It always starts on the button and once warmed up idles beautifully at only 450rpm. There are many speed parts for these coveted 4-bangers that easily add 50-to-100% power, mostly by raising the compression above the factory's 4.22:1 ratio - it had to be so low due to the 60-octane gasoline available at the time.Īccording to the engine number, this particular engine has been supplied by Ford's Long Beach, California facility and has been fully and competently refurbished during the course of the restoration. Model A engines were manufactured with such precision that a finely tuned stock Model A Roadster can putter along at 60mph, and this particular car, with overdrive engaged, can do this without stressing the engine. It produces 40 horsepower at only 2,200 rpm from 200.5 cubic inches (3,3 Liters), with an abundance of torque right from idle up to redline. The Model A four banger is a mechanical marvel. Best of all, these upgrades are all hidden from the casual observer. There are many more small improvements, such as "Float-a-Motor" engine mounts, trouble-free hydraulic shock absorbers, a steering stabilizer, a 12-volt electrical system with alternator, H4-lighting, a modern 5-blade radiator fan, and a lifetime service-free water pump. A much more precise F-100 steering box.1939 Ford 3-speed transmission with synchronized gears and V8 clutch.The car is currently registered to these original, unrestored, 1931 California black-and-orange license plates, for which I paid $375.Ī small fortune has been spent to turn this 84-year-old into a car that defies its age, a car I can hop in and drive anywhere. In addition, I have an EXCEL spreadsheet listing all my expenses. ![]() I also keep a dedicated folder with all the receipts kept in chronological order, filed in clear sheet protectors. Over time, I was able to acquire a library of 10 relevant books, some of them quite rare. We've even used in during the coldest time of the year when we participated in the Horseless Carriage Club's New Year's excursion! I acquired the car in 2013 and have enjoyed it tremendously. In 2012, the car participated in a summer tour through Canada's Pacific Northwest, where it was running like a Swiss watch. It spent over a decade in Big Bear Lake, Calif., where it was used sparingly, during the summer months only. The car was the beneficiary of a thorough frame-off restoration dating back to the year 2001. To preserve his show condition Model A for special occasions, he specifically bought this particular Roadster for a summer tour through Canada's Pacific Northwest area, where it reportedly was running like a Swiss watch.Ĭlick on any of the above images for a full-size view The '31 Roadster I finally adopted in Summer of 2013 had been owned by a fellow Model T and Model A owner from Long Beach, California. ![]() Best of all, it looks quite similar to its immediate successor, the legendary Model B of 1932 - the Deuce - at a fraction of the price of admission.Įven before I became a Model T owner, I desired owning a Model A Roadster. The police drove Model A Roadsters, and so did the richest man in the world, Nelson Rockefeller, as well as the President of the United States, Franklin D. Of timeless beauty, it transcended the boundaries of wealth and status. Ford's Model A Roadster is the purest example of an open car in history: it has everything you need, nothing you don't.Ĭlick on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open)
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