What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

What drove you towards the Model A hobby and not some other type of vehicle?

I was 8 years old when I was hooked. Used to sit in the drivers seat of our 1928-29 Closed Cab Pickup on the ranch and pretend to be driving it. Used to pull rye for a farmer friend of mine down the road and he had a restored 1928 Open Cab Pickup and used to take me for rides...I was really hooked then. He had a 1929 Standard Coupe in the barn that he was going to restore someday (how many times have we heard that?). One day in 1966 he asked me if I would like the coupe if I promised to restore it and not turn it into a hot rod. I said yes and was soon the proud owner of two 1929's. A Standard Coupe and a Closed Cab Pickup...all for $250.00.

Fourteen years later, 1980, I took my farmer friend for a ride in the coupe. He had a smile that went from ear to ear when I showed it to him for the first time since I had bought it. I will never forget that smile.

Pluck

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I worked for my Dad the spring and summer I turned 15, in 1962. In the fall, he bought me a Model A as payment. Simple as that.

He was into old cars. He built a '24 T speedster which I have now, and for many years owned a nicely restored 1915 Dodge touring. Other old cars came and went. So I was raised in an old car environment. But the Model A was mine, and it stuck with me. I mean that literally; it's the one in my avatar and I still have it.

Joe

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Actually I had a 34 Ford V8 4 door when I was in high school in 63/64 & always wanted another one just like it, but just couldn't put that much $ into an old car hobby so I settled for the next best thing, my 30 Tudor & I still just love these old cars!

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I've been in model a's my whole life. My grandpa bought his first model a when he was 12 years old in 1945, and has only spent 9 years since then w/o a model a. He bought the car i drive now in 1959, and since then has restored it twice, and put over 50,000 since its last restoration. Then my brother and i came along in 1993 and he knew he had to pass on the hobby. He has taken me to over 20 national and regional meets, and now it almost seems like i have started taking him along since i drive now. (around 8000 miles under my belt in a little more than a year) He is almost 77 now and has slowed down a lot, but always goes on the tours with us still. He has put the model a fever in my blood, and it will stick for the rest of my life. I will forever be gratefull to him for getting me into this wonderfull hobby.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Dad graduated High School in 1932, and thought a used '31 Roadster would be a great graduation present. Didn't get one until 1961, I wanted a Model T at that time. Still have both of them now plus the Roadster I found in 1962.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

In 1963 when I was ready to get my first car, several of my friends just happened to have Model A's.....just drivers, nothing really special. I instantly became attracted to them and found myself looking for one. Found a one owner 1930 Standard Coupe in San Diego, and bought it for $360. The fun part was having my dad help me pull the engine and have a long block completed....I had no idea my dad knew anything about cars....but he had grown up with Model T's and A's.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Great question, Steve! I was 17 when I fell in love with my classmate's coupe. He was going off to college and needed to sell the car. My dad was going to give me 200.00 bucks to put toward a car for my 16th. birthday. That just happened to be
the amount of the coupe. Dad wouldn't allow me to have the Model A because he
was sure that I wanted to hot rod the car. He was dead wrong, but I couldn't convince him otherwise. I wound up with an old Chevy but never forgot the coupe.
At 19 I got a great job with a major corporation, and bought my first A a year later.
That was the longest four year wait of my life! Before dad died, he apologized for not
understanding my love for the A.

Jack

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

In 1961 when I was 151/2 I bought my first car. It was a $125.00 1931 Sport Coupe. There hasn't been one day of my life since then that I haven't owned a Model A.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Can't say I was driven to the hobby, more like I was inspired by my Dad who's first car was a 31 coupe in 1939.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I envey you guys that have had A's in your life since youth.
I'm still looking for my first. Have loved them all my life but
other things got in the way. Soon Soon!!

