700 miles in a tired Model A

[nkaminar]

This is an entertaining video about a new to Model A owner who won a tired Model A on eBay by accident. He had no previous experience with Model A's but had some mechanical knowledge. He decided to drive the car 700 miles home. This is about his trip and some of the hardships along the way. It is sort of funny but gives some insight on what to do if you buy a Model A.

https://youtu.be/uW-WtwdC1uY

[Mulletwagon]

A great flick we can all identify with !!

[Ed in Maine]

This is just wonderful. Lets get together and make a list of things that should be done before he starts his trip. Here are my suggestions:
1. It has to be safe! Adjust the brakes
2. Check all lights and horn. DO NOT Drive at night. It isn't worth it, you could be rear ended.
3. Repack the front wheel bearings.
4. Change the oil (30 wt.) in the engine, transmission and rear-end.
5. Grease the car completely. See lubrication chart in repair manual.
6. Change the points and condenser and have a spare condenser with you.
7. Flush the radiator and put in water and Prestone Anti-Rust supplement.
8. Use Rainex on the windshield. The wipers were poor when they were new!
9. The carburetor should be either rebuilt or replaced. This will give you a spare for the future.
10. Clean out the filter glass bowl.
11. Check the front end for any shimmy.
12. Re-torque cylinder head nuts to 55 ft-lbs.
13. Look over any wiring that could give you a problem. Add a fuse on top of the starter to protect the car.

What else can you suggest? I wish I had this opportunity, what a find. Ed

[deuce5wndw]

Wow what a difference age makes! Thanks for posting!

[Badpuppy]

Good times. I wondered how he knew so much about the particulars until he mentioned Paul Shinn at the end. I read Paul died last year, sadly.

[Y-Blockhead]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Badpuppy

Good times. I wondered how he knew so much about the particulars until he mentioned Paul Shinn at the end. I read Paul died last year, sadly.

NO HE DID NOT!! Paul puts out a YouTube video every Saturday on Model As. I don't always agree with him but he puts out excellent videos. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...l+shinn+videos

[ndnchf]

I wish there was a condensed, 10 minute version of this video.

BTW, Paul is alive and well. He posts on the other forum occasionally. I saw a post by him about 2 weeks ago.

[denniskliesen]

I didn’t have the time to watch the entire video. Did he ever say how much he paid for it?

[SonicRaT]

Amazing to see it made it despite all of the issues he ran into. I watch his channel all of the time and he has some good content of some antique stuff he picks up. Was glad to see a Model A make the list.

Here's the auction link to eBay of the car he bought. Seems a little steep to me for what he got... I picked up my '31 Coupe on there for about the same in much, much better condition.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/33433775931...rue&nordt=true

[JKY]

At least the wheels are pretty.

[eagle]

Interesting...I drove mine home, 175 miles without a companion vehicle. Uneventful except the toe in was set at 3 inches, ruined two new tires.

[ETAModel]

Originally Posted by Badpuppy

Good times. I wondered how he knew so much about the particulars until he mentioned Paul Shinn at the end. I read Paul died last year, sadly.

Last year Paul had a "Near Death Experience", (my words), but he's alive and well. He posted a video yesterday about lubing a speedometer on his YouTube channel.

[goodcar]

My first Model hadn't run for 10 years. The head water jacket was cracked and the rear pan crank gasket was shot. Installed new battery, patched the head with JB weld, bought 10 quarts of oil and started for home 40 miles away. Car ran great and the county got their gravel road oiled. After a couple of years we decided that groceries and shoes for the kids was more important and sold the car. Have hated myself for that ever since.

[Ruth]

Originally Posted by ETAModel

Last year Paul had a "Near Death Experience", (my words), but he's alive and well. He posted a video yesterday about lubing a speedometer on his YouTube channel.

As stated in post #7, Paul Shinn is not dead. And he had a video explaining "Near Death Experience" also. https://youtu.be/tLf2jWtrsrg

[nkaminar]

I skipped forward through most of the traveling parts where he was not talking. This saves some time in the viewing.

[jb-ob]

First Rule; Gas & spark, it has to run.

The one item that should have fallen off was that carburetor restrictor (air cleaner).

[CatMan1]

I've been too busy to actually watch all of this. Don't tell me how it ends! lol Imagine my surprise when I played the video Saturday morning and thought, "That car sure looks familiar......" If the tank has peeling paint it might be the car....Then I saw the Knoxville Nationals Parade ribbons! This was my relatives car up till 2012ish. I would follow along in my '47 Chevy with him and his brother's old cars to little town parades. Not sure when he sold it to the guy that sold it on ebay? He's passed away. This car was my first experience with the Model A! I rode in it when I was in my teens (in the 80's). It's the car I believe inspired me to buy my '28 Sport Coupe last year. I had no idea it was for sale or I would have tried to buy it. However, I had the urge to buy a Model T, which I did yesterday. It's bittersweet, but real neat to see it on the 'Big Screen'!

[Colonial coupe]

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed watching. Liked his comments at the end.

