The Military Model-A
 

Hi Guys, I'm a newbie [one post] but I have been lurking for over two years, want to thank the members for all the great information that I've picked up reading the forum, when I started my project I had just a chassis, I looked for a body, found a '29 ccpu cab, so I decided to build a truck, while reading the forum I read where there were no Ford Model-A's in the military, so I thought I would try to dress a Model-A in military garb....Had a blast, great fun, a little challenging, but i loved every minute of it, Here are a few pictures of my Military Model-A.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Looks like what could have been. Nice job, with lots of authentic looking details. I bet you get lots of looks!!
Terry

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very cool! Nice job

Re: The Military Model-A
 

really nice I like the tire choice

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Nice - thank you for sharing!

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Nice work. I will take exception about no Model A's in the military. My father bought a 1930 AA from Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, MN. With his purchase the motor pool gave him all the spare parts in the inventory for that truck for his purchase. He purchased it in the late 1940's and said it was the longest AA he had ever seen. He used it to haul scrap paper and steel cans from a landfill operation he was running. He also said when he got it the condition was like new.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Here is a phaeton in military use. I have also seen some that were artillary and staff vehicles. Semper Fi

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Best I have seen thanks for the photos,

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Hooah old-duff,

Au contraire....the US Military did have Model A's of various types. Here, for example, are two Army Ford Model A Phaetons (note the "For Official Use Only" on the door):

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...haetonPost.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...ton1post-2.jpg

...or how about this Army Ford Model A Sedan:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...FordorPost.jpg

The Navy and Marine Corps also had Model AA trucks in various configurations.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/...d6ae2d1a_z.jpg

The Ford Model A's in the US Military were only used as staff cars however.....AA's could be used in both a garrison and field environment.

Has anyone ever seen a military service manual for these vehicles? Was there such a manual? How about a regulation specifying the paint scheme and lettering for these vehicles?

Fordially,
Brad in the US Army in Maryland

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Now make yourself some "black-out" headlight lenses.

https://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/23...8e7bd951ab.jpg

Heh. I remember in my parents cottage finding "Instructions for when there is a black- out."

"Mom - what's a black-out?"

"It's when you feel like you're going to faint - you know - when you pass out."

"No Mom. This has nothing to do with falling down. They're talking about a siren!"

Maybe get yourself some Pre-WWII bumper stickers. Up up and away with the NRA (national recovery act.)

Heh. Speakiing of NRA - DON'T drive this vehicle through Massachusetts with the weapon on board. You'll never make it home.

Joe K
Cow Hampshire and proud of it.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

What size wheels? What size are the tires? How did you get them into the fender well?

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Joe,

Your blackout light covers sure look great.....but blackout lights on Model A vehicles were simply the regular headlight lenses, painted over in black with just the slit left unpainted:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps0e9b7ac3.jpg

But then again, any solution would work in a war time situation......just a matter of the cost and what resources and materials where available.

Fordially,
Brad in Maryland

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Thank you. I confess I was looking for more like what you have shown - but when you google "black-out lenses" you get a bunch of pix of teen-aged girls with totally black eyes - no iris.

Must be a "style" and the latest fad in contact lenses.

Joe K

Re: The Military Model-A
 

An amazing project. As a retired military officer I love what you did with "what could have been" Also thank you for others that shared the other photos of "Military Model A's.

Henry's 31

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Outstanding!
Welcome to the Barn

Re: The Military Model-A
 

i love it!

AA's or GAZ-AA's (also GAZ-AAA's dual rear axle) were used over in Russia by the boat load during WW2

Id post a picture of my "modern" 19 year old truck in kahki painted like a gulf war but its not a ford - dreaded C word lol (and no not THAT c word ;) )

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Wow, you clearly put a lot of work into that project. Nice job.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Seams as if the restorer had a article a few years back about the station wagons in the military painted green of corse

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Re: The Military Model-A
 

That does look nice, I really like looking at your pictures. Especially the 03 Springfield! Vince Faulter's site has some very nice pics of Military A's and AA's used for the 17th Field Artillery.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/fordbattery17fa.htm

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Just had to say


Great Job

Re: The Military Model-A
 

I Love that Truck!

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very nice work. I like military vehicles and your's looks perfect for the job.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Thanks for the favorable comments, they are appreciated, and thanks to Joe K for posting the blackout covers, a great idea, my wife is working on them right now, I did know about the double A's, Phaeton, and station Wagon models but not until well after I was into my project, but thanks for posting the great pictures. I'm also a member of the MVPA and can't wait to drive the Model-A on to the parade ground at the Military shows. The tires are 600 X 16, let out a little air to ease into the wheel wells, carry a pump, the doors do open wide, no problem. Thanks again to all, see you on down the road, the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise........Old-duff.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very Nice!

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Well done!

Re: The Military Model-A
 

WELL DONE!!
I think Uncle Sam would approve.

Chet

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Back some twenty or so years ago, I ran into a rusty collection of Mod A s behind Larsen Ford in Lakewood, NJ. In among this collection was one can that really stood out. It had a two piece windshield. I wasn't knowledgible enough to really examine the beast, but it was unique enough to catch my eye. I asked someone what it was and I was told it was a prototype military vehicle. As I recall, It was an open Phaeton type body. It appeared to be in "Original" condition, rusty! As were the rest of the old Fords there.
Terry

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very nice truck ! great job

Mike

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very, very nice! We're MVPA members as well with a '42 Jeep and '43 HD WLA. I've taken our '30 Town Sedan to a couple WWII events for the Home Front area since there were plenty around during the war years. I had some fun with the local Model A guys at a show last year when I brought our '31 Woodie and wore my HBTs...

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very nice detailing, love the campaign hat, early helmet, and early carbine on the cab rack - suggests the truck is prewar, probably just before Pearl Harbor, or very early wartime. You should put together it's theoretical story, timeframe, where it served, etc., make a neat poster to display with it. Very cool to see an early war vehicle, now you need a slat grill MA Jeep to go with it...

Re: The Military Model-A
 

old duf; very neat...what a nice project..

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Very nice job.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

WELL DONE
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Way cool!

Re: The Military Model-A
 

I LOVE your truck !
There were, probably, very few "A"s in Military Service, by war time. They would, all, have been at least ten years old by 1941, and pretty well used up. I don't think that the govt. bought any used vehicles.
You do have to get rid of that red plastic coated wire on your coil, though.
Thanks for posting !
MIKE :) (mikeburch)

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Wow! Very nice...very jealous here.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

I have got the Army Uniform from 1928 - full complement of everything. What I don't have is a 1929 Army Truck ! Congratulations, as a historical researcher, I must say you have done an excellent job of 'inventing' a 'what would have been' Army vehicle.

Re: The Military Model-A
 

It's nice to see something different done with a Model A yet somehow looks so correct.
Great job.
Love it.....

Re: The Military Model-A
 

Thats a cool ride, nice job!