Introducing the Model "A" Roadster: A True Ford Classic

Now that the turkey has been cleaned away, it's time to look forward to the upcoming Christmas holiday and all the cheer it brings. It's also a good time to look back and consider what other holidays brought forth... such as the exciting unveiling of the first-ever Model A nearly a century ago on December 2, 1927. And it did so to quite the acclaim. According to Ford News, an unprecedented 10,5234,992 million people flocked to the different unveiling sites -- a number that represented 10% of the US population at the time. Within the first two weeks, dealers accumulated more than 400,000 sales orders and the Model A was quickly deemed an enthusiastic success and later a quintessential Ford classic.

Why the Ford Classic Model A Was Such a Success

The Ford Model A was the model that immediately followed the Model T, which is renowned for having revolutionized transportation thanks to its reliability and affordability. However, after the Model T's almost two decades of dominating the market, American car buyers were starting to want something more. Something with better style, better performance, and better amenities. Ford answered with the Model A.

The original Model As featured more elegant styling than the T with four-wheel brakes, laminated and reinforced safety glass windshield, hydraulic shock absorbers, and a 200.5-cu.in. four-cylinder engine that got better fuel economy and delivered 40 horsepower with the ability to achieve a top speed of 65 miles per hour.

Between 1927 and the spring of 1932, Ford sold over 4.3 million of these models. While many were lost over the ages due to accidents and general wear and tear, many have survived to this day to become coveted must-haves by automotive enthusiasts. The history of this model combined with its good looks and strong bones has inspired generations of collectors, hot rodders, and custom car aficionados.

Customizing a Ford Classic

The massive popularity of the Ford Model A means two outstanding things for those looking to either rebuild a Ford classic car or customize a Ford classic into a hot rod. First, the large sale numbers mean that owners can find plenty of spare parts around. Where authentic replacements can't be found, or where a new part is wanted, there are also plenty of third-party manufacturers that are reproducing replacement components to meet the growing demands of collectors.

Additionally, there's the supply and demand benefit for current customers. With such a large supply of Ford Model A's available, Ford classic car buyers can often find a Model A in decent condition for under $10,000. This makes it one of the most affordable classic cars on the market and a great choice for newcomers to the industry.

Here at CHRA, we're in the process of customizing one such find. For this Model A Roadster in our shop, we're installing a rebuilt Lincoln-12 engine and updating the transmission among other classic car body work for a true one-of-a-kind build.