What's a comfortable model a speed?

iverson

iverson

Senior Member
My uncle loves to go out in the a but when I get up over 40 he all ways says slow down! these things aren't made to go this fast! The speed limit was 35 when they made these cars! I feel 40 is a safe speed anything faster is pushing it at least with the gear ratio we have just curious what speed you guys run
 

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I can, and usually do 45 to 50. it will do more, but begins to sound "busy" after that. Most of the time, I'm below 45. A lot depends upon the condition of your engine and your timing adjustment.
Brian W.
 
iverson said:
My uncle loves to go out in the a but when I get up over 40 he all ways says slow down! these things aren't made to go this fast! The speed limit was 35 when they made these cars! I feel 40 is a safe speed anything faster is pushing it at least with the gear ratio we have just curious what speed you guys run
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I would say where do you feel save?
When your uncle's with you and he feels safe at 35-40 then thats where i would run as much as it hurts
I usually run around 50 nice comfortable speed to stay out of people 's way


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If I try to stay at 45 I end up over 50----most places I just drive with traffic, but sometimes traffic is slow and I have to pass a few cars
 
iverson said:
My uncle loves to go out in the a but when I get up over 40 he all ways says slow down! these things aren't made to go this fast! The speed limit was 35 when they made these cars! I feel 40 is a safe speed anything faster is pushing it at least with the gear ratio we have just curious what speed you guys run
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I run mine at 55 as that is where it feels comfortable. A lot of the Model-As that we do are comfortable at that speed. On the other hand, some Model-As are only marginally safe at 40 mph, and are better suited at 35. The question I would ask your uncle is, why did Ford have a speedometer that would register 60 mph if the car was only good for 45 mph when new?
 
Ahh what speed limit?

Most places did not have any such thing.

The Model A was designed to run 60 MPH. You will find it in the ads and in the service letters.

Properly restored the A is very comfortable at 60 -65, no it does not sound like it is beating itself to death. Yes, it holds the road nice and will stop as well as the thin tires allow.

Today we hear of the 45 MPH limit. That is not true, but a sign of not knowing how to properly restore the car back to factory tolerances. Ford precision made much of the mechanicals and you need to work hard to restore them to factory.

I see a lot of cars that the owners say 45 is the upper limit. Quite frankly, after a quick visual inspection, I can see enough problems to say 45 is likely not a safe speed.
If the car does not have shocks and can be held on the road then you know the springs are shot, or at least not well lubricated. When you see the front brake lever straight up and down you know the brakes have issues. Looking at the engine and a shake of the steering wheel finish out the inspection.

I can tell you after decades of being around A's, 65 MPH is no problem all day long for an A that is fairly stock. A used B cam being the furthest from stock.

If you take the time to read the history of how the car was used through time you will find many stories of running the car fast and hard on very long trips.

The Model A can take a beating and be run hard for a very long time when it is built right. You no not need to baby the car.

That being said. A car that runs 60 no problem is an absolute dream to drive at 45 taking in the sights. A properly rebuilt car just always runs and unlikely to to give you any problems on the road.
 
Tinkirk I like your answer! my uncle has always been a very safe careful driver he never abused any vehicle but to not be a speed bump some times you have to keep up with trafic A higher gear ratio would really help. our a steers and stops very good it feels very safe to me at 45 but it could use another gear!
 
Kevin in NJ said:
The Model A was designed to run 60 MPH. You will find it in the ads and in the service letters.

Properly restored the A is very comfortable at 60 -65...
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Our Town Sedan may be comfortable at 60 -65, me and my wife, not so much. 40-45mph is much closer to our comfort zone. :p:p

Probably has something to do with the fact that other drivers around here don't seem to know what a STOP sign is for.
 
I agree with your uncle, that the engine runs nice at 35 MPH. I drive most of the time 40 to 45, but the engine sounds best at 35. A 3.27 will help bring the engine speed down, which is what I'm interested in. The Model A has a very long stroke engine at over 4" stroke, so I like to keep the engine under 2000 RPM.

My 1999 Olds 88 shows 1750 RPM at 60 MPH, and that's a nice speed. Sure the car has lots of power and can easily go much faster, but 60 is a good speed and gives the best fuel economy.
 
Up until this week, I have had a 35mph Model A.

Now, you may ask why I have had a 35mph Model A?

Well, I will tell you. Until this week I really didn't feel safe driving faster than that because I didn't feel the brakes could safely stop me at a speed higher than that. Now, this week I have removed all the brake apparatus and have let Randy Gross take a crack at setting me up with new and better working brakes. So, next Monday when I get my stuff back and installed and adjusted, I will let yo know just how fast my car will go and feel safe at stopping at that speed.

In closing, I firmly believe you should not drive faster than you can stop comfortably.
 
Hi ivereson,

Your Uncle probably has a good memory of past experiences while riding in a Model A years ago.

I remember riding in our 1942 DeSoto, to Washington D. C., to Santa Fe New Mexico, going up Pikes Peak, etc., etc., in the late 1940's and early 1950's prior to today's interstates.

Many gravel roads in rural areas and also in small towns .... mostly stop signs in lieu of caution lights in small towns.

Cars jacked up with a flat tire, (out of sight), immediately on the other side of a hill, was a very common sight; as well as slow moving mule drawn and horse drawn wagons; cars parked in middle of the highway's drive lane because the person he was visiting did not have a car; hence, his friend did not have a driveway -- e.g., he just parked on the highway, at night, with "park lights" on.

Next, flats on tube type tires on cars driven were not at all uncommon.

Sixty (60) MPH in a Model A, with an unexpected tire blowout, on a gravel road, was a good speed for a total jackass driver, who at a minimum would need a change of underwear; but, only if he had an I.Q. of over 27.

Past actual experiences, just pat your Uncle on his back.
 
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