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#513763 - 05/31/08 11:54 PM Accesories for the Model A
Steve_Mack_CT Offline
Member

Registered: 12/15/06
Posts: 479
Loc: Connecticut
There are plenty of options out there to accesorize the Model A. I just saw a friend's deluxe roadster this past weekend, he took off the quail and stone guard, and the car looks pretty clean.

I have the following accessories on mine: Stone guard, Motometer, dual mirrors on doorposts, rearview with wind up clock, bakalite shift knob, dual tail lamps & canvas tire cover.

I considered but decided not to add WW tires, cowl lights & fog lights or a luggage rack. I may add the spare tire protector.

Do you prefer a "loaded" car or is less more? What accesories do you have?
_________________________
Steve Mackinnon
Nationals: AACA, MARC, MAFCA
Locals: CCRAACA, CMARC

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#513776 - 06/01/08 01:56 AM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: Steve_Mack_CT]
JFranklin Offline
Member

Registered: 01/13/06
Posts: 423
Loc: Oregon
I have the less is more attitude towards accessorizing a model A, When Henry made a lady out of lizzy he wasn't envisioning a hooker of the evening. I think safty items are worthwhile like the dual mirrors, but gaudy items that were rarely seen on a Ford, especially whitewall tires, make them look like toys. A lot of accessories were sold after the A was handed down to the youngsters of the family and they wanted to personalize their plain-jane cars. look at some of the rice rockets looking ridiculous in their teenage drivers notion of (pimp your ride). I think it is always up to the owner what he wants but I choose not to drive a gaudy Model A.


Attachments
model A.jpg (29 downloads)



Edited by JFranklin (06/01/08 01:57 AM)

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#513805 - 06/01/08 09:24 AM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: JFranklin]
ewing Offline
Member

Registered: 12/11/04
Posts: 546
Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I agree that 'less is more'
Were white wall tires available from the factory? The A's really look better with black wall tires ( to me).

And a question.... was it common to put wind wings on a cabriolet? and furthur, was it common to put rear view mirrors on the wind wings?

How about twin sidemounts. Were they only offered on the deluxe cars and if on the car, was it only on the driver side? and could you get a second side mount as a factory option?

Ok, one more question, with the one sidemount from factory, could you have a choice as to which side it would be on?
_________________________
John
38 McLaughlin 4 Dr Special, the Iron Man and star car in the Hessen Affair
47 Roadmaster Conv.
58 Pontiac Parisienne, Canadian version of the Bonneville
67 Coronet 500
72 Riviera
88 Olds Royale
98 Firebird Formula
02 Trans Am

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#513831 - 06/01/08 11:29 AM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: ewing]
JFranklin Offline
Member

Registered: 01/13/06
Posts: 423
Loc: Oregon
I would guess that things like windwings and motometers and maybe side mounted spares were most likely the more common accessorys found during model A production years. They had a practical pourpose. Eyebrows on the headlights, whitewall tires, fender guide lights & etc. were probably less common till the 1940's -50's when the daddy-o crowd took them over. most people bought their new Fords to get them from one place to another at reasonable cost and would have bought a Packard if they were after googahs and status.


Edited by JFranklin (06/01/08 11:31 AM)

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#513949 - 06/01/08 09:20 PM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: JFranklin]
JFranklin Offline
Member

Registered: 01/13/06
Posts: 423
Loc: Oregon
there is a post here about a standard roadster at auction it looks to have no options but looks like they would in the thirties

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#513957 - 06/01/08 09:42 PM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: JFranklin]
ewing Offline
Member

Registered: 12/11/04
Posts: 546
Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I have a picture of my dad with his first car, a 29 phaeton. It had small lights mounted on the front fenders at the 'top' of the fenders, directly above the front wheel/ axle location.
I have never seen another one with these lights and I wondered if they were an option, but I'm guessing they were added after. He bought the car in about 41 for $70, and sold it a couple of years later for $75, when he went off to navigate a bomber flying out of England.
_________________________
John
38 McLaughlin 4 Dr Special, the Iron Man and star car in the Hessen Affair
47 Roadmaster Conv.
58 Pontiac Parisienne, Canadian version of the Bonneville
67 Coronet 500
72 Riviera
88 Olds Royale
98 Firebird Formula
02 Trans Am

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#513972 - 06/01/08 10:28 PM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: ewing]
Steve_Mack_CT Offline
Member

Registered: 12/15/06
Posts: 479
Loc: Connecticut
JFranklin, thanks for posting - Nice Model A. I follow the Packard forum a bit and these guys have the same issue. Less is more on those cars also.

John, I would agree the small lights you describe were added at some point. As to sidemounts, these not so much accesories as factory equipment/optional on some models. I know for example, pick up trucks had them as a matter of necessity, not style. Ford designed these with the worker/driver in mind, single mount only. I would think windwings would be most useful on a roadster but the found there way on all other bodystyles as well. Ford dealers were encouraged to add to their profits by selling accesories. These are period, unlike the eyebrows, etc. that JFranklin describes. Sounds like you need to add a Model A to your list, sir! wink
_________________________
Steve Mackinnon
Nationals: AACA, MARC, MAFCA
Locals: CCRAACA, CMARC

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#513975 - 06/01/08 10:46 PM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: Steve_Mack_CT]
ewing Offline
Member

Registered: 12/11/04
Posts: 546
Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Here's a picture of dad's 29, taken back in about 42/43. You can see the fender lights on it.

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#513976 - 06/01/08 10:50 PM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: Steve_Mack_CT]
ewing Offline
Member

Registered: 12/11/04
Posts: 546
Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
here's a picture of the 30 cabriolet we 'restored' in the 60's

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#513986 - 06/02/08 12:07 AM Re: Accesories for the Model A [Re: ewing]
JFranklin Offline
Member

Registered: 01/13/06
Posts: 423
Loc: Oregon
The lights on the fenders were the English equivalent of the cowl lights on American cars. Nice photos all.

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