Ford Model A (1927-1931)

Ford Model A
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1927–1931; 4,849,340 made
Assembly	Detroit, Michigan; Cologne, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina
Predecessor	Ford Model T
Successor	Ford Model B
Class	Full-size Ford
Body style(s)	A – Chassis; Convertible Sedan (A-400); Business Coupe; Coupe; Deluxe Coupe; Sport Coupe; Standard Coupe; Deluxe Coupe; Standard Fordor Sedan - Murray; Standard Fordor Sedan - Briggs; Deluxe Fordor Sedan - Murray; Deluxe Fordor Sedan - Briggs; Leatherback Fordor Sedan; Standard Fordor Sedan – Slant windshield; Mail Truck; Panel Truck; Phaeton 2-door; Phaeton 4-door; Deluxe Service Pickup; Roadster Pickup; Pickup; Deluxe Pickup; Standard Roadster; Deluxe Roadster; Sport Roadster; Station Wagon; Taxi Cab; Town Car; Town Car Delivery; Truck; Standard Tudor Sedan; Deluxe Tudor Sedan; Victoria; Wood Panel Delivery; Station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	A Chassis
Engine(s)	201 CID (3.3 L) L-head-4
Transmission(s)	3-speed sliding gear
Wheelbase	103.5 in (2629 mm)
Length	165 in (4191 mm)
Width	67 in (1702 mm)
Curb weight	2,265 lb (1,027 kg)
Fuel capacity	10 US gallons (37.9 L/8.3 imp gal); 11 US gallons (41.6 L/9.2 imp gal)
Related	Ford Model AF; Ford Model AA
Designer	Henry Ford and Edsel Ford

See also: Ford Model A (1903-1904)

The Model A was produced through 1931. When production ended in March, 1932, there were 4,849,340 Model A's made in all styles. Its successor was the Model B, which featured an updated 4-cylinder engine, followed by the Model 18 which introduced Ford's new V8 engine.

Features[]

Prices for the Model A ranged from US$385 for a roadster to $1400 for the top-of-the-line Town Car. The engine was a water-cooled L-head 4-cylinder with a displacement of 201 cubic inches (3.3 L). This engine gave the car 40 horsepower (30 kW). Typical fuel consumption was between 25 and 30 mpg (U.S.) (8 to 12 kilometres per litre or 8-9 L/100 km)^{[citation (source) needed]} using a Zenith one-barrel up-draft carburetor, with a top speed of around 65 mph (104 km/h). It had a 103.5 in (2629 mm) wheelbase with a final drive ratio of 3.77:1. The transmission was a 3-speed sliding gear unit with a 1-speed reverse. The Model A had 4-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The 1930 and 1931 editions came with stainless steel radiator cowling and headlamp housings.

The Model A came in a wide variety of styles: Coupe (Standard and Deluxe), Business Coupe, Sport Coupe, Roadster Coupe (Standard and Deluxe[1]), Convertible Cabriolet, Convertible Sedan, Phaeton (Standard and Deluxe), Tudor (Standard and Deluxe[2]), Town Car, Fordor (2-window) (Standard and Deluxe), Fordor (3-window) (Standard and Deluxe), Victoria, Station Wagon, Taxicab, Truck, and Commercial.

The Model A was the first Ford to use the standard set of driver controls, with conventional clutch and brake pedals, throttle and gearshift; previous Ford models used controls that had become out of date and uncommon to drivers of other makes. The Model A's fuel tank was located in the cowl, between the engine compartment's fire wall and the dash panel. It had an optic fuel gauge and the fuel was distributed to the carburetor by gravity. In cooler climates, owners could purchase an aftermarket cast iron unit to place over the engine's exhaust manifold to bring heated air into the cab. A small door could be opened or closed to adjust the amount of hot air entering the cab. Model A was the first car to have Safety glass in the windshield.

The Soviet company GAZ, which started as a cooperation between Ford and the Soviet Union, made a licensed version of the Model A from 1932-36. This itself was the basis for the FAI and BA-20 armored car, which saw significant use as scout vehicles in the early stages of World War II.

Factories[]

In addition to the United States, Ford made the Model A in plants in Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Film and media[]

The Ford Model A. was well represented in media of the era since it was one of the most common cars. In modern times, it has reappeared, most notably in the remake of the film King Kong as taxi cabs and police cars. Students asked to build models of cars from the 1920s and 1930s will also find that models of these cars are still available from hobby shops in the 2000s, as stock cars or modified hot rods.

Several Model A's have obtained particular notoriety. The 'Ramblin' Wreck, a 1930 Sport Coupe, is the official mascot of the student body at the Georgia Institute of Technology and appears at sporting events and student body functions. Ala Kart, a customized 1929 roadster pickup built by George Barris won two straight "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" awards at the Oakland Roadster Show before making numerous film and television appearances. Between October 1992 to December 1994, Hector Quevedo, along with his son Hugo, drove a 1928 Model A 22,000 miles (35,000 km) from his home in Punta Arenas, Chile to the Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. The car required minimal service including a flat tire and transmission work in Nicaragua and is now housed in the Henry Ford Museum.^[1]

Gallery[]

Preservation[]

A few examples can be seen at Car shows and other events like steam rallies that feature vintage vehicles.

List known examples below , please

Template:PML Ford Model A (1927)

References / sources[]

Based on wikipedia article

↑ Cardinale, Anthony. Chileans on a Roll in Vintage Car Trek Detroit-Bound Model A Ford Arrives Here After 21,700 Miles. Buffalo News. Buffalo, N.Y.: November 30, 1994 p. A.1.

External links[]

Model A Ford Reference Sheet, Owners Manual, and Help - [3]
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club - [4]
Ford Model AA Truck Club
Ford Model A at the Open Directory Project
Follow Henry As We Tour The Long Beach Assembly Plant circa 1930

| below = For Ford Tractor line see List of Ford tractors

This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Ford Model A (1927-1931). The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons by Attribution License and/or GNU Free Documentation License. Please check page history for when the original article was copied to Wikia

[1] Cardinale, Anthony. Chileans on a Roll in Vintage Car Trek Detroit-Bound Model A Ford Arrives Here After 21,700 Miles. Buffalo News. Buffalo, N.Y.: November 30, 1994 p. A.1.

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