Father's Day Poll
 

Who in the 'Barn inherited, through parent's death or as a gift from them, a Model A that they STILL OWN?

I did, so I'll start as '1'.....

Thanks

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

you were very fortunate.


I recd a delicious key lime pie for Fathers Day. I was very glad for that!

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I got my A when I graduated from college. At a car show as I write.

Mike

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

A cheap plate topper is the only thing left from my fathers days with model A’s. He bought model A’s for 5 or ten bucks, ran them on penny a quart drain oil..the topper was bought for a 31 coupe which was purchased for 25 bucks and driven from New York to Florida by 2 GIs ( ma father being one) and a 4F nurseryman in 1947.. my father lost all his money at the dog track so the other two left him.. with the coupe too, when my father got back to NY he took the topper off that same 25 dollar coupe that made the round trip.. and beat up the other GI for leaving him broke in FL..that topper is on my A today..

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Jack, nice story!

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My father gave me mine in the 80's and I still have it.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Model A’s through the years went through many ‘cycles’. from new to old, easy to fix or throw away transportation, then to restoration. The car also bore witness to the cycle of modification, from the hopping up of A engines pre war to the engines of today.

All of these phases are part of the cars history..yet you rarely see a home made pickup or a 50’s survivor car..or a 40’s A powered hotrod, though they do have a following… The A of my fathers day were disposable inexpensive transportation that grew on the owners and led to the clubs of today.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I did, -and do.

Matter of fact, I also inherited my 'business trade' from my father. Dad started collecting & restoring Model-As before I was born, -and while growing up, I was fortunate to work beside him in the garage on Model-As. Then later in life when I was 37, I turned my Father's hobby into my living. I even had the great fortune of my Dad working as an employee in my business for several years.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My Dad got his Model A on his 40th birthday and drove it for a couple years before putting it into storage. My 40th rolled around last August and that is what he gave me! This one is going to be in the collection until the next kiddo in the family shows an interest in the hobby.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My Grandfather gave me his 1929 Business Coupe in 1954. I drove that car to High School in 1955 and I still have it. It as been through two restorations. I recently installed the oval windows and now I am giving it to my oldest Grandson.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Great stories, all. Thanks! Any more?

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I have my fathers 1931 Roadster which he gave me in 1992 as at the time I was not making any progress on the 31 Coupe that I brought it in 1974, so that together we could drive to the 1992 MARC Meet in Buffalo. I also now have his 1930 Briggs 4-dor which we maintain and drive on short and long tours and will be running the MAFCA National Tour in July with it. Six years ago I gave my coupe to my daughter and her husband and they have since added a 31 slant windshield sedan to tour with a growing family. This said we are now on 4 generations of Model A family. Keith

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My dad gave me his years ago, I still have it and drive it

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

From Step Father,

it will remain as much as possible until handed down again

pic is an ink sketch rendering

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

In a roundabout way. Dad had a '29 Tudor that I rode in as a kid and would drive when he was gone and I thought I could get away with it. It was very faded blue. I remember him cutting the deal on it when it was in his parent's neighbor's chicken coupe. There was an old girls fat wheel bike in there too and they threw that into the deal for me. Rode that bike for a long time. Dad sold the Tudor when I was in college.

I went to Bert's in Denver to look at a '28 roadster pickup, but that one wasn't for me. Steve had a '29 Tudor there that had 412 miles on it since it's restoration. Took it for a drive and bought it using the inheritance money dad and mom left me. I named the car Pops. So in a roundabout way, yes, I got a Model A from my dad.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Yes, my father bought our 31 Coupe for me in 1963. His idea of a "keep me out of trouble" during high school project. I still have the car. That picture in my avatar, is of dad in front of the Ford factory building at Greenfield Village. With the help of school friends we did a frame off 1960's style restoration. Dad and I poured the babbet, mom sewed the upholstery on her trusty Singer. I did the body work (No bondo , lead) Friends and I did the lacquer paint,. a little dull now but no cracks, pealing or rust. The car is all stock (except for the added fuse block and safety glass), starts every spring, runs well and has never, repeat never let me down on the road. About 14,500 miles since 1964.
Joe B

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Dad had a 31 Town Sedan and a 31 Wide Bed Pickup. In 2011 he brought the pickup over to my house and asked me to keep it in my garage for a while. Several months later for my birthday he signed over the title. I still have the pickup but dad passed away last year. Dad was cremated and we are planning to spread some of his ashes in the mountains and bury the rest. Until then, he watches over my pickup in the garage.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I have 5 Model A's and my first one was given to me by my Dad in 1986 and I still have it.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

More great stories. I'm GLAD I asked!

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I'm glad you asked too. I enjoyed the pictures and stories. I didn't get a model A from my Dad, but I remember him talking about them a lot. In my teen years all I could think of were Corvettes and Camaros. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate the stories my Dad told me about Model A's. That's why I bought mine, in memory of him and those stories.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Not a model 'A' but for my 20th Birthday I was given a 1929 DA Dodge Six, a one owner car it had a total of 62K miles on the speedo, still only has 69.5k. He bought three of my brothers a car all of which cost around 50 poundsAus, one of which was a low mileage Model A. I have had the Dodge 57 years.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Antique cars have always been in our family so I grew up with that. My mother bought my dad a 31 Roadster for his 40th birthday and that was over 53 years ago. I still have the car along with an early 30 Rdst. PU, 36 Fordor Deluxe, Model T Depot Hack and brass era special bodied car that my grandfather built. All the cars were given to me by my dad.
As I have lived outside of the US for a lot of my adult life the cars have been in storage, but I think this is the year to get them out and running. At least I hope!

