Guys, I have a million questions about Model A's!

[clovis97]

Hi everyone!!!!

My name is Chrissy, and I am 13 years old. My dad is helping me build a plastic model of a 1931 Model A truck for my 4-H project.

I saw a Model A truck being used for work at Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum, and loved it!!!! We also rode on an old Model AA bus while we were there. It was fun.

I have soooo many questions about the Model A, and was wondering if you would help me?

1. What color is the firewall supposed to be?

2. The model we have has a molded vinyl top. What color is that supposed to be? Do those fade after time?

3. We don't know what color to paint the engine. Some of the pictures look like the engine is supposed to be gray, and some look green-ish.

4. Were all of the fenders on 1931 Model A's painted black?

5. Was the frame painted black too?

6. This model has a wood grain molded into the bottom where the floor boards are in the cab. Were those wood boards painted, or left natural?

I'm sure that my dad and I will have lots more questions. I hope that I can come back for more help.

PS-My dad says he is a GM guy, but I like Fords the best!

[Joe K]

Hi. Welcome to our clubhouse!

Firewall would be the color of the exterior body of the car.

The Canvas top would be dark brown - almost black - although the brownness/blackness may vary in the sun (as you say)

The engine is a particular color "Ford Engine Green" and this includes the intake manifold, but not the exhaust manifold which you could paint flat black. The generator is black as is the starter motor. The fan blades would be black but the waterpump (and piping connectors) are Ford engine green. Hoses can be dark red or black (with a yellow stripe.)

Ford Engine Green a sort of "bluish" green (NOT Kelly Green) and where pictures seem to fail in full description. And Ford Engine Green can vary between cars - but not between parts of the engine (all painted at the same time!)

Fenders and splash aprons all glossy black.

Frame and running-gear (axles) sort of inbetween glossy and flat black.

Floorboards on the underside would have been painted with "tailings" left over from other Ford paint processes. A dark grey tending to brown here would be best.

You can come back here ANYTIME for help.

I always enjoyed my AMT models when I was back in that era. I have since bought a couple to assemble when I have some free time (HA!)

PS-My dad says he is a GM guy, but I like Fords the best!

Tell Dad that GM USED to be a product of human free enterprise. I'd love to see his reaction.

You can still be proud of Ford in this regard.

Joe K

[pat in Santa Cruz]

welcome to the hobby and this message board. Its great to see someone younger than us get interested in these wonderful machines. It looks like Joe K answered your initial questions, but if you have a million more, and want to find out information you haven't even questioned yet, get a copy of the "Restoration and Judging Standards". Its a book compiled by both MAFCA and MARC that contains documented information on virtually every aspect of the Model A. Its available from either club or from most parts suppliers. If you have a local club chapter near you, you will meet many friendly folks who will help you learn all there is about these cars.

http://www.mafca.com/pub_standards.html

[clovis97]

thank you joe k!

[clovis97]

We are painting the body a light green that is close to the light green that was original to the 1931 A's.

My dad wants to know:

1. The color of the wheels. Was it yellow, or beige?

2. We are wondering what color the seat should be. My mom wants it to be light tan, but my dad thinks it should be an olive color. What do you think the color should be?

Thank you for helping me!

[Bob C]

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The wheels should be black.

Bob

[pat in Santa Cruz]

truck seats were black

[tbirdtbird]

Clovis, add your location to your profile. Maybe you will be close enough to someone on the forum that can give you and your Dad and Mom a ride in a full-sized Model A.
Greenfield sure is an awesome place! Good way to start on Model As

[Joe K]

On the 1931 wheels, a "deluxe" color could be selected. For her green, what would be a typical deluxe color?

Joe K

[Bob C]

Here are some picture that may help.

Bob

[clovis97]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

Clovis, add your location to your profile. Maybe you will be close enough to someone on the forum that can give you and your Dad and Mom a ride in a full-sized Model A.
Greenfield sure is an awesome place! Good way to start on Model As

I would love a ride in a Model A!!!!