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Started in 1974 at age 19] [the high price of "GAS" 74 cents a gallon]that left me from racing to a old car. Turned out to be a 1931 Tudor sedan 1/2 restored. $1,550.00 later it was mine.Seem cool at the time since my friend had a late "T" coupe [26/27?] to drive to high school in 1970. Stuck with it ever since. Now at age 56 i just finished a 7 year project[180a] and now start fixing a 1930 standard Brigg fordor[170b] for driving. BUT i think it was going 120+ miles per hour in the 1/4 mile on the strip and the street racing that did it. Needed to slow down some..l.o.l.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I have been told that my first ride home from the hospital as a newborn was in Dad's '31 40B. As an interested child, he gave me pictures of that car which also had been the folk's honeymoon transportation. It seemed natural at 16 when I began driving (1952) for me to locate and buy my own Roadster. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one I could afford so I settled for a $50 '30 Cabriolet. In 1959 I upgraded to a better "A"; this time a $125 '30 Coupe (couldn't afford a roadster) which later became our honeymoon car. I still own the Coupe and have used it to bring my now adult children (and grandchildren) home from the hospital as new babies. I 1998 I was hit by a speeding Honda while I was jogging and decided, while in the emergency room, that, if I survived, 1998 was the time I could afford a Roadster. A nice '31 40B identical to my Dad's car showed up in our driveway later that summer. Gar Williams

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I had one given to me by my uncle in 1968 when I was 12.It was an early 31 coupe with a box installed in place of the rumble.The box was made by a factory in Amesbury Mass,but the car was the family truck,tractor,and car all in one.The box had been beaten so badly the rear quarters were rubbing the tires.He had parked it in 1954 when he went off to get educated,and after his career took off he figured he was never going to need it again.Fast forward 40 years or so,he was looking at my roadster pickup and asked what I ever did with the A he had given me.I told him that was it.It is on it's third body,(original coupe,closed cab pkp,and now rdstr pkp)and it's second frame.The original was kinked badly from hauling firewood and rocks on the farm.He had expected me to tear it apart and learn on it,then wind up scrapping it,as kids all did then.He went home to California and a few weeks later my mother got a package from him in the mail.It was the original horn he had taken off when he went off to school.Everybody stole those things back then so he took it with him.It sat on his desk throughout his career as a rep for various construction manufacturers.I had the motor rewound,but I will not paint over the faded original paint.Before that car I had no interest in things mechanical,after I got it the only thing that came close was girls.I had a friend that used to tell people I had kept the A because they don't make A's any more,but they make new girls every day.That car got me started on what I do today.I learned early on I really didn't want to work on newer cars for a living,but but tractors,equipment,trucks,drill rigs,forestry equipment,and old cars were fine and I still do it today.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Childhood memories of back in the 1940's riding in the family A. Just never got those memories out of my system so I bought one of my own in '71, now I have two.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Our family has always been into cars.

My dad bought the coupe about 25 years ago from the second owner. He did the restoration on it. Eventually he decided he needed the space in the garage, so he gave it to me about 12 years ago. I didn't have the money to register or insure it at the time, so it sat for about 5 years. Once I started playing around with it, I got addicted.

Steve

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Sounds like my story too. I wish I had gotten one sooner but now that the kids are gone and retirement looms on the horizon I figure it's about time for one before it's too late.

I got my high school car done (my avatar). My son picked up a complete & unmolested '47 SuperDeluxe Fordor a year or so ago and we were thinking of restoring it but it's not really what either of us wants so might consider trading it off. I'm leaning toward an A (1st preference) or maybe a '42-'47 pickup project.

Don't know much about either model but I guess learning about them will be part of the challenge.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

My uncle had a 31 coupe which I loved riding in but lived in St Louis about 160 miles away from Eldon and at that time was a railroad town our neighbor a railroader drove his 29 standard coupe to work, well he retired and walking to school noticed a for sale sign in window year maybe 1960 not yet old enough for lic but asked neighbor how much which he knew I couldn't buy anything said 25.00 that was more than I ever saw living with my grandparents and my grandmother at that time babysit to keep us going and I worked when could find something so I did mention to her about the A she made payments on 25.00 and have model a ever since,now have a 31 pickup

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I was 14 years old my brother towed home a Model T Ford that
needed a lot of work.

He told me how he was going to fix this car up and run it.

He got me excited about it and I started reading all about the
Model T. In my reading I came across the Model A Ford and
I said I liked the Model A better.

