1931 Ford Model A Roadster

Description

When people ask us about the "best" old car for a first-time buyer, we inevitably tell them that a Model A Ford should be on everyone's wish list. Cars like this gorgeous 1931 deluxe roadster make fantastic hobby cars thanks to their reliability, performance, awesome parts availability, and driving dynamics. If you want a car that's easy to drive and gives you the true flavor of what old cars are about, and will attract a ton of attention while doing so, this Model A is for you.

Few Model As are more desirable than the deluxe roadster, particularly one loaded with accessories and upgrades like this one. With a nice restoration, it represents a solid investment in fun that's ready to tour in a surprisingly user-friendly way. Washington Blue always looks best on roadsters, and combined with the black fenders and Straw pinstripe and wheels, it cuts a dashing profile. Sheetmetal is in excellent shape with professional-grade workmanship throughout, and the roadster looks like a far more expensive vehicle when dressed to the 9s like this one. Sure, someone ordered all the accessories, from the headlight visors to a dual sidemounts to the luggage rack, but that's the fun of a Model A: you can pretty much built it to taste. Ford was also a pioneer in the use of stainless steel (or "rustless steel" as they called it then) which means that if it's shiny, it can be polished and will look great practically forever.

Inside, it has a correct brown leather interior from Lebaron-Bonney, the long-time experts in Model A upholstery. Correct in just about every way, it's easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. The controls are well-placed and as long as you're not tall enough to play for the Boston Celtics, you'll find yourself feeling at home pretty quickly. It has a correct late 1931 round speedometer set into a correctly pinstriped dash, and the factory hard rubber steering wheel makes the steering light and direct. A carpeted floor mat adds a surprisingly luxurious feel, and the rumble seat can carry two in equal comfort. Even from behind the wheel, the mechanical upgrades aren't immediately apparent, although that stubby shifter for the 5-speed manual transmission does give things away a bit. Overhead, a handsome tan canvas top looks great and folds quickly and easily for instant open-air motoring.

The Model A's robust 200 cubic inch inline-four seems modest on paper, but thanks to a great power-to-weight ratio, the torquey little engine moves the roadster with genuine gusto. There are numerous upgrades here, including a 12-volt electrical system with alternator, new wiring, an electronic ignition, and an upgraded water pump, all aimed at making it more comfortable in today's traffic. It's dressed in Ford olive green engine paint and while it shows a few signs of use, that only means it's sorted. The aforementioned 5-speed manual gearbox is part of a kit designed to incorporate a T5 transmission, and the ratios (including overdrive) are just about right for the torquey Model A. Thanks to the overdrive, it's capable of cruising happily at 55 MPH all day, and with hydraulic brakes and an upgraded steering box, it can do so safely. Six painted 16-inch Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels look great wearing BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whites.

Beautiful in its own right, this is a great Model A for the novice or experienced hobbyist. If any Model A can be considered a smart buy, this is it. Call today!