Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

A comment in the overdrive thread got me wondering: He said that the single most asked question he gets is, "Is it all original?"

For me, I think it's, "How fast will it go?"

Any others?

Steve

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Is that a model T?

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Almost always :


What year is it?

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

"Do you really drive that thing"? and "What kind of oil should I use"?

Pluck

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

usually in this order:

1 what year is it?

2 how many mpg?

3 how fast will it go?

4 where do you get parts?

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what is it ?? my grandmother had one just like it only green & i think it was a dodge !
what year ? you drive that everyday !!!

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Did Ford ever build a car like that (400-A)


..

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

There's always the usual: How fast will it go? What kind of mileage do you get? etc.

The best comment I have frequently heard at gas stations is, "What year is that car and what color is that paint?" Once I tell them it's a Kewanee Green 1930 Model A Ford Tudor Sedan, they say, "Yeah, my granddad had one exactly like this except it was a red 1950 Buick station wagon . . . just like yours!"

I stopped for a cup of coffee one Saturday morning at McDonalds and a lady walked up to me as I was getting out of the Model A and asked, "How old is that car?" I replied, "Eighty-three" and she yelled at her husband, "Delbert! Get the camera, this car was built in 1883!"

On that same stop at Mickey D's, when I came out of the restaurant I discovered that the car wouldn't start so I opened the hood to check the fuse; a man walks up and starts talking to me while looking over my shoulder into the engine compartment and complimented me on the restoration and then remarked, "Did you do the work on this car yourself?" I replied, yes and he said, "You can sure smell that fresh paint!" I just smiled knowing that I had painted the car in 1972 (41 years ago).

Last comment - why is it so many people (particularly teenagers) seem to always ask, "What's it worth?" or "What'd you have to pay for that thing?" I have tried to be diplomatic and not shoot back with, "That's sorta personal, what did you have to pay for that pair of shoes?" Rather thought it was best just tell them, "I paid $750 for it." I then pause and add . . . "41 years ago."

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

1. What year is it?
2. What kind of mileage does it get?
3. How old is your Model T?
4. I thought all the cars were painted black?

Ron/IA

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

When are you going to chop it?
How much for just the body?

Both questions really burn my butt as I have not intentions of chopping it and if I ever dicided to sell it, it would be with everything and not to anyone that was going to streetrod it. Rod

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2 kids on bicycles were looking at my 29 Business Coupe when I came out of a store ,one kid asks " Did you buy that New Mister ? "

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Since mine is not finished the most common question is, "When are you going to finish it?"

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I had someone ask me," Why did your wife let you get a car like that ?"

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Can you still buy tires for it?
How fast does it go?
I thought that they didn't go over 40 MPH?
What is it worth?
Does it run? (while displayed at car shows)
Did you buy it new?
Where did you find it?
Someone must have taken good care of it.

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My younger son always asks, "When do I get to own it?"

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Do you drive it? What year is it? How do you find parts? are pretty much the ones I hear.

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

1) What year is it?
2) What kind of car is that?
3) Where do you get parts
4) How much is it worth? (I hate this one.)


Some funny ones I've received.

(Before a tour, getting coffee at a Burger King Drive Through)
WINDOW PERSON: Does it run???
ME: Uh, Yeah. I drove it here
WINDOW PERSON: Wow. That's cool.

(Brought the car to show the Automotive Technical College Students)

STUDENT: Hey man. You should put a GRILL on it!
ME: What?
STUDENT: Put a GRILLLL on it!!
ME: It has a grill on it.
STUDENT: I mean put a GRRRIILLLLL on it.
ME: Like a BBQ grill?
STUDENT: Awe... Nevermind.

(Still don't understand that one.)

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

1. What year?
2. How fast?
3. What's it worth?
4. What is it?

Always strikes me as odd that the last question is usually, "What is it?"

Had a delightful conversation with an elderly lady at the market one day. She was all excited, knew it was a Model A, knew it was a Roadster and asked if I was going to be there awhile so she could go get her husband. A few minutes later she shows up with this gentleman in tow and asks him if its the same car he had when they met. He looked it all over and said, "...could be, same color and year, but mine didn't have sidemounts on it." Then he leaned over and said, "...you know, I had to sell that car to buy her wedding ring, still not sure who got the best part of that deal..." She slugged him and they both walked off arm in arm laughing.

That's what its all about.

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"You don't actually drive it, Do You?" (Miles from home)
You don't drive it in the rain, Do You? (I live in a rain forest)
"Where did you get it?" (I usually reply "From Ford")
How Much? (This one always sets my hair on fire, and I don't know why)
Does it run? (in a parking lot, anywhere)
You can't actually drive it on the road can you?

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Always (Whats it worth) (What did you Pay for It)

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Forgot some times recently (Did you buy it new)

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Hi, this is Martin in Ohio.

With regard to frequently asked questions, I hear:

*"How long have you had it?" Answer: 10 years
*"Did you restore it?" Answer: No, but I am working on it and making
changes all the time.

On the other hand, I ask questions to fellow Model A and T owners:

*Who can do cad plating in the area?
*Who is the best painter?
*Does anyone have a stash of parts?
*Various mechanical questions and fix-it questions

Of interest, our local club is the "Country Roads T & A Club" I will leave it to your active imaginations to figure what else that could mean.

But really, it's all about the cars!!! Hahaha.

