MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Today is the first day of the MARC meet in Asheville. A good turnout. Over 300 registrations, many with two people, so not sure of total attendance.

I went to a Burtz engine seminar this morning and a very interesting JSC session on Model A town cars. The flea market looked pretty good. Nice to have one with nothing but Model A parts. Pics to follow.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Always based on Registrations.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Tuesday, July 16. Not too hot but really high humidity. I attended the two seminars, one on engine compartments for the judged cars, and one on the nuances of restoring a differential. The first was interesting to me because of all the changes over the years and the second was interesting just on the technical information.

Lots of beautiful cars here. Two town cars (limousines), one restored and one original. Also a beautiful restored Yellow Cab taxi, complete with the meter. Maybe 270 cars total.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Looking for a town car?

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

It sold

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Good that the meet is on and didn't get cancelled like the MAFCA meet. :(

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

It's hot, but no reason to cancel.

It's a shame that the MAFCA meet got cancelled. I suspect the club was out some money unless they had cancellation insurance of some kind.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

There was a nice collection of fine point cars there. Bob Martino had is Model A prototype there. A fascinating car.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Thanks for the report, Milford.
Clem

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

July 18, We toured to the Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum today. I am guessing that there were 200 cars on the tour. It was stop and slow for the tour.

There were two Model A's of interest at the museum. One was a dirt track racer capable of 120 mph in the straight away. The other held a land speed record of over 146 mph. Both had highly modified engines.

The motorcycles were all interesting. There is a Youtube video from the museum that goes through the collection.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Here are some pics from the MARC meet in Asheville. First pic is ladies tour, some shots from the parking lot, Town Car, repair tent and the beginning of the fine point cars.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Some more pics from the meet. Fine point cars.

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Some pics of Bob Martino's prototype Model A. I neglected to get a full front end shot. :confused:

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Take note that the Town Car pictured is a 1930 model. I spoke with the owner and he believes there may be only 3 of these in existence.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

mhsprecher - Thanks a lot for posting the pictures of the Fine Point Judging cars! I don't think I have seen that many AA at a meet!

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Cape Codder - there were four, as I recall. It was noted at one point. As always, the FP cars are remarkable. We had two members of our club who won Henry awards! Quite an accomplishment.

Kudos to the organizers. It was an excellent meet.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Some of these are pretty cool.

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There were 4AA's Fine Point judged and two others (one inside and one outside) not part of the judging.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

The fine point cars (and trucks) are important to preserve the history of the Model A. Congratulations to all who make the effort to restore cars to this degree.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Thank you for all the great photos!

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Was there no Judging of _ _ _ _ _ _ for the cars that are driven! OR as usual did I miss them?

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Can someone tell us the details of the Bob Martino 1927 Model A roadster? Date built, oddities, what 's only on this proto-type, (like those rear bumper brackets). Thanks LRF

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Mostly it’s that many body and chassis elements are a slightly different shape, both from production cars and in some cases from each other - the car isn’t quite symmetrical. In terms of parts like brackets, Bob says many of the prototype designs were made in runs of 100 or 200 and ended up being installed on the first cars off the line in ‘27.

One thing I remember is that the tailpipe support was positioned in the middle of the baffle rather than at the bend in the pipe.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I heard that the rear motor mounts on the prototype were more like the Float-A-Motor versions. And that Ford changed to the normal ones to save money.

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First part is true, second part is unconfirmed. I specifically asked Bob about it. He said the proto-FAMs were used in some other early models, and they ride very well. He did t know why the switch was made. He said it is true that Ford significantly reduced the part count after the early cars. Another reason might be to provide additional rigidity to the frame by essentially making the flywheel housing a crossmember. The Model A frame is notably… flexible.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

Bob told me that the body is 1 1/2 inches narrower than the final body. The grab bars for the rumble seat are different. There are a number of differences on the chassis, which I saw in Morgantown (I think). The only one I remember is the placement of the timing pin.

The open-ended bumpers, of course, but they were on early cars, too. The rear Ford medallions on the bumpers are a difference.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

I know many of you are not on Facebook but if you are there are numerous photos and videos in the MARC group of the bare chassis and then the finished car from this year.

The shocks and motor mounts are unique, timing pin is on the flywheel housing, muffler has a clamp riveted to it, and a lot more. Check it out if you can.

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Folks who are interested in this topic will get a lot of detailed info from the "Early 1928s" supplement to the JS. According to the supplement, the first 200 cars produced were never intended for sale (based on engineering notes I think it was originally 100 and then changed to 200). They were sort of demo cars meant to be sent around to important stakeholders, shown to the media, etc., and then returned to Ford.

Many of the features noted on the prototype, such as the muffler clamp and odd shock arrangement, are also present on these first 200 cars. The JS describes many of these features. The flywheel-mounted timing pin is also found on some early Canadian export cars, along with the FAM motor mounts.

Other than the distinct body dimensions and other changes in the sheet metal, I'm not sure how many of the differences folks are seeing on the prototype are specific to it, rather than just to the first 200 cars.

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So, because this is a prototype, does this mean no stamped engine #, number stamped on the firewall, many "T" parts being used? I find this "A" and e-28 "A"s fascinating and want to learn more if possibly. Is there an article in one of the national club mags that goes into detail about this car. Where's Doc Kalinka when we need him?! Thanks, LRF

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

I suspect that there will be an article on this car in a future issue of the Model A News.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

I went to YOUTUBE and typed in "Bob Martino's prototype ford model A" and found quite a video about it. Too bad the interview had a very bad voice recording. But it's still worth the time and visit. LRF

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

You should post the link. I went looking for it and couldn't find it.

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Looking at all the variances for the 1927 Model A gives me hope that I can reasonably enter my Australian Model A in fine point judging (hopefully in 2028, in time for her 100th birthday).

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Still wondering if there was any Touring Class Judging at Asheville? Any pictures of them?

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There was Touring Class judging. A few of the cars are included in my photos of the show floor, but, as far as I know, they were not separated out on the show floor. Two members of our club got touring class awards.

I had planned to enter mine in TC judging, but some things came up before the meet that prevented me from prepping my car for judging. Maybe someone can post the number of TC entrants. I will research to find out.

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

The youtube channel is titled "1927 model a prototype chassis". LRF 07/2024

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

-
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTEWURu3EyY

Re: MARC Meet in Asheville
 

There were around 44 touring class judging entrants. I will update with the exact figure when I get it.