for sale 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton *SOLD*

[Matt Harwood]

 

*SOLD*

 

Sometimes you just need a reminder about how things are supposed to be. The Model A has been a staple of the old car hobby since, well, pretty much when the hobby started. Lately it seems that the people who love these charming little cars are getting as old as the machines themselves and popularity is waning. I've watched it happen right in front of my eyes, as have many of you. So what I want you all to do is go out and drive a Model A and take someone with you who has never been in one. What I think you will both discover is that these are still some of the best cars you can buy, regardless of cost. Henry's Lady wasn't the fastest or most comfortable or most opulent, but you can't argue with the quality of the materials and the durable, do-anything, go-anywhere attitude that these little cars exhibit. They just want to play, which is a big part of their enduring appeal. And if we could get some young people to see just how fun they are to drive, well, maybe we'll start a revolution.

 

Which brings me to this pretty 1929 Model A phaeton. It comes to me from the daughter of the fellow who restored it about ten years ago, and she showed me some photos of his collection (shown below) and it was rather impressive to say the least. He restored each of the cars himself and they all won awards. He was clearly a purist, because you won't find any of the usual upgrades on any of his cars, least of all this beautiful phaeton. His family sold off most of the collection a few years ago but held on to this phaeton hoping that one of the kids would want it, but that's sadly not the case, so here it is. And it's just lovely.

 

First, it looks right. The green bodywork with black fenders and wheels is elegant and simple, just as it should be. The darker belt molding holds a cream-colored stripe, just enough to make it look dressed up but not over-done. Finish quality is exemplary, likely better than new, with a fabulous gloss to the paint, excellent panel alignment, and a lot of attention to detail. This was a guy who not only knew what he was doing, but took the time to get it right. There are some very, very minor signs of age and use, but I can't tell you what they are because none is obvious enough to stand out in my memory. All I can remember is how pretty it is. Our photo studio always has trouble with green cars, so it's a little more gray in photos than in real life, and I'm sure you'd recognize the color if you saw it in the flesh--it's right for a Model A. I'm pretty sure that the brightwork is chrome, not nickel, and that might offend the most pure of the purists, but it's low maintenance and most folks won't know the difference. I also believe the splash pans are from a '31, since they're 1-piece, but again, there aren't a lot of folks who would know that. And I'm not positive that the drum-style taillight was still being used in '29, but I'm not enough of an expert to be sure. Whatever, those are easy things to fix if you want to chase trophies and do nothing to diminish the quality of the car.

 

Inside, there's correct black leatherette upholstery that's as simple and durable as the car itself. There's some minor wear in the driver's seat, but otherwise it's unmarked. The rubber mats fore and aft are in excellent condition and the big hard rubber steering wheel feels substantial in your hands. The center-mounted instrument panel is a little scuffed, but the gauges all work properly, as does the pop-out ignition switch. Wind wings, a Boyce moto-meter out on the radiator, and an electric wiper motor are useful accessories that make touring more pleasurable. The convertible top is in excellent condition and we didn't put it down for the photo shoot since my young photographer was a little intimidated by it; besides, everyone has seen a Model A with the top down, right? Anyway, it's nice.

 

The car hadn't run for about a year when it came to us, so we flushed out the gas tank, installed all-new ignition components, including coil, condenser, points, and plugs, plus a new battery, and voila! it was running. And boy does it run! Knowing the guy who restored it, I'm disinclined to believe that it's modified, but this little guy sure wants to GO! There's a big whack of low-end torque and it zips along at 50 MPH without seeming to work very hard, leading me to believe that there are at least some high-speed gears out back. The engine block is wearing correct Ford Green enamel and it uses all the right parts, from the Zenith updraft carburetor to the two-blade fan to the original 6V generator. The only modification I can find on the entire car is the fuse on the starter, but that's just smart so no penalty there. Correct hose clamps, a leather wrap on the water pump, and proper cloth wiring make it look very authentic. The three-speed manual transmission will teach a new old car driver how to double clutch, and with light clutch action and easy shifting, they'll pick it up quickly. The brakes are effective for what they are, and again, they'll teach a rookie how to manage an old car with limited abilities. Nevertheless, it feels nimble on the road and have I mentioned how quick it feels? I love driving this car! I also love the black painted wire wheels and proper blackwall tires, which is how a Model A should look.

 

Look at the car, the collection from which it comes, and believe me when I tell you that this is a wonderful little A with no vices. It's also crazy affordable because there's no way you could duplicate a restoration of this caliber for just $24,900. So reignite your love of the small end of the hobby or get someone new involved, because this is a flat-out awesome place to start. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Edited May 26, 2017 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

The Model A market remains strong for good cars. This one SOLD for full asking price!