What does "AR" actually mean?

gz

gz

Well-known member
OK, we all know that the term "AR" means early 1928 Model As. But, what does "AR" actually mean and where/when did this term come from? Did this term from the early Model A collectors? Was this term was actually used in the original Ford parts manuals? What does the "R" mean? I have heard different explanations of the term "AR" but..
 
I believe Marco Tatharas wrote up a good explanation on the old "Ahooga" website in the early 2000's. It basically comes down to nomenclature involving obsoleting parts and updating the "improved" part with the letter "B", retroactively assigning the obsoleted part with an "AR" prefix to denote "out of service". If I recall correctly, the fledgling Model A hobby in the 1950's began casually referring to December, 1927 through early 1928 Model A parts as "AR" to differentiate them from the newer parts being put into service. The letters themselves don't actually mean anything other than place holders distinguishing between previous and recent service parts numbers. Calling these parts "AR" by restorers was just a shorthand for very early parts that were later superseded by supposedly improved parts. The name caught on among Model A people and became gospel in Model A publications early on, given more credence by early Model A authorities in the 1950's such as "Doc" Kalinka, among others. I doubt that we'll ever get the non-authentic "AR" reference out of our collective Model A vocabulary. Too ingrained now.
If someone can find Marco's write-up, that would answer your questions. Or if I am crediting the wrong person, please correct me.
Marshall
 
You are correct. Marshall. It has to do with Ford's parts numbering scheme and parts ordering and inventory control.

The first version of a part may or may not have a -A suffix, to indicate it is the first version. You only got a -A when there was a later -B.

For example, the Brake Operating Pin is part number A-2075. It has no suffix. This part was never changed from the first design spec and dimensions.

Other parts did have an -A and a -B suffix. Many of them went to -C and beyond.
For example: A-3571-C Steering Gear Worm Bearing Roller Assembly.

And minor changes to a part would not justify going to the next letter, so they added a number to the suffix and you got -A2, -B3, etc. :)

Most of the time the new part design would work on both new and prior vehicles without a problem. If a car came in with a -A part that needed to be replaced, the mechanic could install a newer design -B part and it would work just fine (maybe better). So the -B part was manufactured from then on and the manufacturing of the -A part was stopped. But they were listed in the Parts Lists with the -A and -B as long as the -A was available. When stocks of the -A were used up, they were gone, and only the -B parts would be in the Parts Lists.

The problem arises when there is such a radical change between the -A part and the -B part that the later version CANNOT be used on cars that were originally made to use the -A part. The -B part just won't fit. So they had to keep making and stocking for service both the -A version and the -B version.

Ford's solution in the above scenario was to stock service Replacement parts for the cars that required the -A part, and in the Parts Lists they gave those service Replacement parts a part number with a -AR suffix (that is, a -A style part, for service Replacement, or -AR). Not for use on later cars that needed the -B style part. These earlier design parts were carried in the Parts Lists as -AR so that the dealers could order them when needed. They could also order the -B version, for the cars that needed that design. :cool:

Many of the really early cars had parts on them that were radically changed, as Ford improved the car's design (think brakes, wheels, headlights), and that second version of the part would not fit earlier cars properly, so these first style parts were in the Parts Lists with the -AR suffix to service the early cars. Hence all the "Model AR Vehicle" talk, and a persistent inaccurate urban legend was born. :D

Fun fact: there were also -BR parts! From the above, you understand that this was a -B version of a part that had to be used on certain vehicles, because the new, improved -C part would not fit. So they had the -BR service Replacement part also. :cool:
Example: A-3524-BR Steering Shaft & Worm Assembly - L.H.D.

Sorry for the long explanation, but it is the system Ford created. A bit complicated.
.
 
"Sorry for the long explanation, but it is the system Ford created. A bit complicated."

What do you mean "long explanation", Jim? For my kind of writing style, yours was a SHORT explanation! Ha, ha, ha!

Marshall, paid by the word
 
It was based on original release and follow on change revisions. The part numbering system was new due to higher complexity of production parts for the model A so it was still in a state of flux in the evolution of procedures. In 1932, the prefix changed to B but they had also started to denote revisions at the end of the part number in the suffix with alpha characters. There are really not to many AR prefix part numbers. They expected updates to include new assemblies so they wouldn't have to keep producing old style parts.

