What is an "AR"?

rogeroadster

rogeroadster

Senior Member
I hear the term AR thrown around like it is really something special so I have to ask the question, what is an AR? Aside from being an early model A, what does the designation AR stand for and how can you best distinguish an AR from some other model A?
 
Well, where I work an "AR" means "Action Required". I try to don my "AR Deflector" as much as possible, but always seem to collect my share of ARs anyway ;-)
 
And awaaaaaay we go......

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They were the first Model As of the line so everybody said they are "Almost Ready" for full production, hence AR.
 
My understanding of the “AR” designation was a reference to the wheels
and brake assemblies on the first 5000 (give or take) model A’s produced.
These cars used a single brake system that could be applied with the foot
pedal or hand lever, which brought out threats of State legislation to require
the service and parking brakes to be two separate systems.
Thus the problem with the very early cars wheels (and brake parts etc.) not
being interchangeable with any later cars.
I still occasionally see Model A’s at shows and auctions with one or more
incorrect wheels on them. A rebuilt rolling chassis that I bought a few years
ago had three incorrect AR wheels on it, all painted up nicely and equipped with
new tires, even though they were wrong for the chassis. The problem is that the
wheels will fit the bolt pattern, but are prone to cracking with either misuse.
There are probably others who can give a more exact explanation, but this
is a quick explanation of the basics as I understand them.


Art
 
Mustang said:
My understanding of the “AR” designation was a reference to the wheels
and brake assemblies on the first 5000 (give or take) model A’s produced.
These cars used a single brake system that could be applied with the foot
pedal or hand lever, which brought out threats of State legislation to require
the service and parking brakes to be two separate systems.
Thus the problem with the very early cars wheels (and brake parts etc.) not
being interchangeable with any later cars.
I still occasionally see Model A’s at shows and auctions with one or more
incorrect wheels on them. A rebuilt rolling chassis that I bought a few years
ago had three incorrect AR wheels on it, all painted up nicely and equipped with
new tires, even though they were wrong for the chassis. The problem is that the
wheels will fit the bolt pattern, but are prone to cracking with either misuse.
There are probably others who can give a more exact explanation, but this
is a quick explanation of the basics as I understand them.


Art
Click to expand...

Thank you Art. So if a '28 model A has a left hand parking brake handle is it automatically an AR? And, can anyone post pictures of the different wheels?
 
AR is a term coined to denote an early 1928 Model A. It was likely coined in the late 50's or early 60s. If you look at a Ford parts book for the Model A you will notice that the parts for the early cars often have a suffix of -AR. Thus the early 28 cars would have lots of "AR" parts. So that is why they are referred to as AR cars. The -AR suffix was added to a part when it was no longer being used in new cars. The -A means that it was the first version of the part, the second version would have a -B, the 3rd -C etc. The R I believe stands for Repair, meaning that the part is only available for repair of older cars and not used on currently assembled cars.

However since ALL parts that were replaced by a new version were given the -A, -B, -C suffix. And if it were no longer used in current production the R was added. So the 1931 400-A Convertible Sedan also have some parts that were "AR" parts. This means that you can not exactly determine what the cut off date is for determining what is an "AR" car.

Bob
 
I think....now I am saying I think....that when some of the early design of the A was superceded by the later designs in the area of mechanicals....they changed the part number to a -B or something like that and to differentiate the slapped an AR on the earlier and not interchangeable part.

Just because an A has a left hand parking brake it is not an "AR". What has come to be called an "AR" is the very early A's in late 1927 which had NO separate parking brakes, lots of forged parts, FORD script everywhere (due to Henry's paranoia about
"bogus parts" that dogged the T endlessly), red steering wheel, 1/2" Abel starter, open end bumpers, special wheels, solid front motor mount on the front cross member, and on and on and on.

I suppose there is a list somewhere of what should be on the original 5000 cars but I dont know where you will find it.

I dont think anybody has enough money to build up an "AR" without the original parts.

Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI
 
When you run across a wheel that is cracked and or welded around
the wheel bolt holes , then this is likely a late style wheel that has
been mounted on an early car. A wheel with cracks or welds on the hub
surface that the spokes are welded to will likely be an early (AR) wheel
that has been mounted on a later car. The cause is due to a difference in
the depth of the wheel center and where it contacts the drum face.

Did you know that reason the Model A wheel center looks similar to a
brake drum is because Henry originally intended to use it as the brake drum?

Art
 
There is no such thing as an AR car. The "R" meant no longer a production part but is necessary for repairs. The "R" designation was given to obsolete parts by Ford that where available for "Repairs" and couldn't be replaced with the current production part. Since most of the early Model A's used parts that could not be replaced with the current Model A production parts of the time, many parts for those early Fords had the "R" suffix. Consequently todays restorers looking through parts books see many parts with "AR" or "BR".....So today they are known as AR cars
 
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