At 15 years old I found a Model A Roadster for sale $75.00 (in 1953)
that started it. I now have 7 Model A's but not my first one.
1931 Roadster
1931 Cabrolet
1931 Pickup
1930 Coupe
1930 coupe
1929 Town Sedan
1929 Tudor

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Restored tractors for years, then one day the light came on and I remembered my youth when I worked with my Dad in his garage. That was in the 40's and 50's when there were many Model A's still being used as every day drivers. I was inspired again, to get back to those years. So I bought my first A. A 29 Special Coupe, now I have 2 A's.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I drove by my 29 standard coupe project on my way to work for over twenty years. The coupe had become a target on the side of a hill. Started on restoration about 3 years ago. Also have a 1928 closed cab pickup waiting for me to start on. My neighbor has 28 sport coupe from the same ranch that he bought 30 years ago I'm ahead of him ha ha.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

got my first A, 29 sport coupe $100 about 1959-60, 2nd was a roadster 29 $75, . Then into 32,37 ,40 fords, etc. Sold e/thing in 72 when got married. Been out of work 16 mo (who's counting, $790 billion stimulous and NO jobs). I've been looking about 6-7 years for a p/up but settled on a late 31 tudor about 2 1/2 mo ago. Mainly because they're affordable and fun. I'm enjoying
Paul in CT

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Dad had a 30 coupe always under the car-port, so as a child I would play on it and in it. I remember hot days laying on the fenders and running boards to keep cool. My first night to sleep away from our house was in the front seat. Many rides in the rumble to get ice cream. Today I'm 53 and own a 30 coupe, Dad is 86 and owns a 30 Roadster

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

In the late 50's my father-in-law was working part time in a used car lot. My wife and I were desperate for a car, so when a 29 Coupe was traded in he gave it to us. We drove it as an everyday car for some time. Years later in 1972 a friend decided to sell his 1930 Coupe and we decided to get back into Model A's. Still have the Coupe and some additions.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I think I got a spell put on me ... or I got a broken gene from my great grandfather who had the first car (a Model A -- the one with the wicker baskets) in Decatur Illinois ... or it was something that I ate. In fact, love happens.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

My first Model A trip was in 1934 on the drive home from the hospital in the family 1930 2-door. Below is a picture of me and the car about four years later. My father built me the 6 foot pram (on top of the car).


I bought a nice '28 roadster in 1954 and had it for a couple of years (no pictures though). Now I have 2 A's, a '28 AR open pickup and a '28 roadster. Both are drivers.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

to old & to broke to do anything else ..................... steve

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Daddy had 4 Model A's. His bud offered me an AA but no place to keep it. In 75 a fellow who worked for me said his bud was selling an A pickup next spring. a week later the bud's wife wanted it gone, so we dug out 4 foot of snow in front of the garage and it followed me home. Clem

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Memories of riding around the apple ranch clinging to the spare tire well of a '28(or '29) PU. My uncles bought it from their shop teacher 'Mr. Hanies'. To this day, 'Mr Hanies'(the truck) survives. We also had(have) an Overland.
I finally acquired mine through marriage(father-in-laws). I think the real reason I am drawn to A's is the restoration aspect. Makes me feel like I'm saving a little bit of history.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

The first car that my dad bought me when I turned 14yrs. was a 1928 Briggs Body 60A Fordor. This car I still own, but is in a full frame off restoration. Too many pigeons and mice took it's toll over the years in storage. As he did not like the Copra Drab color of paint, he had me paint it with a brush, Fire Engine Red with bright yellow wheels. Looked neat for a couple of years, then it went yuc. As he did not want me to get into the mechanics to much with it.......I bought a non running 35 Ford Coupe for $5.00 to learn about "What makes it tick". (Wish I still had that car)Mechanical then became a way of life

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I wanted a street rod at age 11, bought many books and liked the 'A' best, mowed a lot of grass and saved all my money. Found a 29 roadster in '81 at age 13 got it home and deceided it was too nice to make a rod out of it. Early on, I had slowly been replacing the repro crappy parts of the 70's and it segued into finding good originals then mint originals and n.o.s. parts. Roadster has been in a state of preservation, not fully restored, but a nice driver. Bought an almost abandoned farm house 6 years ago, focus was on that, but always was interested in the unique body styles of A'S hence the start of the hunt for the unrestored mail truck, three years later, with much joy I found it. I am hoping to have my third when I win the MAFFI raffle sedan. LOL :)...

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

In the 1960's, my father bought an old Edison record player. As he collected more machines/records, I started to catalog the records for him.

Since I had to play them, I found that I realy liked old music. From that, I found old antiques and things had a special place in my heart.