Regards,

Martin in Appalachian Washington County - we are all cousins.

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our pickup is a late 31 wide bed,dont know how many times asked or stated thats not the original bed,when it was in body shop for paint some model a guys said they know a's and that bed was not model a all beds had ford on tail gate and wood floor,I took my pickup book and left for them to read

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I had a elderly gentleman showing off his knowledge with a group of people around the car- telling me-
It was a Model T not an A
All cars back then were only painted black and had wooden Rims.

i told him it was a Model A and they were the original rims and not all Model A cars were black

To which he got very loud saying he knows cause he had one and I'm lying and I don't know anything about the car and shouldn't be driving it.

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I never understood why the price or value should be a secret. I always tell what I paid if asked, and tell them what I think it's worth if they ask. I figure it's part part of the person doing research on the car. Maybe they are wondering if it's something they could afford to buy? :confused: I don't see it as any different than going to a used car lot and asking the price for a used car.:)

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First question, does it run? answer Deb pushed and I steered. Second question Where did you get it? answer , I found it down by the creek. What is it worth? That one usually irritates me the most!! It use to be, did I want to sell it? Sometimes the answer would be Do you see a for sale sign?

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Well, I've had mine for just over a year now - but the most common questions I've seen are:

- what year is it?
- is that a Model T?
- did you restore it yourself? (no - the previous owner did)
- can I take a picture of it? (of course!)
- how much does one of those cost? (almost always from guys - I figure they're maybe thinking of getting one)

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My wife and I took a couple of our friends to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn MI in my Tudor this past fall. I parket it in the lot and we all went in. The wife decided that she wanted her jacket that was in the car, so back out to the lot I went.

As I aproached my car parked in the midst of all the jellybean sedans in the lot I noticed two men standing by it conversing.

I arrived just in time to hear one of them say how neat it was that the museum would park an old car from its collection out in the lot for people to admire up close on their way in.

At this point I nonchalantley walked up and opened the door to retreve my wifes coat. You should have seen the look on their faces!!! They were convinced that some tattooed 30 something year old punk was tampering with museum property.

After retreving her coat I spent about ten minutes explaining to them that I actually own the car and drove it there from my home in Salem MI. I showed them around the car for a few and answered their questions and even offered for them to sit in it.

I think that they left with a much greater apreciation of what an 80 year old car is capable of, and hopefully a changed opinion on people who may not always appear what they are.

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

I forgot the other questions:
Are you going to put hydraulic brakes on it??
Will it stop??

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Many people ask if Ford built the car or did we make it that way.
I've also had a gas station attendant ask me if it runs (right after I filled it
up with gas!) :)

Some others,
Is it easy to get parts?
How fast will it go?
How much is it worth?
Would you sell it?

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Had all the usual questions. A few years ago use to get did you buy it new?

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

While looking at the front of my truck, that has a license frame that states "1931 Ford Pickup", I'm often asked "What is it?" and of course "What year is it?"

When I'm at a show, I made up a sign, describing the truck, and added the statement:
While retaining the basic integrity of the original production configuration, it has been modified for touring and safety with the following:
and then proceed to list all the things that are "non original".

Doesn't stop all the questions, but most.

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

For many years I have had a license type plate on the rear of my Victoria that says "Repeal the 18th Amendment" I am constantly asked by people what is the 18th amendment.

The 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. There was actually no law against drinking it. It became law in 1920 and was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933.

If a woman asks me the question, after I explain what the 18th amendment was all about, I comment that it is the 19th amendment being repealed that she should be concerned with.

Tom Endy

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

Hey Tom. I've got a few Repeal the 18th Amendment toppers. Two originals and one reproduction. I used to have three originals, but selling one of them paid for all my others. :D

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When our car is on display with a world map with our route highlighted...they ask "How did you get it over the ocean???" where did you buy parts in europe ?? " How much did Ford give you for sponcership??"
Bruce Davis
[email protected]

Re: Most-asked question about your Model A?
 

I get all those usual questions. I always answer politely. It never hurts to be courteous, and it's part of the fun. I actually hope someone will come up to me and talk about the car. I had a couple of really down-and-out guys standing by my coupe one day when I came out of the store. They were really raggedy, maybe homeless, but one had a smart phone and asked if he could take a picture of the car. I always say yes, and then I offered to take a picture of him and his friend standing next to it. The way their faces lit up made my day, and maybe theirs too.

A lady about 80 years old once asked me with a twinkle in her eye if I'd give her a ride in the rumble seat. I told her she'd have to get her mother's permission. She laughed out loud at that!

I think people just want to make some kind of contact and take away a story to share. On more than one occasion I've been invited back to somebody's garage because they have an old tool or parts or something they just want to give me.

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On the Roadster in the picture I have a set of original 1929 Maryland restored Dealer Plates.. I had guy ask me if I had any more ? I said, "What Plates" He said no "CARS" ?.. Your plates says you are a Dealer !!... He was serious !!

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Back in the day when "Service Stations" were just that, (circa Mid '50s) while on a trip in my AA 280A, I stopped at a station to gas up. The attendant looked at my rig (only ~25 years old at the time) and said that he thought he had a tire that would fit my truck (650x20). He proceeded to go back into his store room, dug thru a bunch of tires and pulled out a brand new, never been mounted 650x20 and just gave it to me.