Vehicle Description
Desirable early production 'leatherback' sedan. Many early 1928
features including drum taillight and red steering wheel.
High-quality restoration in 2005, less than 1000 miles since.
Attractive colors, beautiful interior, drives very well.The
'leatherback' sedan was the first 4-door built by Ford when the
Model A was introduced. It gets its nickname from the padded roof
and blind quarters, giving it a very distinctive look. It was
intended to be luxurious and comfortable, an upscale model to help
grow Ford's market share. This particular 1928 Model A is finished
in a beautiful color combination of Rose Beige and Seal Brown,
which were the catalog colors. The restoration was extremely well
done, finished sometime around 2005, with great attention to detail
that makes it show beautifully. The doors fit correctly and snap
shut with ease, the hood latches down so that the belt moldings are
correctly aligned, and the orange pinstripe adds an upscale look.
Black fenders were standard equipment, of course, and the
pebble-grain artificial leather covering on the top is correct. All
the brightwork was refinished in chrome instead of nickel for ease
of maintenance, and you can't argue with the result because it
still looks great 15 years later. A single drum taillight is
another indicator of an early 1928 production date and the
rear-mounted spare wears a Ford script cover. This is a very pretty
Model A.Expensive-looking materials and expert tailoring make the
interior feel luxurious all out of proportion to the Model A's
reasonable price. Correct Bedford cord upholstery is trimmed in tan
whipcord with map pockets and right hardware on each of the doors.
The controls are standard Model A and easy to master, and as a
closed car, this sedan offers full carpets fore and aft that help
control noise and heat. The red rubber steering wheel is another
early production feature, along with the trigger-style handbrake
lever, while the windshield tilts open for added ventilation. In
back, seating is comfortable with seat belts added for safety, and
there's a silk shade on the rear window just like on the more
expensive cars. The wool headliner is as beautifully trimmed as the
rest of the interior, giving it a very upscale feel from inside.
Power comes from the rugged and reliable 201 cubic inch inline-4
that powers all Model A Fords. It's torquey and eager, and this one
was apparently balanced when it was rebuilt because it's the
smoothest Model A we've ever driven. It starts easily with a bit of
choke during cranking, then settles into a comfortable idle without
much drama. It still uses a correct Zenith carburetor and stock
ignition system, which probably explain why it's so easy-going.
Ford Green paint on the block looks proper with only a few minor
signs of use and age, and the wiring harness was replaced when the
car was restored. The only notable alteration are the bright red
battery cables and in-cabin cut-off switch, which is only a good
idea. The undercarriage is nicely restored and completely stock,
with satin black floors showing no signs of rust or other issues
(they're also partially wood so obviously they were replaced). A
correct exhaust system duplicates the original Model A soundtrack
and the mechanical brakes are properly adjusted so they're plenty
powerful for the car's modest performance. Black painted wire
wheels look great against the Rose Beige paint and carry older
whitewall tires that date to the restoration, so replacements might
be a good decision if you're going to use the car for extensive
touring. Model As remain a cornerstone of the hobby and their
popularity is as strong as ever. This unusual sedan offers a great
combination of quality, beauty, and comfort, all at a very
reasonable price-isn't that the ideal Model A formula? If that
appeals to you, give us a call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
