I just bought another Model A
 

I just bought another Model A Ford. I saw this 1930 Model A Fordor on a nearby online auction. WE went to see preview the car a few days before the auction ended. The body appears to be really solid and straight. The car came with lots of repro parts from Mac's. The windshield and frame were off along with the radiator shell but they were in the barn and in good condition.
The title states the 35,999 miles showing is original. The engine cranks by hand and has compression, I have not attempted to start it yet. According to the engine number it was stamped on April 7, 1930.
I see some Fordor's referred to as Town Sedans. How do I know if it is a Standard Fordor, Deluxe Fordor, Or Town Sedan. The Briggs body number is 164-6051.
I am going to look for any stanpings or markings tomorrow. Were the firewalls date stamped at the factory? If so where? Should the floor crossmember be stamped with the factory code?
I was told by the local DMV the car came from Nebraska when the previous owner purchased it. There are New York inspection stickers on the windshield from 2013 so I assume it was running then.
I think it should be a good companion to my 28 Sport Coupe.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1672385914

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1672385684

New owner asks is the 1930 Model A Fordor a Standard or Deluxe model?

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Has cowl lights as deluxe. Would have to see inside trim

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

If the dome light is over the rear seat it is a town sedan if the dome light is right behind the drivers seat it is a standard

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

nice solid looking car. congrats!

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My 1930 town sedan has a fold down armrest in the middle of the backseat.
Marty

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

I also noticed the 69/70 Mach1 behind it. :)
TOB

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Yes the car has the dome light above the rear window and rear seat. It also has the fold down arm rest. The arm rest is under the home made seat covers.
The Mustang is a 1969 Mach 1 Cobra Jet. It belongs to my brother.
Does anyone know where I can find information on the Briggs Body Number 164-6051? It would be interesting to see when and where the body was built.
Thanks for the information.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Yep good looking Briggs Townsedan. I am not sure if you can get much info from the tag (mine is missing). Since they built the body and shipped them to Ford and then mated them to the chassis, I would go with the engine info as being accurate. Make sure you have good wood in the doors and posts. and roof so it doesn't leak-like mine does.

Mike

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Not a Deluxe. Deluxe Fordors were two window. 164 is the Briggs number for a 155D Town Sedan (Three window). 6051 is the Briggs body sequence number.

Nice find.[/QUOTE]

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Looks like a nice find. In Ohio, get the title in your name ASAP! As in before you spend time and money on the car.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Looks like a nice find if the wood is solid. Those headlights are not original….should be all stainless steel and not teardrop shaped. The Town Sedan’s are very comfortable and nice Model A’s!

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

And it also has the correct wood grained finish on the door garnishes.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Great find! It's good to know some like that are still to be found....

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

1969 428 RamAir Cobra Jet (Engine Code should be R) it could also be a Sport Roof - but I doubt that unless the original buyer was a hard core drag racer looking to save a few pounds.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

It would be a sports roof (fastback) and yes it would be an R engine code. :)

TOB

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

I love my 1931 Tudor, but the Fordors sure appeal to me.

The only thing that ever beat my 1969 GTO was a CobraJet 428 Mustang.....LOL

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

My '31 slant window town sedan has both the side panel arm rests and the fold down armrest in the middle of the backseat.
(more arm rests then arms)

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Noticed your rear quarter windows don't roll down, or am I not seeing it?

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

I went to clean the car out today and to look for any stampings on the body. No luck with finding any other stampings.
1930artdeco - I jacked the car up and all of the visible wood underneath looks solid. The visible wood inside the car looks good also. When I take the car apart I may find something otherwise.
Gene F - I received the title from the auctioneer this past Wednesday the 28th and had it registered in my name Thursday the 29th. I had no problems at the DMV.
TerryH - I know the headlights are wrong. I probable will go with a repro 30-31 set. I have a similar set that came on a 1931 Hupmobile I have. It also is missing the Horn. I have an original horn on the way.
burner31 - Yes it has both side panel arm rests and the fold down arm rests. The center arm rest is covered by the home made seat covers. I do not know if it is all there but I could see most of it when I had the back seat out. And no I do not think the quarter windows roll down. I do not remember seeing any cranks.
I was looking under the car today and was amazed at the condition of the sheet metal. I did not find any obvious rust through anywhere. There is surface rust under the fenders but everything seems to be solid. I took the left spare tire off and even the Fender well is solid.
I took many pictures today and will add more pictures when I have time to download them.
The widow lady I bought this from also has a 1931 slant window fordor. I did not look at it much but she wants to sell it. The auctioneer did not put it in the auction because the car was from I think Tennessee and needs an out of state inspection. The car has had the engine changed and the numbers do not match the title. They could not find a number stamped in the frame. It is partially apart now trying to find the numbers. She also sold a 1930 Tudor sedan that was running and a driver it looked good from 5 to 10 feet away and had a nice interior.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

