Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-14-2021, 08:53 PM   #1
31Abone
Senior Member
 
31Abone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Big pine Ca 93513
Posts: 797
Default whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

having had 8 mdl. A's and restored +- several..question always comes to mind if you were there in 1930 and had $850 bucks what would you buy to drive across country ??...PS I had reo's .chev's,dodges,durant.studebakers,nash,hudson's,mi tchell,dort,v8 fords several,gardner....i know this is the gods model A site but just be honest ..sc
31Abone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 09:33 PM   #2
dankurth
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 48
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Of all the cars you listed, which one has the greatest number of survivors? Ford gets my vote for the best.
dankurth is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-14-2021, 09:46 PM   #3
frank mcdaniels
Senior Member
 
frank mcdaniels's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: moorhead minnesota
Posts: 166
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

I would look for something with 8 cylinders , hydraulic brakes , disk wheels , sealed beam headlights , 4 speed synchronized transmission with maybe overdrive , a good heater , and a big gas tank , with lots of cockpit room.
frank mcdaniels is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 12:49 AM   #4
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,107
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Quote:
Originally Posted by frank mcdaniels View Post
I would look for something with 8 cylinders , hydraulic brakes , disk wheels , sealed beam headlights , 4 speed synchronized transmission with maybe overdrive , a good heater , and a big gas tank , with lots of cockpit room.
Did such a thing exist in 1930?
__________________
Alaskan A's
Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club
Antique Automobile Club of America
Mullins Owner's Club
CarlG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 01:29 AM   #5
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,444
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Quote:
Originally Posted by frank mcdaniels View Post
I would look for something with 8 cylinders , hydraulic brakes , disk wheels , sealed beam headlights , 4 speed synchronized transmission with maybe overdrive , a good heater , and a big gas tank , with lots of cockpit room.
Did the roads exist to get the best out of a car like that?
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 07:51 AM   #6
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,425
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
1934 Plymouth would have been my best choice. Worst choices would be any cars with a body by Fisher, a car with knee-action front suspension, and any car with a vacuum shifted transmission.
__________________
Bob Bidonde

Last edited by Bob Bidonde; 01-15-2021 at 10:37 AM.
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 08:23 AM   #7
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Quote:
Originally Posted by frank mcdaniels View Post
I would look for something with 8 cylinders , hydraulic brakes , disk wheels , sealed beam headlights , 4 speed synchronized transmission with maybe overdrive , a good heater , and a big gas tank , with lots of cockpit room.
Wouldn't have found it for $850. The OP did include that little caveat in his question... I think the price of the A was important in its popularity.
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 08:45 AM   #8
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

A 1931 Chevrolet and a 1932 Chrysler and have and love them both. I have several Model A Fords but they honestly don’t compare.

Last edited by McMimmcs; 01-15-2021 at 12:30 PM.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 09:44 AM   #9
frank mcdaniels
Senior Member
 
frank mcdaniels's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: moorhead minnesota
Posts: 166
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

I was thinking If we were taking the time machine back we would stop right after the stock market crash.Lots of high end cars could have been purchased with our 850 bucks. maybe a caddilac or if we hunted around a Duesenburg or a Laselle
Or a Chrysler or Buick or Graham the list goes on . My point being our wonderful model a we love was
Not exactly state of the art at the time, and probably not the best car for a trip across the country. maybe to town and back . Frank
frank mcdaniels is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 11:30 AM   #10
31Abone
Senior Member
 
31Abone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Big pine Ca 93513
Posts: 797
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

I forgot I had a 20 Texan out of harrahs 1981..My question was a $850 dollar total buget and had to drive from NYC to Portland oregon in 1930 only not 32 or 34 ..no high dollar cars.. 30 chevs were a gas hog with little power big improvment came in 32 ..speed of the day was about 30 to 35 mph..my thot was mopar 1930 but maybe olds viking v8..maybe studebaker after having six studes they were good quaity but but heavy car but strong runners and dependable..My father born in 1888 had had a wilkes booth 1920 six and mdl T 's and A;s but whent to mopar and later to nash..I have only one 30 A PU left and have bot two 37 mopars coupes and like them ..Ford folks thin Fords were the best but I'm not convined sorry..ford was a stuburn fellow and wanted to keep MDL T alive till 1950 HA HA..model A would have been better with a 201 CI flat six that chrysler had at the time same cu in but 2 thirds the horsepower at about 65 to 70 HP and fuel econemy as well..sc give me hell please !!
31Abone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 12:15 PM   #11
Jeff/Illinois
Senior Member
 
Jeff/Illinois's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,787
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Model A Ford hands down.

1960 Popular Mechanics had an article that said the Model A Ford was by far the best car for the money EVER sold in America, and was built with quality components.

1930 only got better with the improvements over '28-'29.... stainless steel body trim components come to mind right off.
Jeff/Illinois is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 12:44 PM   #12
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,107
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

A 1930 vehicle with sealed beam headlights did not exist, unless retrofitted.