[ndnchf]

Paul Shinn just commented about it on the other forum.

[Badpuppy]

Pleased to hear I was wrong. Reports of his death were greatly exaggerated, apparently.

That's the problem with speed of information - misinformation travels faster. "Do your research."

[ETAModel]

Interesting, but long video. Of course you can't film a 714 mile road trip in an A in 7 minutes.
Tennessee...I knew I recognized that accent ��

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

This is an entertaining video about a new to Model A owner who won a tired Model A on eBay by accident. He had no previous experience with Model A's but had some mechanical knowledge. He decided to drive the car 700 miles home. This is about his trip and some of the hardships along the way. It is sort of funny but gives some insight on what to do if you buy a Model A.

...or NOT to do!!


While most of us (-me included) feel like the $11k was too much, a large part of that purchase price will be offset by YouTube royalty earnings that Derek receives from posting that and subsequent videos. He will likely get a million views just off of that one video! His salary as a content provider is earned by just making videos, and he has a gift with topics and the way he pronounces words to be entertaining which lets him have over a million subscribers. Advertisers like that.

One side note though, if the paint was still good (-not cracked or chipping & flaking) imagine how that would be called a nicely restored car. Most of us here would cringe if we were forced to drive that car 700 miles. I'm sure the reason why Derek did not, is he likely had a truck and trailer located off-camera as his "insurance plan" in case of failure.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by ETAModel

Interesting, but long video. Of course you can't film a 714 mile road trip in an A in 7 minutes.
Tennessee...I knew I recognized that accent ��

Ummm, Derek is actually from either North Dakota or South Dakota (-can't remember which one), and only moved here recently. He does not sound like most of the 10-uh-C residents who live here.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Most of us here would cringe if we were forced to drive that car 700 miles. I'm sure the reason why Derek did not, is he likely had a truck and trailer located off-camera as his "insurance plan" in case of failure.

You are probably correct, Brent but I don't like to think so. I remember one episode where Derek bought a car that had sat for ~20 years or so, got it running and the car broke down while driving 600 miles home. He then buys a junk car hauler, gets it running and finishes the trip with his junk car on the back of the junk hauler.

Pretty entertaining and Derek is pretty dang knowledgable.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

You are probably correct, Brent but I don't like to think so. I remember one episode where Derek bought a car that had sat for ~20 years or so, got it running and the car broke down while driving 600 miles home. He then buys a junk car hauler, gets it running and finishes the trip with his junk car on the back of the junk hauler.

Pretty entertaining and Derek is pretty dang knowledgable.

Of course not, ...none of us want to think it is staged, -or fake. The unfortunate thing is 'Reality TV' really isn't reality. Reality is what Ron Cloat did some 20+ years ago when he went to the Dakotas and drove an unrestored Model-A Fordor back to Illinois. That story chronically a week of travels used to be on Vince's site. I haven't looked for it in a decade or longer, but it is worth reading if you have not and its still there.

[Terry, NJ]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I've been following Derek Beiri (I think that's how you spell his name) for some time now. I believe since he bought a black and white 56 Buick hardtop back from Texas to Minnesota or South Dakota. It quit in the middle somewhere and he had to buy a pick up and trailer to finish the trip.Either he inherited a lot of money from his grandparents or he has a well paying job. He is a fascinating guy! Not only is he pretty knowledgeable about cars that are much older than he is, but he is pretty good with "Farmer Fixes" to get home with. He is also appreciative of the contemporary engineering (Then). All in all, his adventures are very enjoyable to watch.
Terry

[CatMan1]

Originally Posted by Terry, NJ

I've been following Derek Beiri (I think that's how you spell his name) for some time now. I believe since he bought a black and white 56 Buick hardtop back from Texas to Minnesota or South Dakota. It quit in the middle somewhere and he had to buy a pick up and trailer to finish the trip.Either he inherited a lot of money from his grandparents or he has a well paying job. He is a fascinating guy! Not only is he pretty knowledgeable about cars that are much older than he is, but he is pretty good with "Farmer Fixes" to get home with. He is also appreciative of the contemporary engineering (Then). All in all, his adventures are very enjoyable to watch.
Terry

What I keep wondering is.....how many tools he must have! Every time he gets a different vehicle he has to buy new tools to get him home! lol

[jb-ob]

Maybe his day job is a Snap-On route ???

[wwirz]

Watched this video today. Enjoyed it. The video certainly speaks to the design of the Model A and durability. He says he is going to restore it. I hope to see this in upcoming videos.

[ETAModel]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Ummm, Derek is actually from either North Dakota or South Dakota (-can't remember which one), and only moved here recently. He does not sound like most of the 10-uh-C residents who live here.

Hey Cousin, of course I was being tongue in cheek. I have family in Danville, Madisonville, and around Rabun Gap.

I figured the accent was from the Dakotas, reminded me of Fargo. I kept waiting for the Ya, sure, you betcha.

[rfitzpatrick]

ETAModel
Had a guy in the Air Force spell Ohio --- O-H-Ten