Incredible all-original survivor with just 35,000 miles. Serviced and maintained but never restored. New wheels and tires, rebuilt brakes for safety. Runs and drives well. A great Model A with the kind of patina that everyone loves!

If you need shiny perfection in your next hobby car, then take a pass on this Model A—it’s not for you. On the other hand, if you’re like us and love the authenticity that only time can provide, this is a wonderful time capsule of a car that proudly wears its nine decades of life as weathered paint, scruffy interior, and tarnished trim. This Model A has been maintained and loved all its life, but never disassembled or restored, and there’s something special about that. The black paint clinging to the body is original 1929 Henry Ford lacquer and while there’s surface rust on some of the bodywork, it’s just that: surface rust. The doors and hood fit well because the car has never been apart and the body has never been off the frame, and thanks to the low mileage and living indoors most of the time, the structure underneath is in great shape. Ford was still using nickel on the trim in 1929, so the headlights and grille shell show a soft shine that works rather well with the paint, showing us what this car probably looked like 20 years after it was built but was still in service. That’s just impossible to replicate.

The all-original interior has its share of wear and tear but again, if you like originality these are not necessarily issues. The threadbare upholstery on the driver’s seat doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable and the tudor sedans are probably the best choice for taller Model A fans. The original rubber mat on the floor is long gone and while replacements are available, would it look too new and perfect? Controls are the familiar oversized steering wheel with spark and throttle levers on the sides and the headlight control in the center. The instrument panel is tarnished, but all the gauges work correctly and the pop-out ignition switch remains in place. The back seat has fared better simply due to reduced traffic and the headliner is in very good condition overall.

The engine is the same familiar 201 cubic inch inline-4 that powers all Model As, and you can see that it has been properly maintained over the years. There’s a rebuilt carburetor, new fuel line, rebuilt distributor and fresh spark plugs, plus a new leakless water pump up front. In our video, the clamp that holds the exhaust pipe to the manifold had cracked so there’s a bit of an exhaust leak, but that has been repaired so it sounds like a Model A should. It always starts easily with a little choke and because of the relatively low mileage, it feels energetic and doesn’t have any notable demerits other than the usual minor leaks that all Model As enjoy. It doesn’t run hot, it doesn’t get fussy, it makes plenty of electricity, and thanks to a new wiring harness, everything works. We love the contrast of the meticulous mechanical maintenance and the patina of age, making this a Model A you can enjoy without worries.

Yes, it’s pretty grungy underneath, but there’s nothing serious amiss and the grunge is just decades’ worth of grease accumulating on the working parts. That’s not a bad thing. There are no rust issues in the floors (which are mostly wood anyway), and the working parts show more evidence of maintenance over the years. The exhaust system has the right Model A sound and the brakes have been recently serviced and stop the car effectively. Like all Model As, this one is happiest at 40-45 MPH and you won’t have any worries setting off on a tour with new wheels and 4.40/4.50-21 Firestone tires.

Original cars are suddenly red hot in the market and there’s a liberating feeling when driving and showing a car that doesn’t worry about fingerprints, rain, or other hazards. Add in the tangible sense of time that you experience every time you open the door or fire the engine and you have a Model A that is probably closer to what Henry Ford envisioned than all the over-restored, over-accessorized roadsters running around these days. It’s simple and honest in a way that a restored car just can’t be, and that’s why we like it so much. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.