People just love the Model A

[Billy 1931 Model A]

What is it about these cars? Everybody loves them! Drive along our roads here in beautiful Connecticut, and everybody waves, cheers, gives the thumbs up!
We're a big hit with everyone from the 9 year old girls to the 75 year old men.
What is it about these cars?

[John Dayhuff]

Maybe it's because it's something they don't see everyday, and also because today's cars suck?

[Mulletwagon]

Always reward a wave or thumbs up with a healthy AH-OOO-GAAAA !!!

[Synchro909]

My brother in law and I were out in his Model A over the weekend. As you say, people stop and wave. I saw one family stop dead in their tracks and wave with smiles from one ear to the other yet some people seem to not even notice it. Strange.

[mcgarrett]

I get the same reactions when I'm out on the roads with my Roadster too. I think it's probably due to the classy, art deco styling standing out from all the cars of our era which are smitten with boring sameness. Also, I think its the charm and allure of a simpler, more innocent time in history. Modern cars have bodies...but no soul!

[JayJay]

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I think it has to do with body style to some extent. When I had my '30 pickup I used to get lots of waves, smiles, discussion at the stoplights, etc. The sedans, not so much. OP's roadster with those wide whitewalls is the ultimate in crowd pleaser.

JayJay

[AzBob]

My Model A driving experience results in a few thumbs up and waves but for the most part drivers around here are in a hurry to get somewhere and could care less that you are driving a 92 year old car. Oh, they care if you are in front of them, you're in the way and they can't wait to get around you.

[Terry, NJ]

I get my 29 Mod.A ready for Election day and I like pulling up in the old Ford. It starts a lot of conversations! But I took it out on Saturday and drove it Sat. Sun. Mon. and of course Tuesday. Still has some electrical issues, like the headlights and the brake lights. But I'm getting them fixed slowly. Got to clean up the Oaks and dead Ashes I took down last week. Much to do! BTW If anyone can use the Ash, The logs are about 20" Dia and 30' long. CHEAP!
Terry

[rich40701]

My Cabriolet gets nonstop attention no matter where I go.

[TomInCologne]

Sometimes i just sit and look at my slant windshield Fordor and admire the design. There is just no line, shape or form on it that is not absolutely right. All curves and straights are just 'spot on'. Edsel, you and your team, you were geniuses.



That's the reason why i will never put a luggage rack on the back.

[mercman from oz]

What is there not to love about the Ford's Model A?
Billy's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster.

[Zax40]

Originally Posted by AzBob

My Model A driving experience results in a few thumbs up and waves but for the most part drivers around here are in a hurry to get somewhere and could care less that you are driving a 92 year old car. Oh, they care if you are in front of them, you're in the way and they can't wait to get around you.

Sadly, it's the same way here in the Atlanta suburbs. Takes the fun out of driving sometimes. But I find if I get up early on the weekend and go for a drive while most are sleeping in it can be a nice peaceful drive. There are still some that appreciate it and wave or slow down to check it out.

To the original poster, that is a beautiful Roadster.

[gdmn852]

Model A Fords are probably the best known antique due to the amount of survivors. Was watching an old episode of the The Fugitive (1964) and he stole a 1928 29 Phaeton to get out of town, Model As also show up on Father Knows Best . When I was going to car shows in the 1970 and 1980s Model A were so plentiful they had 1928-9 and 30-31 class for them also at some shows open and closed class .My first car was a 1930 Coupe so they are special to me .

[WHN]

I think a Model A Ford is like an old set of Lionel “0” gauge trains.

People love to stop and look, but most likely would not buy.

Remembering the past. Was it a simpler time?

Haze gray and underway.

[Ed in Maine]

I was at the gas station last week. A car pulled up next to me and the guy leaned out the window and said "OK, you win! That is the coolest car I have ever seen." To which I replied "you are looking at a 1931 Model A Ford Victoria." If you want to have your own mini car show, all you have to do is buy a few gallons of gas. Oh, it is so much fun! Ed

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Ed in Maine

I was at the gas station last week. A car pulled up next to me and the guy leaned out the window and said "OK, you win! That is the coolest car I have ever seen." To which I replied "you are looking at a 1931 Model A Ford Victoria." If you want to have your own mini car show, all you have to do is buy a few gallons of gas. Oh, it is so much fun! Ed

I was buying fuel about 15 years ago when a couple of guys pulled up with racing motor cycles on a trailer. Obviously, they were on their way to a nearby race track for some fun. They looked across at the A and words passed between them. I asked them "How many horsepower?" as I gestured towards their bikes. They answered "About 170." I pointed to the A and said "40'. They couldn't believe it and are probably still laughing.
Another time (last year), I was getting fuel and someone pulled up alongside and asked "What year is it?" I gave what I thought was the correct answer. "2021", I said. We both laughed. I bet that wouldn't happen with any modern car.

[burner31]

Yep, can't go anywhere without people commenting or eyeballing, just for kicks I will tell someone I bought it new off the showroom floor and they don't even flinch...guess math is not their strong point.
And yes...I have a strange sense of humor

[jb-ob]

Zax40,

Since Covid people have forgotten all rules of the road other than "It's all about me".

7-10 AM Sunday and NEVER think about a Saturday drive.

[al's28/33]

jb-ob I agree! I go out early weekend mornings, after 11am there are too many bicyclists and Gen-Xers who pay no attention to road signs nor have any common sense basic driving skills. I have more fun enjoying my car drives when there is less hustle and bustle. I don't care for tailgaters.

