Pros and Cons of a Model 'A'

[30ccpickup]

What do you consider the pros and cons for owning a Model ‘A’ to be?
For example:
It is a pro because the majority of parts are remanufactured.
It is a con because it needs to be lubed every 500 miles.

[Model A Man]

pro- because I can work on them and keep them running fairly good. con- one is never enough

[Great Lakes Greg]

The only con I can think of is the ever faster traffic that JUST CAN'T WAIT to get around me. The pro's are endless.

[roccaas]

Pro: the smiles on the faces of children and seniors (who used to have one). Satisfaction of doing a repair yourself. Keeping an 81 year old piece of history working well. Hand cranking to the astonishment of on-lookers. Like a fine shotgun, piece of furniture, or antique book; keeping it intact for the next owner. The look on someones face when you honk the horn. The A Model owners community, helpful, opinionated. Makes you appreciate the convenience of modern cars (automatic lights, climate control, brake adjustment, never lift the hood, quiet, powerful, etc)

Cons. No A/C limits summer use to nighttime. Keeping up with traffic. Flat glass windshield reflects headlamps which is distracting. Ride at speed, crosswinds, braking distances.

[shooter54]

there's cons to model A's???

[LukeDahlinger]

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Originally Posted by shooter54

there's cons to model A's???

Exactly! I've had nothing but sheer pleasure from owning my A's.

[Pa Joe]

Well said

[HARLEYJOE]

And I can not wait for the snow to clear and salt to be washed away
to get my new 81 yr old truck on the road for the first ride.
Gives me time to fix the fuel system and smell gas and enjoy working
or should say playing with a new toy that lights up my eyes.
See Ya soon Model "A"ers

[Jason in TX]

I drove my A to work today with the top down because the weather was so great. The only con was raising the hood to turn off the gas on an indented firewall while I was inside all day. Just an extra step vs the inside fuel shut off. Otherwise it was all smiles from me and everyone else.

[Mike V. Florida]

This is not a daily driver so I too can find no cons!

[inex01]

For me all PROS ! just crazy about my A. Really enjoy wrenching on her and the sound of that engine is music to my ears, the car is also so darn good looking, yes I am very apprecite to Henry & Edsel for making my A.

[Pepsi Mechanic]

I don't even own the Pepsi truck and I cannot find any con's . Now I WISH I owned her . I must say out of all the projects I have been a part of in my life the Model AA tops the list .

[peters180a/170b]

Pros "You own 1 or 2 or 3 or even more> Cons You don't own any !

[Gary/IA]

Yesterday I was driving my A and ran between two stop lights (two miles) with a Lamborghini (1st one I have ever seen on the road).

Pros: I was in the Model A.

Cons: I was in the Model A.

[Kurt in NJ]

To beat the Lambo you have to choose the proper road for the race ---rutted, muddy with sand traps.

The only "con" that I can think of is lack of a defroster

[28RPU]

Pro: They are beautiful automobiles with class that new cars can't have.
Con: You can't just park them anywhere or some spoiled brat vandal kid will try to harm it because they attract so much attention.

[Fred K-OR]

Pro is that they do attract a lot of attention. Like mentioned before, the kids (8 to 10 year olds) think they are a "cool car". In the fifties I think the term was "rod" or somthing like that.

Last summer I was passing by a field of flowers on a back road and there was a woman standing in the middle of the road a few hundred feet in front of me. The old horn did get her to jump and get the #@$% out of the way. Another good pro.

Con is to try to get the boss (wife) to believe that I need another one.

[tamagrouchy]

Pro > In addition to what was already said, I add that GREAT Model A engine sound and all those other things about the A that you see, hear smell and feel. All the stuff that can't be quantified!

Con> Patiently waiting for winter to end and the salt to wash off the street so I can get 'er on the road again!

[John LaVoy]

Pro: Chicks dig them! Or at least they did when I got mine in high school!

Con: I don't have enough space to have one of all the body styles I need!

[TinCup]

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

I drove my A to work today with the top down because the weather was so great. The only con was raising the hood to turn off the gas on an indented firewall while I was inside all day. Just an extra step vs the inside fuel shut off. Otherwise it was all smiles from me and everyone else.

Electric fuel shut off is pretty sweet for us 31 owners. I really like it.

[Jason in TX]

Have any pics of your elec. shut off valve set up? I bought one a few months ago and need to spend some time in the garage installing it. Did you route the wiring for it back inside the firewall? I was considering doing that by running the wires through the large rubber grommet that is around the fuel tank shut off tube. I would like to minimize the wires draped across the firewall.

[1930artdeco]

Pros: The look of people seeing a younger person driving an antique car. Being able to actually fix your own car without having to hook it up to life support. Restoring the car with your dad/son-priceless. I could go on and on.

Cons: Having to watch out for all of the other idiots on the road.

Mike

[1931 flamingo]

Jason in TX. On my indented 31 I installed electric shut off per the instructions supplied, cut line about 1 1/2" below orig on/off valve and then down to carb. I ran the wires INSIDE the orig type fabric loom, painted the wires black. Almost looks factory installed. Sorry no pictures. If I remember (car in garage), hot wire to coil, other to ground. I also have a batt disconnect on car.
Paul in CT
Paul in CT

[V4F]

is there supposed to be a con ???????????????? ............ steve

[1929 sedan]

Only con I can think of is needing a third arm to wave to everyone thats waving or giving a thumbs up as you drive past. (The first two are busy operating the car).

[Brendan]

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con, double clutching, I think that's fun! also I have a Mitchell, and split shifting is fun too

[Mendotaman]

My grandson called it a "babe magnet."

[Steve Wastler]

Pro: they multiply
Con: same as above

[29ModelA]

Cons: People see you coming and try to race out in front of you, people tailgate you, and it's ability to cope with modern traffic is severely limited. (I wouldn't mind a second touring car capable of normal speeds)

Pro's: Everything posted above mine.

[Chris H]

Con: Having to put it away for the winter!
Pros: What every one else said.

[Mike V. Florida]

WOW this post is over two years old and still going!

[Franchise_24]

Pro: The sound she makes in 2nd gear before shifting into 3rd. I love it.

Con: I barely have room for the 2 we own :-)

[bhiland]

Originally Posted by Model A Man

pro- because I can work on them and keep them running fairly good. con- one is never enough

Agreed! !

[30Ford]

The kids think they are cool.... always like their comments

[Tom in SW VA]

I would like comment on this subject, but I will take a different view;

The greatest pro is that you have the unique opportunity to preserve a monumental piece of automobile history that has survived because of the superior engineering by the Ford Motor Company from 1928-31.

The greatest con is the fact that the Model A Ford has not obtained 'classic' status which takes away from the prestige of ownership and the value of the investment.

By the way, I love my two Model As and I am a purist! No whitewalls for me.

[MikeK]

Con: What you have to do to take over the wife's garage space for another A.
Pro: What you have to be to pull off the above con job.

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by John LaVoy

Pro: Chicks dig them! Or at least they did when I got mine in high school!

Con: I don't have enough space to have one of all the body styles I need!

John-- is that all the body styles of the cars or the chicks?

[dumb person]

Pro's : Is a really fun car when it is running right.
Con's : When it breaks down everyone judges you and shouts abuse.