Description

1931 Ford Model A Roadster Deluxe

Fully restored in America; recent major service by Haynes Motor Museum workshop; runs beautifully; find a better one!

As Jeremy Clarkson memorably discovered, you can stick a modern motorist in a Ford Model T and they will be out of their depth within seconds. Put them in a Model A though, and they will be in the next county before you know it. Light years ahead of the T and a doddle to drive, the A caused such a sensation when it was launched in December 1927 that riot police had to be deployed outside Ford showrooms to control the crowds.

Longer, lower-slung and better-suspended than its predecessor, the Model A was powered by a Howard Hicks-designed 3,285cc, L-head four-cylinder engine developing 40hp (twice the Model T's output) with bags of torque and boasted coil ignition and an integral water pump. Mated to a three-speed manual gearbox, it gave up to 30mpg and had a top speed of 65mph, necessitating the fitment of four-wheel drum brakes. When production finally ceased in 1931, over 4.3 million had been sold in no fewer than 22 different body styles.

Dating from 1931, this Roadster Deluxe with dickie seat reputedly had one Indiana owner for over 50 years before being acquired by a collector/dealer who kept it for another 20 years. At some point in the not-too-distant past it has clearly been treated to an expert restoration and although there are no bills to show exactly what was done, the car speaks for itself. Finished in attractive Washington Blue with black fenders and tan leather upholstery, it looks as fresh today as it must have done when it first rolled out of the factory over 90 years ago. It really does look wonderful.

Our vendor acquired the car from a specialist in Indianapolis in February 2021 and had it shipped to the UK and registered here as OXS 594. In November 2021 he sent it to the Haynes Motor Museum workshops for a thorough stem-to-stern check-over with instructions to fix anything that wasn’t in A1 condition. This ultimately cost £4,296 and included a full service and grease-up, a recored radiator, new cast aluminium fan and assembly, new wheel studs, carburettor overhaul, new inlet manifold plus various other minor jobs.

We are told that the car drives as well as it looks and it has certainly been starting easily and running beautifully as we have moved it around on site, feeling very lively with a notably sweet engine and smooth gear change. It comes with a full set of weather gear (canvas hood and sidescreens) all in excellent condition.

Documentation includes a V5C, Indiana Certificate of Title, recent invoices, an owner’s handbook, detailed workshop manual, parts catalogue plus an informative 70-page ‘Beginner’s Guide to the Model A Ford’.

This is a really lovely old Ford and you would be hard pressed to find a better one. We are big fans of the Model A, an incredibly rugged and powerful bit of kit which will go just about anywhere, keep up with modern traffic and has an enviable spares back-up. As an affordable introduction to vintage motoring – whether on the highway or the trials hills – the A is virtually unmatched. 

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]