Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

I am thinking about taking a 250 mile trip from Troutman NC to Patriots Point naval park in Charleston SC. This is the home of the USS York Town.

The trip may not be very far but it would be a good test drive for my new to me 29 Phaeton. So that said how far have you driven your Model A. Tell us about your trip and be sure to give pointers on what to expect.

Thanks
Ron

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

My first long one was a 1200 mile RT from Portland, OR to Eureke, CA, in 1965 when I was 18 with my cousin in an unrestored 1929 pickup.
Next was a 1400 mile RT from Portland, OR to San Luis Obispo in an unrestored ‘28 RPU in 1972. I wouldn’t do that trip today. Too much traffic!
My third longest was 1000 miles right after I restored my ‘29 Tudor in 1980. Went from Portlland, OR to Victoria BC. Broke in the the new engine; it took us two weeks. A life changing trip in many ways.
Alas, for me, the days of long trips are over. I’m too old and creaky and the traffic is too intense, fast, and dangerous. I always thought I’d do a four corners tour of the US in my A, but it just ain’t gonna happen.

TIPS: Ron, do it. You will gain a lot of experience and have a great time. Take back roads whenever you can. You have some beautiful country to travel through. Take your time. Stop to see stuff. Avoid large cities. Whatever Google says for travel time, double that, at least.
Take an extra condensor, a gallon of water, a tow rope, some 16 ga wire, a fire extinguisher, a cell phone, a MAFCA or MARC directory, and a small tool kit.
Others will make suggestions, but those are the essentials I take on any long and lonesome tour. Yours will be relatively short and your car is restored; you will likely have no troubles.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Now that a good way to test out a new engine. Do you still have the same car today and if so how many miles do you have on that engine?

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Coincidently, my longest single trip was also in a 1929 Phaeton when we did a lap of most of the continent. 12,000 miles with a camper trailer behind. That was 2014.
In a few weeks we set off on yet another trip, this time only about 8 or 9 thousand miles in the same car, again with camper in tow. All up, we have done about 40,000 miles like that now.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

four of our club members went to the Reno meet. and from there we took a road trip through 7 states a total of 3800 miles. all in our Model A`s and in one place it was 112 degrees. the air coming through the windows was like a blast furnace. thank god for the hand held conditioner. you know the little bolt of water with a fan.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Two years ago we took a trip to the west coast. By the time we arrived home it was a 8700 mile trip. Tightened a screw on the door handle and changed the oil that was it. Very fun time.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Amazing to hear such great road trips

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Our club went from Detroit area to Williamsburg, Va for that National meet.
Go ahead and make that trip. That’s nothing to your car, but you will gain a ton of confidence. After that trip, you will take your car anywhere without even thinking about it. Have fun and let us know how you make out.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

My longest one day Model A runs were:
Doswell, Virginia to East Northport, NY 365 miles;
Virginia Beach, Virginia to East Northport, NY 417 miles;
Glen Burnie, Maryland to East Northport, NY 247 miles;
Northport, Maine to South Setauket, NY 368;
Hyannis, Cape Cod to South Setauket, NY 206;
Lake George, NY to South Setauket, NY 258 miles;
Lancaster, Pennsylvania to East Northport, NY 205 miles;
Pittsfield, Mass to East Northport, NY 187 miles;
Stow, Mass to South Setauket, NY 238 miles;
Sturbridge, Mass to South Setauket, NY 120 miles;
Alton Lake, New Hampshire to East Northport, NY 336 miles;
Hancock, Mass to South Setauket, NY 195 miles.


This year's (2021) run to the New England Meet in Newry, Maine will be my longest trip this year, about 366 miles each way. Because of my youth (78), the trip to Newry will be done in 2 days each way.

I do not trailer my Model A's. To me, driving a Model A is adventurous, and when with good friends in other Model A's, it's a lot of fun.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

1973, San Diego to New Hampshire & back via Dearborn A meet, 9027 miles in 7 weeks pulling a trailer. Replaced valves @ Dearborn meet & water pump in N. Dakota.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

1982....Walla Walla, WA to Bakersfield, CA.

1984....Bakersfield, CA to Portland, Oregon and back.

Pluck

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

We really don't have that many roads in Alaska. However, we manage to take in about 1,000 miles or more on our longer tours around the state.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

I still have the car. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep mileage records for that first engine rebuild, and I was given incorrect instructions about the spark advance and subsequently prematurely blew out the rear main. After repairing that I have put about 9000 miles on the engine, with new valve grind about 5000 miles ago. I don’t drive it as much as I used to. Current Tudor mileage on the last rebuild is 5543. I expect this last engine rebuild will out last me. In the last four years I have mostly driven my coupe, and only about 1800 miles total.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

My Dad was on the Yorktown, the one that is the museum.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Have you been yo Patriots Point in Charleston, SC? If not you need to go see your Dad's old ship. I have been on it 4 times and it never gets old to me. Like our Model A's the York Town is a piece of American History.

Ron

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

My longest trip was from Marshalltown, Iowa to Detroit, Michigan for the 1978 National Meet. Like others I also was driving a car with a newly rebuilt engine. I spend a couple of weeks driving around town and had just over 500 miles on the engine. My whole family went, wife and three kids in the back seat. That car ran perfectly. The two things I really remember was arriving into Detroit during the rush hour (it was terrifying) and the tour that went through and under the River Rouge Plant. I figure my car was within hundreds of feet from where it all began. I will never forget all those Ford employees standing on the side lines cheering us on as we drove through the plant. Oh, to be young again and be foolish!! Ed

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

I took my sedan in 2013 up to the Model A museum grand opening. We left Fort Worth and drove the 1,100 miles in 2 days (750 the first). It was a lot of hard driving but the car performed flawlessly. Went up into Canada for a bit. Came back down to head to Hickery Corners from Detroit. Coming home we also made it in 2 days I believe. The whole trip was about 3,200 miles if I remember correctly. The only issue was the muffler clamp broke on the way up, and the alternator mount broke on the way home. Both had us on our way in less than an hour.

3,200 miles in 8 days. Like others, it was a fresh rebuild. Had about 700 miles on it when I left home. I've driven that engine at least another 20,000 since that time. But that was my longest trip.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Two of our longest trips are below, and the mileage below is just the to and back mileage not including any local driving at the venue or side trips.

Port Orchard WA to Calgary, BC 747 one way, 1494 miles round trip. Three days going and two days return, 506 miles on the last day from Cranbrook BC to Port Orchard.

https://www.bing.com/maps?q=map+from...fcb5be00c10c75

Port Orchard WA to Reno Nevada 828 one way, 1656 miles round trip.

https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=36de2...=2&form=S00027

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

About 12 years ago or so ago a guy who worked in our Sacramento Office drive his Model A sedan from Sacramento to the east coast and back. IIRC he had to have the engine rebuilt before he got to the coast and somewhere on the return trip he lost the B/W overdrive that was adapted to the torque tube. I followed his blog about the trip and it sounded like he had a great time in spite of the mechanical issues.

Re: Longest trip you took in a Model A
 

Syncro, I salute you Sir, that is incredible!