October 11th 2015 Premier Automobile Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/10/2015
•An older restoration that presents remarkably well.•Excellent club support and parts availability.•Long-term ownership by the current family.•1955 Best in Show winner at the first MARC meeting.•Great tour car or first foray into antique car ownership. Henry Ford, without a doubt, most famous for his Model T, had a rather unusual manner in following the alphabet. Somewhat logically, the Model A was first to arrive in 1903. The Model B, C and F followed in 1904, the Model E in 1905, the Model K and N in 1906, and the Model R and S in 1908. The first Model T followed later that year. Ford however, repeated the Model A designation signifying a new beginning at Ford Motor Company with the introduction of his new car for the 1928 model year.Henry Ford did not want to stop producing the Model T; rather he was forced to do so by rival Chevrolet who was building far sprightlier cars. Thus, the new Model A was introduced to the public on December 2, 1927. Newspaper accounts told of nearly ten percent of the American public having gone to view the new car. Much more complex than the Model T that preceded it, the Model A was comprised of 6,800 parts compared to its simpler predecessor which was made up of 5,000 parts. The ruggedly constructed Model A featured Ford’s first installation of safety glass in all windows. Production continued through 1932 when Ford introduced its new V-8. Fast forward to 1931 when nearly 4 million Model A’s had already been produced. And, in typical Ford fashion, the company resisted making dramatic model changes from year-to-year. Ford preferred to make most of its changes on a running basis. As a result, the 1931 was little changed from 1930 model. Powering the Model A was a 40hp L-head 4-cylinder engine and three-speed sliding gear-type transmission with floor shifter. Mechanical brakes were at all four wheels and transverse leaf springs supported solid axles front and rear. The tidy package sat upon a 103.5” wheelbase.Soaring in popularity was the Deluxe Roadster, Model 40 (D1) which was introduced in the summer of 1930. Sales accounted for 52,997 units, nearly 10 times the number of Standard Model Roadsters. And, no wonder. The Deluxe Roadster cost $475.00, just $45.00 more than the Standard. For the extra money, buyers got a rumble seat, cowl lights, genuine leather front seat in beige, rumble seat in matching artificial leather, brown floor carpet, and a special low windshield and wind wings. A rear-mounted spare remained standard and the side-mounted spare had to be ordered as an extra cost accessory. Based on photo documents in the consigner’s file, this Model A was restored in 1955. It was shown at the first MARC (Model A Restorer’s Club) National Meet that year at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan where it was named winner of the best Model A at the show while in the ownership of Russell J. Gerrits of Chicago, Illinois. It remains in remarkable condition attesting to both the quality of the restoration and the car the car has received in the ensuing years. It presents surprisingly well for a restoration that is now 60 years old!.Offered at no reserve.