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Good Luck, Stretch. I get through Lexington from time to time, so I'll be on the look-out!

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My Dad was not a car guy so I only have one picture of a '31 roadster he had.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Best thread on here in a long time.
Keep those stories coming.

I'm the first "old car" person in my family.
Bought the first Model A in 1986, have had a total of six + a 37 Plymouth, 35 Chevrolet and 59 Apache truck.

Our 22-year-old granddaughter says if I get another one it will be hers when I'm gone.......

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I inherited mine as my siblings weren’t interested. I think my dad would be happy I got it as I’m the history nut in the family. The car itself wasn’t that special to him, found locally and probably the correct year for his first car. I wish he had found something closer to fully restored as I’m finding out it’s expensive and time consuming to get things right. I have received an education so that’s a plus. I hope my son takes it one day and appreciates it.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My uncle went off to the marines in 1954 and parked his A in the shed.He then went to college and on to a career as a rep for Bucyrus Erie.He was here visiting in 1968 and told me he wasn't moving back here,so if I wanted that A I could have it.I was 12,and my mother had learned to drive in it,and thought I could do the same.I still have it,although it's on it's second frame and third body.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I was 12,and my mother had learned to drive in it, and thought I could do the same. I still have it, although it's on it's second frame and third body.

Mr. True, what's left? Just the engine and axles? I'm missing something!?!

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

[QUOTE=
Our 22-year-old granddaughter says if I get another one it will be hers when I'm gone.......[/QUOTE]

I'd get another one and put it in writing that she gets her pick(s) when you pass.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My Dad drove with my Granddad from Hokes Bluff Alabama to almost Dothan Alabama and picked up my great grandfathers model A Tudor and dad drove it back to Hokes Bluff (250 miles) That is where I was able to inherent it in the early 90’s. I have been working it as a survivor.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

It had been used as both the family car and tractor,so the rear of the frame had been patched a lot,so I used a different frame.The coupe body had the rumble replaced with a pickup box made in Amesbury Mass,and was used so hard the sides of the body and fender tops were ruined.I put a closed pickup cab on it.I drove it for 15 or 20 years,and the guy that used to own the cab asked me if I would sell the truck,as his grandfather had given the cab to him.I didn't want to sell the truck,because of the family thing.So he bought me a new Brookville open cab,and I gave the closed cab to him.I got a new open cab and he got his old cab back,but all painted,upholstered,trimmed,etc.I can no longer post pictures here without jumping through hoops of I would put one up.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Thanks for the explanation! Not sure I could keep all of that straight in my head....

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

There's actually more to the story.My uncle was here visiting my mother about 15 years ago and she brought him over to look at my A's.He was looking at the pickup,and asked what I had done with the one had given to me.I told him,you're looking at it.He had assumed that I had done what most kids did with junk cars,attack it with some wrenches,tear it all apart,learn a little something and get rid of it.A few weeks later my mother got a package in the mail,it was the horn off that car.When he left in 1954 he took it off and stashed it away,because that would be the first thing to be stolen off A's.It's now back hanging under the same headlight bar it left the factory with.It had spent over 50 years sitting on his desk out on the west coast.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Made a unique 'paper weight', for sure....

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Mine was purchased by my Dad in 1964. It was original but the upholstery basically broke apart with age as did the top. Then the engine had an issue so we pulled it out. By that time it needed some updating so we restored it in the 80's. After it was restored my Dad drove it for awhile, then parked it in his heated garage on jackstands with all the fluids still in it and left it. He wouldn't allow anyone to mess with it but I would sneak out to turn the motor over now and then. It sat that way for 30 yrs. He passed away in 2016 and lo and behold left it to me in his will. I got it fired up 3 months later and now our family is getting some great use out of it and my son wants the car after I'm gone...

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

Our Model A was my father in laws. He had put my name on the title several years back. When I drove it I'd tell him I was taking my half of the Model A for a ride. He passed this January at 90 years old. I was the only one in the family that had any interest in old cars.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

I was telling my Dad, "think about it this car really took cars to the next level for working people back in the day. And someone had this car during The Depression". People now days have no idea what that meant.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My 31 Roadster was in the prior owner's family for 65 years. The proverbial barn find in West Virginia, it had been used to deliver mail in the hills and hollers in Appalachia. The man who sold it to me was a teenager in 1957 when he and his father completely disassembled it and restored it to stock specifications. He said it was his job to dip each piece in a lye bath then scrub it with a wire brush. After some long period they figured out the lye wasn't helping anything so they dropped that step. Makes me really appreciate the amount of persistence and dogged effort in those pre-internet days. Anyway, in 1959 they drove it from Pittsburgh to Dearborn for the MARC meeting, where it won top honors. It was passed from one family member to another for 65 years.

As for my son, well he is pretty scornful of the A because it pollutes. He lusts after a Bugatti Veyron or "at least a Maybach" and I wish him best of luck in that pursuit.

Re: Father's Day Poll
 

My Dad bought his 1930 pickup being used as a prop from the front of a gas station plastered with Flying A gas stickers . That was 1956 and he paid $55 for it in not running condition. I was 5 years old at the time and remember sitting next to my grandpa as Dad towed it home using a rope. My first impression as I looked down between my feet and seeing the street go by[no floorboard] was that my Dad and Grandpa were crazy, but in a good way. Well, after going to the local wrecking yard and miking a piston from a pile Dad got it running.
Dad drove that Model A as his only transportation from then to 1971 when a friend sold him a 1969 Camaro. Now both are in my care.