In the United States of America, sealed-beam headlights were introduced in 1939.
__________________
Alaskan A's
Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club
Antique Automobile Club of America
Mullins Owner's Club
CarlG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 01:13 PM   #13
jm29henry
Senior Member
 
jm29henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: michigan
Posts: 1,126
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Remember 31/32 Chevrolet are not 1930 even the 32 Ford had many advances, so I think a 1930 Pontiac would be a reasonable choice

Last edited by jm29henry; 01-15-2021 at 01:19 PM.
jm29henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 01:16 PM   #14
Don S
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Penticton British Columbia Canada
Posts: 243
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

I bought my uncles 32 Chev sedan in 1955 ,to drive to school. Nice car , but rear axels were prone to break as mine did only a month after I got it. Only went over a bump in the road, and that was it. Car sat for months before I could convince my Dad to help me fix it. I have never had an axel problem with my model a ,and we have driven over some pretty rough roads.
Don S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 02:28 PM   #15
GeneBob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Denver Area
Posts: 431
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Maybe a 1929 or 1930 Essex?
GeneBob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 03:39 PM   #16
Jack Shaft
BANNED
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,196
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Ford was sound in his reasoning ( from a personal perspective) to continue in producing the Model T. The car made him one of the richest men in to world, and there was enough money in the Ford coffers form T sales to continue building the car till Ford's death, regardless if it was profitable or not. From that standpoint he could have done it, easily. One could argue the model a never recouped development cost, its only profitable year of production was 1929.Ford motor company didn't turn a profit from '29 to '46.(war work was done at cost plus one dollar).Yet there was enough money left from the 'T' days to finance the massive retool in '49..stubborn? perhaps, but Ford could also be accused of what car guys call 'run what you brung'..that model T delivered in spades.
Jack Shaft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 05:08 PM   #17
CHuDWah
Senior Member
 
CHuDWah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Kritter Krick, Flaw-duh
Posts: 1,158
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Quote:
Originally Posted by 31Abone View Post
I forgot I had a 20 Texan out of harrahs 1981..My question was a $850 dollar total buget and had to drive from NYC to Portland oregon in 1930 only not 32 or 34 ..no high dollar cars.. 30 chevs were a gas hog with little power big improvment came in 32 ..speed of the day was about 30 to 35 mph..my thot was mopar 1930 but maybe olds viking v8..maybe studebaker after having six studes they were good quaity but but heavy car but strong runners and dependable..My father born in 1888 had had a wilkes booth 1920 six and mdl T 's and A;s but whent to mopar and later to nash..I have only one 30 A PU left and have bot two 37 mopars coupes and like them ..Ford folks thin Fords were the best but I'm not convined sorry..ford was a stuburn fellow and wanted to keep MDL T alive till 1950 HA HA..model A would have been better with a 201 CI flat six that chrysler had at the time same cu in but 2 thirds the horsepower at about 65 to 70 HP and fuel econemy as well..sc give me hell please !!

I've owned Model A but no non-Ford cars from that era, so I have no basis for comparison. But I have owned both Fords and MoPars from the late-30s. The ChryCo cars are better built.
CHuDWah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 05:13 PM   #18
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,738
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

pound for pound- dollar for dollar a nice Buick.


wouldnt you really rather have a Buick?
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 05:58 PM   #19
CHuDWah
Senior Member
 
CHuDWah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Kritter Krick, Flaw-duh
Posts: 1,158
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Shaft View Post
Ford was sound in his reasoning ( from a personal perspective) to continue in producing the Model T. The car made him one of the richest men in to world, and there was enough money in the Ford coffers form T sales to continue building the car till Ford's death, regardless if it was profitable or not. From that standpoint he could have done it, easily. One could argue the model a never recouped development cost, its only profitable year of production was 1929.Ford motor company didn't turn a profit from '29 to '46.(war work was done at cost plus one dollar).Yet there was enough money left from the 'T' days to finance the massive retool in '49..stubborn? perhaps, but Ford could also be accused of what car guys call 'run what you brung'..that model T delivered in spades.

Maybe Henry could have afforded to build the T until his death, but could he have sold it? 1923 was the high water mark for the T. After that, production and price dropped every year as customers bought other makes with more modern features. During 1929, production increased to a pre-1926 level. Then the crash happened and production again fell off. I submit the crash and consequent depression, rather than the A, was the reason for Ford's lack of profitability through the 30s and WW2. No doubt the T put the world on wheels and made Ford rich. But I have to wonder whether he might not have become even richer if he hadn't stubbornly clung to it, and had introduced the A a few years earlier.

Last edited by CHuDWah; 01-15-2021 at 06:24 PM.
CHuDWah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 05:58 PM   #20
jm29henry
Senior Member
 
jm29henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: michigan
Posts: 1,126
Default Re: whats the best & worst car to buy in 1930

How much did the Buick cost new in “1930”!!! I looked up Pontiac it was $850.00 new , I would have rather picked a 1930 Oldsmobile but they cost $900.00 new and keeping with the original post a new car no more than $850.Or I guess you could buy a good used car . I really am enjoying this post it really got me thinking and I am actually learning .
jm29henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 AM.