Engine plate number question

[Oldford59]

Just purchased a early 1930 model A Ford.
I checked the engine stamp plate and the numbers says engine was made in august of 29.
Is this common?
Any help would be appreciated.

[Mister Moose]

My 1930 carries an engine date of 2nd week of December 1929.

A follow on question is back in 1930 were the car manufacturers introducing the next model year in the fall of the prior year, as has been post WWII convention?

[Stingray70]

Originally Posted by Oldford59

Just purchased a early 1930 model A Ford.
I checked the engine stamp plate and the numbers says engine was made in august of 29.
Is this common?
Any help would be appreciated.

My understanding is that yes, it is not uncommon. It routinely took as much as several months for the engine to make it's way from its place of manufacture to the location of final assembly.

Also, most of these cars have had at least one engine swap during their life. Does your frame # match the engine #?

I am sure the experts will be along with more details.

[Oldford59]

Thanks for the responses.
I will check frame number are the frame numbers on driver side?

[1931 flamingo]

Yes, BUT under the body behind the steering box a bit. Do a "search" for general location and pictures.

Paul in CT
WELCOME to the BARN>

[Steve Plucker]

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The 1930 Model A Ford's started production in November 1929 thus they had 1929 stamped engines. By the end of 1929, there were 128,817 1929 stamped engines in distribution among the 32 assembly plants throughout the USA.

So, yes, there will be Model A/AA Fords built in the early part of 1930 with 1929 stamped engines.

Pluck

[frank55a]

There are several possibilities for this as previously mentioned. There is another that has not been mentioned. We have found that several states back at that time titled a vehicle as by the year it was first sold i.e., not by the model year. Therefore, it is possible depending on the state where it was first sold and the location of the dealership to have a model year 29 titled as a 1930. Disregarding the engine number, does your "A" look like a 29 or a 30?

[Oldford59]

Yes it’s a 1930 the cowl lines are straight from the doors to hood.
The 29 the cowl lines are slightly sloped

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Mister Moose

My 1930 carries an engine date of 2nd week of December 1929.

A follow on question is back in 1930 were the car manufacturers introducing the next model year in the fall of the prior year, as has been post WWII convention?

This is from the January 2, 1930 issue of Ford news:

The new 1930 2-Window Fordor Sedan, according to Ford News of January 2, 1930, indicated: “Nine new body types, the first important change in the lines of the Model A car since its introduction in December 1927, were revealed to the public December 31, 1929, in a general showing which was staged with the cooperation of Ford dealers everywhere….the 2-window Fordor take(s) on added charm and beauty as the result of the improvements”.

Pluck