When did full-blown Model A restoration begin?

The best time surely has to be now, especially on the sharing of knowledge front with the Internet and great forums like this? :)
 
The first restoration was well before the mid 60's. Speaking for myself I restored my first A when I was 15 years old. That was over 60 years ago in 1953. And my father had been restoring them before me in the mid 40's. Frame off restorations.
 
When I began my "career" of restoring old Fords (T and A) you used new old stock from the back rooms of Ford dealership's found good useable parts or made your own. I once restored a rear 30 coupe fender by straightening, cutting, piecing, welding, leading and painting 3 rusted, twisted and bullet ridden 30 coupe fenders into one "new" fender. It is easier now if you have the will to pay the price for repo parts You could also get some things from Western Auto Stores in the early 50's.
 
Also in the 50's there was no shortage of oldsters who knew everything about the old fords because they bought them new. They were all willing to share knowledge with a 15 year old shade tree mechanic. There was a fellow working at the edmonds motor company who would come by the house after work to critique my efforts. "The good old days", were just that. Good days!
 
In canada the first restoration shop was started in the late 50's. Did a lot of work with the early Pierce Arrows. By the mid to late 60's there were 10 -15. The first one is still run by the orginal family as well as a couple of the others.
 
peters180a/170b said:
400A-64 ...Finally someone with 400A and "NOT" A400 ....l.o.l The correct FACTORY FRAME Black , l.o.l.
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Pete, I have in my hand an Original "MARC News" letter from October 1957 and in a judged meet in the PENN-OHIO region, the first place car was a "A-400" :eek: :D:D
 
Like Ken states above there were a few well restored Model A's at the MARC national meets in 1955 and again in 1957. I was there also. What no one has mentioned yet is that NOS parts were available from Ford dealers who were usually anxious to sell these parts that they considered obsolete. In 1948 I needed rear end bearings and races and they were not available thru the usual aftermarket sources I had access to so I went to a Ford dealer and he was so glad to see me that not only did I get my bearings and races but I came home with fenders, aprons, running boards and lots of mechanical parts for next to nothing. Buyouts from other dealerships followed over the next 25 years. Very little left now many years later but in the early days my point is genuine Ford parts were available and easily found and cost very very little.
 
First A in 1964. We did not consider the following when "Restoring." Was a bolt raven or cad finished, was this type fastener used before April, 1930. Personally, our premise was and is: "If it looks like a Model A, runs and IDLES like a Model A, then it is a Model A. Heck, back then we even called them "A Models...
 
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