMO
Paul in CT
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Bob Johnson has a link to Model A values based on what they sold for but I think he stopped updating it in 2007.

http://www.modelahouse.com/cgi-bin/prices
 
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