I got to ride in many Model T's at Greenfield Village, and I loved it. I asked the driver if I could drive and he looked at me like this

Are the Model A's a lot different to ride in than a Model T?

We are in central Indiana, near Indianapolis.

[clovis97]

Thank you to everyone for helping me with my model!!! We really appreciate it!!!

My dad wants to know about the interiors.

Do the Model A's have a headliner? What color were they in the truck?

He also wants to know bout the inside of the cab, was it painted, or covered in cloth? Back where the back window is.

Dad asks about the pillow supports on the inside next to the front window. Are they painted the same as the body color?

Thanks so much!

[Tom Wesenberg]

You are so close, it's too bad you didn't get to the Model A national meet at French Lick, Indiana this week. You sure could have seen a lot of very nice Model A's and could have had some rides.

No headliner on the trucks. You'd see the black cloth from the top material. The inside metal was body color and without upholstery except doors and kick panels.

[fiddlybits]

Chrissy... please post photos of your truck when you are done. We would all like to see it. (we like Model A's large and small)

[DougVieyra]

You sound like you have a sharp and inquisitive mind. You sound like you might be ready to move to the head of the class. You sound like you might be ready to read a book. AND the best book to read is: MODEL A RESTORATION GUIDELINES.

Somebody's birthday (or other excuse) must be coming up soon. Time to get this book on somebody's "Birthday Registry". Are you ready for the challenge? . . . . . BUT, be forewarned . . . . . this affliction with old cars, may be habit forming. But it can also be FUN, exciting, challenging, thrilling . . . . and a whole lot more !

[pat in Santa Cruz]

The body was painted inside and out in body color. The roof wood bows were on the body when it was painted, hence they are also body color. Then the top was put on and the trim pieces were installed. Between the top material and the top bows was a black cloth, so looking up at the top from inside, you should see body color top bows with black cloth on top of them. The inside rear window frame, the door trim below the glass, the dash panel and the windshield garnishes (inside frame pieces attached to the body or pillar supports) were all black, regardless of the body color. The cowl kick panels, the door panels and the panel above the windshield were black cross grain fabric laminated to cardboard, matching the seat covers. There were also thin, black, cross grain panels along the top of the side windows and down the door posts behind the seat . The rubber floor mat was black. If your model shows wood floorboards, then if you want to be really correct, you could fabricate a rubber mat.

link to auction photos
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Event...e=true#158260f

[Bob C]

More pictures.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by clovis97

I would love a ride in a Model A!!!!

I got to ride in many Model T's at Greenfield Village, and I loved it. I asked the driver if I could drive and he looked at me like this

Are the Model A's a lot different to ride in than a Model T?

We are in central Indiana, near Indianapolis.

My son drove his first T at 11 years old his first A a year later. At 14 he started his first restoration and 6 years later he is still at it.

A's are real close to modern cars with a manual transmission. T's are a different bird al together.

[Purdy Swoft]

Here is the last one that I did. The green is a bit lighter than original because I used rustoleum . Black is standard color for the fenders ,wheels, running gear and interior. the engine should be Ford engine green. I was only 13 when I got my first model A in the spring of 1960 . I love the old Fords but prefer GM for my modern ride. I'm a certified General Motors technition, certified in 1969. Oh yeah, thats not me in the truck, Thats my good friend George.

[Joe K]

George is smiling. Not hard to tell why...

So Purdy - you're Mr. Goodwrench's father?

The Shop Manager at my Chevy Garage (I drove a Chevy LUV truck - Isuzu creation at that time) took an active interest in my Ford hobby - as well he should. He used a 1936 Ford Pickup as his daily driver to work. It stayed parked outside the shop alongside the Chevettes and Impalas and Bel-aires.

And no amount of static could get him to leave it home. Everyone in the shop AND the customers finally just sort of ignored the truck - and took him at face value.

Which they well should have as he was a most excellent mechanic - either Ford or Chevy.

The dealership finally closed and reopened as a Nissan dealership after he retired.

I'll think of his name eventually. It might be recognized here...

Fred Baldelli...

Joe K