The Model A Museum Opening, in pictures

[WTSHNN]

(this is going to be a very picture oriented series of posts...)
If you reply to this please remove the pictures if you quote anything otherwise this thread will be miles long...


Well, I made it up to the Model A Ford Museum grand opening today.

We were told that the organizers had set out 300 chairs for those attending. Every chair was taken and there were probably just as many, if not more, people standing all around the chairs. Long story short, easily over 1,000 people were in attendance. This made it very difficult to get pictures of the whole museum or particular cars. I'm sorry as there are a lot of things I didn't get pictures of (several more cars, fashions, the classroom, the MARC and MAFCA displays, the theater, etc)

MAFFI deserves a lot of praise for putting together a phenomenal museum to showcase the Model A. It took a lot of work and effort and the results are something to be incredibly proud of.

A big thanks has to be given to all those who donated. From the major gift givers to the people who only bought a brick, the museum was funded entirely by people who have been touched by these cars and all the artifacts inside the building represent the stories and the love that millions of people have had with a Model A.

-Tim



Walking in the front doors this car greeted you...


Immediately to the left was this '31 Pickup...


Walking in to the first room was a 1903 Model A Ford, the beginning of Ford Motor Company...



A Model T was also on display to help show the visitors the dramatic leap that occurred from the T to the A.


Then, right there in front of you, it sits...Thomas Edison's Phaeton, *A1*


Yes, there are some upgrades and things done to the car but it is still really cool to know that this is a car that Thomas Edison owned and had a very real likelihood that Henry Ford rode in it.



Early open ended bumpers...




Next to Edison's car sits an early '28 Tudor...that I wasn't able to get a picture of but here are shots of showing the <-- ON OFF DIM --> headlight switch and the early tail light.





This car was presented as a "Business Coupe" and it had a trunk but the landau irons are not correct but still a cool car to have on display.


A Special Coupe...


There was a Phaeton


A Fordor


A Vicky


A 400 A


Another Steeltop Pickup


A Coupe


A Postal Truck

[WTSHNN]

This behemoth had a Model A Tractor conversion on the back, note that the dual rear axles are both powered...






School Bus




There were great posters all over the walls featuring era advertisements...


A great '29 Sedan Delivery


These two lights were originally mounted on the exterior of the Twin Cities Assembly plant in Minnesota and were donated to the Museum by Ford Mo Co.


Smith Air Compressor




Marine Engine


A '31 AA Service Car

[WTSHNN]

The parts department was really cool...
















Yes, that is an NOS engine block in the original shipping crate and yes, that is an NOS hood in the original shipping crate...

[WTSHNN]

There was an assembly line and showroom made out of Hubleys...

[WTSHNN]

I was very surprised to see Edsel Ford's 1930 Sport Phaeton on display...

[700rpm]

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Wow. Just, Wow.

I will get there some day
And I will drive my Model A.

Too bad they never put Edsel's phaeton into production.

Thanks for posting.

[WTSHNN]

Here is part of the MARC display...




There was one vendor selling parts in the parking lot...


They had a great band playing out of a AA truck...


How about a pop-up camper trailer?


Of course there were a lot of Model A's parked (I think I heard 360+?)





















So, there you go, a brief tour of the Model A Ford Museum grand opening today. I assure you, these pictures do not do the building justice. An experience that I won't soon forget and I encourage everyone to check out.

Thanks
-Tim

[Steve Plucker]

Thanks Tim...What a show!...Hope to get there someday myself!

Steve Plucker
Walla Wallla Sweet A's

[spdway1]

Tim, Thank you for your effort! Great pics.

[Mitch//pa]

thanks for the pics great job

[Franchise_24]

We are going next weekend so hopefully it won't be so crowded. :-)

[Pickupman]

Thanks for the pics!

[Joe K]

VERY nice. I hope the museum stays "camera friendly." A lot of museums are not.

Is that truck door being sold out front rather narrow? Or maybe the perspective. I'd like to see the backside and confirm it an 82A door.

And the souvenir program with Henry and Edsel looking over the margin of the building. What a hoot!

I do imagine they would be pleased. Henry I think was always most partial to the Model T - that was "his" baby. But the two would look at each other and give themselves a pat on each other's back for what they have created - and nod. And say "you watch us - we can do better even than that."

Joe K

[Jordan]

I was there and it was a fantastic museum at an excellent location. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put it together.

[ctlikon0712]

That was so great! Thanks for looking out for those of us who are "geographically inconvenienced".

[Richard in Anaheim CA]

It was an overwhelming crowd. I was working traffic and never got a program. They ran out. The pictures are outstanding and he must have been there very early to get them with out the huge crowd.

The local clubs came out in droves. The traffic started slow and suddenly backed up clear out to the road and three parking lots filled up.

The magnitude of this undertaking is hard to fathom and they will need a bundle of money to put it over the top and an endowment fund of 1/2 million to cover continuing expenses without continuous fund raising.

1. Join MAFFI as a member
2. Buy bricks for yourself, your club and in rememberance of loved ones
3. Buy benches
4. Donate unique original items and documents
5. Remember them in your will
6. Buy tee shirts and other museum articles.
7. Tell everyone about it
8. This is our museum, yours and mine. Lets take care of it.

Richard
Anaheim CA

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by Richard in Anaheim CA

It was an overwhelming crowd. I was working traffic and never got a program. They ran out. The pictures are outstanding and he must have been there very early to get them with out the huge crowd.

The local clubs came out in droves. The traffic started slow and suddenly backed up clear out to the road and three parking lots filled up.

The magnitude of this undertaking is hard to fathom and they will need a bundle of money to put it over the top and an endowment fund of 1/2 million to cover continuing expenses without continuous fund raising.

1. Join MAFFI as a member
2. Buy bricks for yourself, your club and in rememberance of loved ones
3. Buy benches
4. Donate unique original items and documents
5. Remember them in your will
6. Buy tee shirts and other museum articles.
7. Tell everyone about it
8. This is our museum, yours and mine. Lets take care of it.

Richard
Anaheim CA

It was nice to finally put a face with the name Richard. Have a safe trip home.

[al's28/33]

WOW amazing pictures thank you so very much!

[SDJason]

Absolutely amazing - thank you very much for posting!

[Bick in New Zealand]

Thanks Tim, an awesome collection of photos, for those who were unable to attend, I for one really appreciate your efforts.