[mcgarrett]

I'm sure most everyone here on the Barn tend to be extra cautious when out on public streets, especially when driving their antique vehicles. I have noticed an alarming increase in drivers that run red lights and stop signs in our area and I'm paying more attention to that fact - waiting and looking when the light turns green before proceeding through and intersection. There have been several accidents in our community due to this problem, so please pause a few seconds to make sure all is well and everyone comes to a stop before you go.

[Zax40]

Originally Posted by al's28/33

jb-ob I agree! I go out early weekend mornings, after 11am there are too many bicyclists and Gen-Xers who pay no attention to road signs nor have any common sense basic driving skills. I have more fun enjoying my car drives when there is less hustle and bustle. I don't care for tailgaters.

I think you mean Gen-Zers. Gen-X is all middle aged folks now. But I get what you are saying. Sunday morning drives are nice. Hopefully it will be nice this Sunday I haven't driven any of my early Fords in weeks

[mhsprecher]

You are a one person parade when you drive your Model A.

I have other antiques that get a lot of attention, too, but the Model A is a real crowd pleaser. What interests me is that there are a lot of serious bicyclists near me and they almost always give me a thumbs up when I meet them.

[JayJay]

Well, after having said (above) that the sedans don't attract much attention, I got two thumbs up this afternoon driving my '31 Town Sedan from the shop to my house - one on each side of me (three lanes wide, I was in the middle). An aahooga got a second set of thumbs up from each driver. Must be that "almost Friday" good vibe.

JayJay

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by John Dayhuff

Maybe it's because it's something they don't see everyday, and also because today's cars suck?

Man that is 100% spot-on.

You can sit and watch cars at any street today and the boredom will put you to sleep. Suvs. Crossovers. Black-white-silver gray. No colors to speak of. The cars all look the same. Somebody gets a good seller and all the others imitate it.

Subarus look like Ford Escapes. Chevy has a model looks like a Ford Taurus another Chevy model is a direct replica of the last model Ford Focus.

It used to be fun in the 60's to sit and watch the cars they looked pretty much different and they actually had colors. Not today. They suck. Usually until you see the company's logo on the front you have no clue what it is. Or really care.

Only new cars out there that are worth seeing are the Ford Mustangs and the Dodge Challengers. Everything else is throw away plastic bore-dom.

[goldie]

I am new to the Model A hobby since this past July. I own some exotic cars but they don't get the attention that the A gets. The constant thumbs up, horn honking, picture taking, and being stopped and asked questions. Just getting gas takes forever and women won't leave me alone. It is a yellow and black Huckster/woodie so it does stand out a bit.
I am a very defensive driver and one of the first things I did was to install 4-point harnesses just in case, they are a pain sometimes, have to remember to release the parking brake before I buckle up.

[Dennisfly]

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I'd be interested to see how you mounted the four point harness.

[Ray in La Mesa]

All the silver, grey, white & sand color cars make it hard to spot our '06 Mercury Grand marque hard to spot in the parking lot so we painted the top a beautiful dark electric blue. Simple to spot now & get lots of thumbs up too.

[woofa.express]

Love a Model A? Yes. Let's start a “Me Too” movement.

[JayJay]

Yesterday (Veteran's Day) three of us went for a drive to San Francisco and across the Golden Gate bridge. We got back close to home after dark and there were two of us (both sedans) sitting at a stop light with the typical Model A marginal headlights on. Guy pulls up on the right, motions for my bride to roll down her window, and said "is there a parade? You know there's another one just like yours behind you". I told him yes I knew, no there wasn't a parade, we were just returning from a drive. He then asked what kind of car and responded with "they're beautiful".

Mid-afternoon we saw a dozen WW-II vintage fighter planes flying in formation over the bay. Not sure what they were but the sound of the rotary piston engines was distinctive. Very cool. Thank you to all who have served.

JayJay

[Gene F]

What Jay Jay said in post #6. And even kids outside playing that were not even born back in the day(s). Just affirms that the design was good, and surely special. They don't do that when a Tesla drives by, a station wagon, or a Yugo.

I do not think they will ever go out of style in my lifetime.

[Oldgearz]

I just drove my 30 deluxe coupe to the dentist office and a guy in the parking lot wanted to rent it so he could take his wife for a ride. I didn't know what to say,,,just stammered a little and said my insurance wouldn't cover that! These cars are not seen on the road that much in north Idaho so I get lots of waves and thumbs up. I generally smile, blow the horn, and whisper congratulations to the car.

[Ramman]

http://https://photos.app.goo.gl/osQSuT5A5nzzE3Nd7

[55chevr]

Model A-s are the image of what antique cars should look like. They get driven a lot because they are very streetable while most antique cars just aren't. The huge production numbers plus the survivor rate is extraordinary. Try and find another manufacturers car from the same era. None survived

[burner31]

Originally Posted by 55chevr

Model A-s are the image of what antique cars should look like. They get driven a lot because they are very streetable while most antique cars just aren't. The huge production numbers plus the survivor rate is extraordinary. Try and find another manufacturers car from the same era. None survived

I looked into the future to see what the cars today will look like in 90 some odd years...

[Joe Shell]

Nothing special about the Model A to the general public in my opinion. I’ve had several Model A Fords and my 1936 Ford Cabriolet gets just as much attention as a Model A.

[MickyD]

Just recently at a stop light, the car in front of me stopped for the red light. Everyone was turning around and taking pictures of me in my 28 roadster. Even the car to the right of me, the driver was taking pictures. We almost did not make it through the light.

[jerrytocci]

20210518_155409.jpg

Lots and Lots of pictures

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by burner31

I looked into the future to see what the cars today will look like in 90 some odd years...

I like that

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by burner31

I looked into the future to see what the cars today will look like in 90 some odd years...

By that time, I think today's cars will have come back as maybe a microwave oven or a razor blade or.....