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.