Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

This post will likely stimulate some discussion which is a good thing. I really like and enjoy my Model A's, but Model A's have some features I find unlikable:
1) Edsel Ford did an fantastic job of styling the Model A's, but in my opinion, a trunk hanging off of the back of a Model A ruins Edsel's styling;
2) I realize that people were slimmer and smaller when the Model A was designed, but the bodies should have been wider. I find it absurd that there is a Model A Taxi given the small nature of the Model A's bodies;
3) The clearance between the A-Pillar of the cowl and the front seat is painfully way too little making most Model A's difficult to get into and out of. If the A-Pillar was 3 inches further forward, the Model A would be so much easier to get into;
4) What was Ford thinking when they decided on those narrow tires? Henry is said to have found the Model A's ride too rough so he ordered expensive Houdaille shock absorbers be put on the car?? Wider tires would have solved the rough ride at less cost;
5) The Model A's timing pin is located in a very difficult to manage position and the dent to determine TDC is difficult to detect. I very much like the 6-cylinder Chevrolets that have a chrome BB in their flywheel which can be easily seen through a cutout in their flywheel housing;
6) The worst Model A feature in my opinion is the very poor design of the engine's main bearings. The oil drainage out of the rear main bearing is a failure, and the crankshaft thrust faces are inadequate. The width of the center main bearing is inadequate.
I really like & enjoy the rest of the Model A's features!

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

- Weight bearing exhaust manifold
- steel manifold nuts inevitably corrode
- decision not to license Robertson screw drive
- steel fan design
- subpar head design even for the time
- carb too small

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Really dislike where the battery is located, hard to service

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Bob you have a great list. I’m sure that if you continue to think about it, the list would keep growing.

We at one time owned a historic house that was 175 years old. Talk about simple. If nothing else, technology has really changed. It’s been a very exciting 200 years.

If we could time travel? Think about cars in 50 to 75 years.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

I think that a lot of these are using the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. Keep in mind that the Model A went from beginning of design to production, at a new plant, in less than a year. Not that I don’t concur with Bob and Alexiskai on opportunities for improvement. I frankly am pleased that in spite of the limitations of time, materials and engineering know-how, that Ford got so much right with the Model A. After all, close to 100 years later, it still pretty much operates reliably as designed. What other technology can make that claim? (Firearms? I have no hesitancy shooting Colt M1911, Springfield 1903, or M1 Garand in good condition.) Those quirky OFI are part of what makes these cars so interesting and lovable.

I’d put the wood body-frame sedans on that list. Fortunately by 1931 Ford had that sorted out.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

I second what Jay Jay said. This was a different time and automotive design was not as advanced as it was just 10 years later. Although the Duesenberg was far more advanced than the Model A, at 30 times the cost. You can blame Henry for any mechanical issues.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Electric windshield wiper is useless. Vacuum was better, but at full throttle….
Rear View mirrors.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Add the light switch to the above items listed.

A trunk is an added item and not really an "Aspect of the Model A", IMO. But I really dislike the looks of a trunk on a Roaster or Coupe. On a flat window Sedan, I don't think they look bad.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Exhaust manifold should have had an additional stud at front and back.
Welded wheel spokes can make life difficult for us 90 years later!

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

The Model A should have entered production with the Model B engine and transmission.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Insecure owners who insist on believing they can re-engineer history.

Nicest thing about a Tudor sedan is that it can't be butchered by adding a rumble seat.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

The defroster is what I see as a need for daily driving
Most of today’s mechanical issues I see on the forum would not be a problem with proper restoration to original specifications and not using “GYP” parts
A original timing gear has a depression matching the timing pin.
If a thick shim pack is used on the rear cap there will be a large gap between the slinger and its opposing surface in the cap creating a gap allowing easy passage of oil,if the rear main babbitt is not machined or peined correctly the thrust will move and excess oil will be lost past the bearing.
People for the most part were smaller, many houses didn’t have electricity or central heating,the bathroom was a pot or a trip out back, the model A is quite advanced compared the the T and the other things people dealt with.
You have to remember that it was one of the lowest price cars too.
It must have been much better than the other lower priced cars of the era — how many of them do you see compared to Fords.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Kurt and Jim's post says a lot. Model-A hobbyists are some of the worst stewards of the Hobby. Especially with their MacGuyvering that is their answer (i.e.: excuse) for the need to drive their car on tours!! ;)

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

IMO, A BIG improvement would be made if Model As (and other Fords for years) didn't use those horrible transverse springs.
Then there is the way the clutch pedal gets tangled with the exhaust manifold, clamp and the top of the oil return pipe.
It has already been mentioned above that the bodies were too narrow. I second that and if they were a little wider, we could have the accelerator on the right of the brake instead of between the clutch and brake. Driving at night with a vertical windscreen and back window is a challenge. I see tail lights of the car in front of me in the rear vision mirror and headlights of on coming cars in the rear window. Driving at night on unfamiliar roads is quite a challenge.
The list goes on but looking at this sensibly, for its time and cost, the Model A was a great package that served its owner well. The shortcomings given here are from the perspective of a different generation in a different time spoken from the perspective of we who have driven cars for years that have had the advantage of decades of gradual improvement. Too gradual, I would say.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

My favorite pet peeve hasn't been mentioned yet, The gas shut-off under the hood for 1931. I realize Ford was forced to do it but it should have had linkage or a cable to activate from inside the vehicle.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Two rear lights would have been nice. Also safety glass all around.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Chevrolet didn’t start with safety glass in the windshield until 1934
Ford was the first in 1928

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

4) What was Ford thinking when they decided on those narrow tires? Henry is said to have found the Model A's ride too rough so he ordered expensive Houdaille shock absorbers be put on the car?? Wider tires would have solved the rough ride at less cost;

My late grandfather was a truant officer in a rural county. He drove a Model-A coupe, and he always told me that the narrow tires made the car usable in mud. He said you could drive through a creek with the car.

