Beautiful older restoration, AACA National Senior First Prize. Very correct throughout, not over-done. Runs and drives beautifully, spectacular interior. A high-quality Model A that’s very authentic and ready to enjoy.
Thanks to expert care and what was surely an extremely high-quality restoration, the car presents beautifully and is ready to be driven and enjoyed as intended. The Kewanee and Elkpoint Green sedan looks exactly the way Model As are supposed to look: simple but elegant, and not over-dressed with accessories and add-ons. The finish has a wonderful shine that’s very appropriate to the period and aside from some polishing marks on the top of the hood, it remains in great shape. No issues, no checking, no major scratches, just a high-quality Model A that looks like a million bucks. The black fenders are correct, there’s a green pinstripe as original, and with one taillight out back it looks just as it would have in 1930. The lone accessories are the Boyce moto-meter on the radiator (always a smart addition) and the radiator guard that’s great for touring.
The interior is simply spectacular. It’s just beautifully crafted and shows almost zero signs of use or age. Handsome tan fabrics give the humble tudor a very dressed-up look and as it was when it was new, it is surprisingly comfortable. Sedans are a great choice for touring with improved weather protection, but you’ll also note that the seats are adjustable, making this a good car for taller drivers—not the case with roadsters and phaetons. All the usual Model A features are here, from the big hard rubber steering wheel to the center-mounted instrument panel, whose round speedometer indicates that this car is a late 1930 production. The controls are familiar and that’s part of why the Model A remains a great starter hobby car: it works like a real car. If you’re a newcomer, it won’t take you long to get comfortable behind the wheel and if you’re an old Model A fan, this car will be a real treat.
The tough little four-cylinder engine has a distinctive soundtrack, a surprisingly big hit of torque at any speed, and an eagerness that won’t be reflected by its specifications on paper. In the lightweight tudor sedan, it feels energetic and pulls the car around with genuine enthusiasm, cruising easily at 45-50 MPH and keeping up with city traffic without working very hard at all. The engine shows a few light signs of use but nothing significant that couldn’t be erased with a weekend of detailing. A Zenith updraft carburetor handles the intake and it’s still lit off by flat copper leads to the correct black oxide spark plugs. The lone upgrades seem to be the master fuse for the electrical system (very smart!), a special harmonic balancer with timing marks (easy to tune), and a water pump with a sealed bearing that never needs to be serviced. It starts easily, idles easily at about 500 RPM, and works just the way you’d expect. No hassles, no special instructions, just get in and start having fun immediately.
There are no surprises underneath where you’ll find a tough ladder frame, a non-synchronized 3-speed manual transmission, and the usual buggy-spring suspension. Remarkably, it all works beautifully, giving the Ford entertaining road manners, competent handling, and decent braking, although they’re still mechanical so plan accordingly. The floors are wood on Model As, so no worries about rust or rot, and the other structural components were obviously restored with the rest of the car and remain in excellent condition. The exhaust system offers that traditional Model A soundtrack and with 3.78 gears in the banjo-style rear end, it feels light on its feet and ready to go. Handsome black painted wire wheels are the right choice and carry 4.75/5.00-19 blackwall tires that are appropriate to the car.
Beautifully finished, a delight to drive, and very reasonably priced, this is one of our favorite Model As. If you’re looking for a good one, it would be a mistake to overlook it and it proves that things of quality have no fear of time. This is Model A done right!
NOTE: This car has an assigned serial number but it still titled as a 1930 Ford. Model As were typically titled by engine number and engine replacements are common, which explains the assigned serial number (which is likely the original engine number).
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