A good example was the change of the multi disc clutch over to the single plate type. This affected the flywheel, the clutch, the transmission, and the starter bendix for those that wanted a heavier duty type starter & bendix. Brakes went through multiple changes during production too. As originally released affected the first 200 cars off the line a lot but there were still a lot of changes after the first two or three months of production, so where does AR stop? Some say February 1928 but others say less. With Fords assembly line procedure and so many branch plants in operation, you can guess how long it took to build 200 cars. Let just say it didn't take very long.
 
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rotorwrench said:
It was based on original release and follow on change revisions. The part numbering system was new due to higher complexity of production parts for the model A so it was still in a state of flux in the evolution of procedures. In 1932, the prefix changed to B but they had also started to denote revisions at the end of the part number in the suffix with alpha characters. There are really not to many AR prefix part numbers. They expected updates to include new assemblies so they wouldn't have to keep producing old style parts.

A good example was the change of the multi disc clutch over to the single plate type. This affected the clutch, the transmission, and the starter bendix for those that wanted a heavier duty type. Brakes went through multiple changes during production too. As originally released affected the first 200 cars of the line a lot but there were still a lot of changes after the first two or three months of production, so where does AR stop. Some say February 1928 but others say less. With Fords assembly line procedure and so many branch plants in operation, you can guess how long it took to build 200 cars. Let just say it didn't take very long.
Click to expand...


I have never seen an AR- prefix. Can you give an example?
.
 
I posted this yesterday just as the site was closing so hope it doesn't appear twice,
Further to Jim's comments, here is an example from the June 1928 Canadian Parts Price Book that shows some parts designated as "AR". Note how #2084-AR mentions that it is for the first 500 Canadian cars. This may be an indication of how many Canadian AR cars were built. There are quite a few more parts designated "AR" in the book.
 

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As I mentioned, Ford changed over to the suffix for changes relatively soon after revisions piled up. AR prefix would only have been on early revisions of parts price lists. Ford hadn't gotten around to publishing chassis parts books yet. Eventually they did but that evolved every year until the last publication of the green bible in 1950 or so. All of the later model A parts listings in the chassis parts books listed the prefix A for Model A parts. Those early price lists were different. Most price lists available now are likely copies of the final revision. The last revision of the green bible only has part numbers that were available at the time of that last revision.
 
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Not retired, replacement. You can see in the photo above that various oversized piston rings have the *R designation even though they haven’t been superseded. The R just signifies that you should not order this part unless you’re working on a car for which the standard part is unsuitable for some reason.
 
my car has serial number ca8526. it has multi disc clutch, left hand park brake, early rear end, and early braking system, early wheel, and wheel nuts, the drive line was not changed from when it was new. the serial number is correct as it was bought brand new in 1928 and owned by one family.
so if you want to say AR (which is incorrect) then at least 8526 of them were made. but the parts changes were on evolution rite up to the end of production so an AR could be 1931.
 
If you go back to the drawings of parts under a specific 4 digit number, the prefix A is a general model A indication, Each drawing has the initial release date. Any time it was revised, a new date was added to the new drawing. If the original As Released part was to stay in production for replacement part purposes, then it was issued the AR suffix or prefix to designate that. Multiple parts in that same 4-digit number sequence would be issued a suffix alpha character, You can see that on the piston rings since there were different oversizes for those same replacement parts, You can see in the one list where they denote that in a different column. It took Ford a while to have a set procedure for replacement parts. Eventually AR parts were obsoleted and removed from subsequent revisions of parts lists.

Ford kept most of the drawings. Copies of drawings can be requested from The Benson Ford Research Center. If they have it, they will send a copy for a nominal fee. The later chassis parts catalog for years 1928 to 1948 in it final publication in Nov 1950, only has the parts that were available at that time. They still listed a lot of model A parts but there were no AR prefix parts that I'm aware of by that time. An example was the fifth entry on page 1, it lists the A-1015-B wheel for 28/29 with the next entry the A-1015-D wheel for 30/31. As most folks know, there was not only a wheel diameter change but there was a hub & brake drum change as well. The AR early 1928 21" wheel was long obsolete. Only the ones to fit the current drums available and the 19" diameters to fit the 30/31 cars. If looking for hub and drum assemblies on the next page you were out of luck since they were already obsolete,
 
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