The 1930 Town Sedans did not come with roll-down quarter windows; I think those appeared in 1931.

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Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

I did too:eek: You can't miss that bad boy.

Another member of the 'club' here that owns a '69 Mach 1 or Sportsroof Mustang:):) besides a Model A.

Now I don't feel so lonely!

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Jeff - The Mustang belongs to my brother not me. It is a 1969 Mach 1 Cobra Jet Sport roof. Originally sold new in California. He just restored it about 2 years ago. He also has a 1969 Mustang Grande coupe.
I have a 1969 Torino Gt Sport roof. Much like the one I had in high school. It needs to be restored. Other cars I have (2) 1931 Hupmobiles, 1940 Ford Tudor, 1923 Model t runabout hot rod. 1969 Fairlane, 1971 Maverick Grabber in Grabber green, 1928 Model A Sport Coupe. The Maverick and the Sport Coupe are drivers the others need to be restored.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

You said you are going to take it apart. Have you considered making it safe and reliable, then driving it as it is.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

I want to go through the driveline, brakes, cooling, etc. The interior needs to be replaced. I had planed to give it a paint job. I think the paint is original but in poor condition. I was hoping I would not need to remove the body if the wood is OK. So far I think the wood I can see is very good, The doors shut good, sound solid, and line up good. First I need to pressure wash the underside to remove the accumulated dirt and grease, than decide how far I need to go.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

You said you are going to take it apart. Have you considered making it safe and reliable, then driving it as it is.



I will second that. Many today prefer the old crusty paint for its heritage. I do as well.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

In reference to Post #9. I just went out to the garage to look at the Briggs body number on my 1930 town sedan. My number is CL164-641. Some time ago I posted that the number started with CL and one of our FordBarners told me the CL meant Cleveland, Ohio. 1928 Sport Coupe, does your number has a letter prefix?
Marty

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Marty
All that is stamped on the tag is 164-6051 nothing more. The tag is pretty rough but still readable
.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Nice find. One of those was my Mothers everyday driver when I was a kid.

It looks like it has those 1950's seat covers you could get from J.C. Whitney's

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Dodge:
The seat covers could be J.C. Whitney's. I just assumed they were home made or an upholstery shop. They are some sort of vinyl material. I remember my dad getting J.C. Whitney catalogs in the mail a couple of times a month.
I was told the car was in NY. in 2012 and 2013 There are NY. inspection & registration stickers that expired in early 2013 on the windshield to back it up. Then it went to Nebraska in 2013 till ????. The car than went to Ohio, I assume to the man whose wife I purchased it from at auction.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

I third Synchro's idea of just getting her driveable and safe right now. I mean go through the brakes, engine cooling etc. But you may want to leave the interior and wood alone for the time being. There is a lot of wood in this car you can see from the picture and it will be a loooong resto if you take her apart. Also, power washing will force water into places that it may not normally be. The header/roof on my car leaks with just a simple hose on low pressure so maybe just a normal hand wash with a hose to spot any leaks coming in. Just my two cents worth.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Nice find!

jdd

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Fantastic find! congratulations

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Great looking car, very complete, straight and solid.

Fordors are very comfortable and make great cars.

Chris W.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Sounds like it is going to have a very loving home. Way to go. I have my dad's 30 Tudor that he restored in 1972, but I would love a car like yours.

Re: I just bought another Model A
 

Thanks everyone for the compliments on the car. The more I think about it and look at the car the more I like it. If the previous owner had not sanded the paint off the top to replace the top insert I may have considered leaving the "patina" intact. The mice have pretty much destroyed the interior before I got it.
The biggest problem right now is the car is at my brothers garage. I do not have room at my house until I move some other cars out. I think a few of them may need to move on to someone else.
I have always liked Ford's especially the Model A's.