6) The worst Model A feature in my opinion is the very poor design of the engine's main bearings. The oil drainage out of the rear main bearing is a failure, and the crankshaft thrust faces are inadequate. The width of the center main bearing is inadequate.

I think the addition we use today with an oil feed to the center bearing would have been a big plus.

Overall for the money, the A was quite a value priced car for the masses. The A is still a favorite with myself, and many other car collectors. Times seem to be changing to the cars of the late 50s, and muscle cars though. As a tall man I still enjoy taking my A for a spin at the end of the day, or a local chapter meeting/outing.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

With all of these built in weaknesses and faults, why do I bother with them? Maybe those people who say I'm crazy are right.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

9 gallons of gas in your lap! Ralph Nader would stroke

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

The narrow tires and high clearance made the A a good car for going through deep snow.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

How many recalls did the model a have to correct all of these perceived falts

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Not sure how many in all, but the first recall was to replace hundreds of faulty generator cutouts on the early '28 models just before production really got ramped up. So the story goes, the factory was getting complaint calls about cars that were stranded due to a "no-start" condition shortly after their very first drive. As you can imagine, Henry was pretty livid about the embarrassment due to the defective parts so early into production.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

I don't disagree with many of the complaints, but my view has long been that the Model A is one of the best cars ever made. More main bearings would have been better as well as a balanced crankshaft. I am surprised at how well the A's do with transverse springs. Not state of the art, but adequate. Henry was all about low cost and low weight.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Synchro, you are too sensitive. These are only issues with RHD cars, no?
:)

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

RHD cars, Yes but Henry had been making RHD cars right through Model T years - in fact, all of his cars up to the Model T and all other American cars were RHD till he went LHD. He should have known better. Just because you are LHD, don't write off RHD.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Re Ralph Nader, He aint around any more, but the A still is,
mine is used as my everyday transport, they can't be that bad.
Lawrie

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

great list............!

as bad as everything was/is, there are still more As around then pretty much any other brand.

So Henry was brilliant regardless..........

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

It was built to go off road like the T.
https://mr4x4.com.au/heading-off-roa...-ford-model-t/

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Gas filler in the middle of the cowl and the unsynchronized trans. However, the old Model A would not be the same without all those technical kinks, all of which make it what it is and adds to the historical progress of the automotive industry. Still a time machine !

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

The Model A Ford is an asset that keeps on giving! I than God we have them to enjoy.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

We all love our A's but in reality the Model A was an advanced design only when compared to the Model T. After years of Making the Model T cheaper instead of improving them the replacement Model A still did not compare to other cars on the market at the time. By the end of 1931 Chevrolet was nipping at Fords production numbers even though they had flaws that would create longivity problems. Henry Ford still did not think the general public needed anything more than basic transportation and that shows in all of the flaws and lack of features that have been discussed. Art

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

you are correct Art, the 31 chevy outsold the ford. However, having a 31 chevy, they hardly exist, due to all of the wood.

Try and find parts for a 31 chevy.........almost an orphan car.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

The biggest mistake Ford made with the Model A was not bringing it out in 1925.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Dont get me going on that damn little light switch at the bottom of the steering column. GEEEEEZ what a piece of crap design. Sorry Henry.

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

The Corvair would still be around too - if .gov had investigated and released their report in a timely manner. Nader's entire credibility should have been lost but the press continued to consider him an automotive expert.


Corvair Exonerated! On Friday, July 21, 1972, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - a branch of the federal government - issued a report on its two year investigation of the 1960-1963 Corvair. The report concludes: "The handling and stability performance of the 1960-1963 Corvair does not result in an abnormal potential for loss of control or rollover and it is at least as good as the performance of some contemporary vehicles, both foreign and domestic."

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

We call it off road today but when they were built the roads weren't much more than goat paths. I remember reading a article in a Midland MI history book about my gg grandfather taking 3 days to deliver a wagon of goods to another town and return. My mom said today that it would be a 20 minute drive.


I like the T Bums club in Oregon. They take their Model Ts into the back county and camp.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyVXQ0wn440

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Corvairs are great cars and maybe a better bang for the buck, then an A.

they are still unwanted........... :)

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

Other then leg room in some body styles the model A was a great car in my opinion

Re: Unlikable Aspects of The Model "A"
 

In 2013, a friend of mine (who no longer posts here) drove his 1913 Model T from Melbourne, Australia to Moscow unaccompanied. When he was driving through countries that had been behind the Iron Curtain under the USSR, people had never seen such a car. He said that drivers were running into each other all around him while they took pictures and video. Once he got to Moscow, he drove it to his home town in Crimea, then the Russian annexed the area and refused to recognise any Ukrainian paperwork for the car. He was stuck with a "non existent" car in a country that wasn't interested in anything he said. He left the car with a friend while he returned to Australia figure out what to do. The friend later took his car out of the garage and gave it to a museum, where it still sits today. He has lost the car but can regale us with stories about the trip for hours.