Early A

[updraught]

https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1928-f.../?filtersInput

[Chuck Dempsey]

Early indeed. Engine A189... Thanks for posting.

[jimTN]

Never seen a one two barrel carb.

[P.S.]

It sold for $35,000

[Gene F]

That oil can clip was interesting. Mine is nothing like that. My car is March 1928, and has the e-brake handle ahead of the shifter. I noticed some type of burlap tied at the bottom of the pitman arm. My car has a nickel grill shell, and the red dished steering wheel. Looks like it has a number of miles on it. My car had 50,000 miles, and it looked like the engine had never been rebuilt before.

I sure enjoy my car, and I DRIVE IT!

[ModelA29]

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There was some discussion of this car on the "other" site. In addition to it being a poor restoration with many repro parts.


Unfortunately, what is posted about A189 being the earliest Model A is simply not correct. We have records of the first Model A engines sent to final assembly (cars being built) from the Rouge Plant. There were three cars produced on October 21, 1927, but did not pass final inspection, and were returned for some reason. Not until October 26, 1927 were there five Model A's produced that did pass final assembly.
To date, the earliest known Roadster is A241 restored by Fred Gooding and Hans "Doc" Kalinka It went to final assembly on November 4, 1927. You may remember her as "Emily." A189 went to final assembly on November 25, 1927.
Although the engine number A189 is lower that A241, the car was not the earliest Model A produced.


Is it correct to assume that this early car should have open ends?
Not necessarily. Engines didn't go to the line in sequential order. The first 200 cars had the open end bumpers but the first 200 cars didn't have engine numbers 1-200.
A 2002 Article in the Nov/Dec Model A News by George Deangelis states engine 189 was sent to the assembly line 3 weeks after it was originally stamped and was the 556th engine sent to the line.
Question for the early guys with more knowledge than me...the article says it was the 556th but an accompanying photo shows it as the 456th. Which is correct?

[rotorwrench]

It has most of the visible characteristics. I wonder if it still has the multi disk clutch and the early equalizer brake set up. Those numbers below 200 are NOT common. The little bag over the drag link end on the pitman arm is curious. It must have been a dust seal that someone came up with.

[Gene F]

I took my multidisc unit out. It worked fine, I just wanted lighter components. I figured out that when you see a 28 with the multidisc, after they sit a while (a few hours) the clutch pedal drops down to the "free-play" position. Another way you can tell is the diamiter of the pedal shaft. I found this out the hard way.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

It has most of the visible characteristics. I wonder if it still has the multi disk clutch and the early equalizer brake set up. Those numbers below 200 are NOT common. The little bag over the drag link end on the pitman arm is curious. It must have been a dust seal that someone came up with.

Yup, Henry Ford. From page A-7 of the Judging Standards.
"The earliest tie rod and drag links had no grease fittings.
Grease was retained in laced leather boots over these joints."

[Joe K]

Many years ago I talked with Charlie Bass at the Amherst, NH Flea Market. He said much of what has been repeated above about A189 but also that "many brake parts are not original - and I'm looking for specific early brake components." I believe he said the car was "single brake" which was at least part of his challenge - and not likely to be found at Amherst (or anywhere else.)

He said he likes picking apples from the roof of his Model A Station Wagon.

Son of New Hampshire for sure.


Joe K

[rotorwrench]

I've seen a drawing of an early drag link that had the connection farther to the rear but even it had a zerk drawn into the illustration. I think they just swapped it end for end and changed the zerk locations. The one on the car in question likely predates either of those if it has no zerk. The rubber seal with the metal retainer piece was more in keeping up with the times.

I wonder if the steering wheel is OEM or if it's a reproduction. It's starting to go south anyway. The car isn't too bad yet. It does need some loving though.

[Keith True]

I thought about buying that car when Charlie first put it up for sale.He called it the lowest serial numbered A known to exist,not the oldest A.That was the only appeal of the car to me.The novelty of it.I was never going to restore the car properly,so it didn't deserve me as the owner.I bought an unrestored 30 roadster from his friend instead.If I remember right he called his wagon Tillie.

[al's28/33]

the Gooding site wont upload, any chance you guys can show us some pictures of A189 and A241 ???

[Gary Karr]

A241 is currently in the private collection. You would have to go back into some old Model A News issues to see it. It is really an amazing car.

[HDowse]

I remember seeing this car at a Lang's open house and BBQ about 15 years ago after Charlie sold it to Steve. It's quite a car and representative of an early car that was taken care of over the years.

[ronn]

for some real enjoyment- check out the other cars that were in the auction this past weekend- much rarer stuff then the A. Mark had a good eye and assembled quite a mix.


some of the cars actually sold for a song- 1919 stutz roadster around 42k


he 2x tried to buy my 1907 model R, because he really enjoyed original cars, for the most part.

[Bick in New Zealand]

Here is *A241* affectionately known as Emily.