In college, I got a 1933 Chev. from my parents as a Christmas Present. It fit right in with the liking of "old" things. Along the way, I found that parts were not easy to find, but Model A parts were easy and cheap to get.

When our family started, I sold the old chev. as I had no money/time/space to work on cars. Family comes first......

Now that all the kids (5) have left home, I was looking again for a fun old car again as I still like old antiques !

The Model A seemed good as the parts are still easy to find.

Marc

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

In 1954 at age 5 I walked what seemed a million miles with my Dad to pick up his newly acquired 30 ccpu. It was a gas station attendant truck and was beat to death. Dad bought it just to have something to go to the dump with. He parked it in the garage in 1962 with the promise it would be mine someday. I started tinkering with it about 1966 and by 1968 sporting a dirt ally paint job (not bad either) I was on my way. Although I eventually went the chevy V-8 route with it I have been forever bitten by the bug. My second A was a29 Tudor that I also streetrodded. Miss Wilma and I bought our 30 Tudor some seven years ago and love the hell out it four banger and all.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

about 1940 my older brother got out of the ccc camp baught a 1930 vicky we lived on a farm with a big barn and barn lot when no one was around i would drive around barn in first and second gear have loved model ays ever since am now working on number 7

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I was motivated to obtain a Model A, just so I could see the look on their face when I drove into a Ford Dealer and ask for warranty service.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

Got my 1st 30 Cp in 1958 when I was 15 for $90. It had hyd. brakes & a sheet for a headliner. Built the 4 banger with a Super Winfield head two 94's. Always had at least one Model A since. We now have 5 & won't be w/o one. We've had collector cars from 1911(EMF) through 62 Corvetts but still love the Model A's.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

On our family farm, we had two Mod AA trucks in the fifties and early sixties. At the time, I just thought of them as old junk from a past era that had been retained too long. You could see the ground trough the floor, one door was permanently shut with bailing wire. Everthing imaginable was wrong with them. But they ran and hauled stuff. And had been running for thirty some years with a minimum of maintenace. A fact that was nearly lost on me. Nearly, but not quite. You got an admiration for these old battle scarred warhorses. Not long after, My Cousin gave up the kind of farming that required them and parted them out.
Terry

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

My Mom drove a '29 Coupe in high school, and for three years after graduation till in 1946 when she married Dad; they traded the A Coupe for a '46 Ford. In 1951 it was traded for a Chevy and their personal cars from then on were GM; but they never forgot the A Coupe and the '46 Ford. Dad was a machinist's mate in WW II, and was an excellant mechanic; rebuilding all of the farm's tractors for better power and reliability.

My interest in Model A's began when one Saturday in 1968 (I was 19 at the time), he annouced he and I were going to a farm sale. I figured he had his eye on a tractor or some implement for the farm, but to my surprised he went there to look at a Model A; a 1929 Fordor. We hauled it home that day, and spent many days and hours restoring it. Besides being a good mechanic, Dad was an equally skilled wood-worker. The top had rotted out of the A, and consequently the interior was destroyed too. He fashioned all the replacement wood for the top and interior, and then working with a local lady who recovered furniture; we replaced the interior. It turned out (too me) just as good as today's brand-name interior kits you can buy. Mechanically the A was in decent condition; it just needed tightening up, new seals, some bearings, etc., due to the many miles it traveled over the years. We were fortunate to find a '31 engine that was in good condition and only needed some rebuilding to make it fresh. After finishing it and driving it to the county courthouse, Dad transfered the title to me. Ever since, I have manitained and driven it. That was 41-years ago, and although Dad passed away in 2002; I know he is still with me in that A and knows I learned a lot from him. Although I have looked at others, it is the only A I have ever owned. Now my daughter gets her fingers greasy right along with me; keeping the A running. Next is her learning to drive it, and again Dad will be along to help.

Re: What drove you towards the Model A hobby?
 

I have always thought A's were pretty neat. Of course, I'm younger (32) so most I have ever seen were restored. I happened to talking to an older friend of mine over a cold beverage and I mentioned something about an A. He said he had one out in his storage shop that he hadn't driven for 8 or 10 years. Well, me being interested in it prompted him to get his 1930 coupe out of storage. Seeing his car all of the time, prompted me to get more serious. Fast forward to Oct. 2008, I bought a 1931 Fordor. I'm currently in the middle of a complete restoration. My avatar is a pic before I started the tear down.