Very pretty restoration set up for touring. Beautiful cloth interior. Great-running four-cylinder engine. LED lighting, including turn signals, 6V alternator, and more. An attractive Model A with lots of upgrades, just right for driving!

We love Model As. There’s no other old car that’s so accessible and easy to drive, and it will teach you everything you need to know about owning and maintaining a pre-war car. Parts are plentiful and there’s fantastic club support to help you out of any jam. In short, this 1929 Model A tudor sedan just might be the ideal first hobby car. It’s hard to know for sure the colors on Model As, but as far as we can tell, this is Niagara Blue, which is a little bit of a turquoise in person. It’s quite attractive, and with the contrasting beltline trim and black fenders, it makes the humble Model A look rather well dressed. The restoration is fairly recent and was done to a very high standard, although the goal wasn’t a show car that would compete at the national level. Instead, it was intended to be a high quality tour car with a very authentic look, and in that regard it’s a big success. The doors swing closed with a solid sound, the hood latches without a fight, and the deep gloss on the paint is just right—it doesn’t look too modern like many fresh restorations. Details are correct, from the fluted headlight lenses to the patented A-OOOGA! horn to the single taillight out back. For safety on the road, it has been upgraded with LED lighting and turn signals, as well as a high-mounted third brake light in the rear window, which might just be the most important safety upgrade you can make to an old car. There’s also a rear-mounted trunk for some extra space on tour. This Model A looks like it should cost a lot more than it does, but that has always been the Model A’s special charm.

The spacious tudor is the car to own if you’re a taller driver—it features movable bucket seats up front and a good-sized back seat for passengers. Gray cloth upholstery looks right and with contrasting light gray piping, it looks upscale rather than pedestrian as you’d expect. Matching broadcloth door panels are neatly tailored and feature bright hardware that feels expensive. The big steering wheel makes it easy to handle the Model A at any speed, and the controls are easy to master—pedals are arranged in the traditional fashion, the 3-speed manual transmission shifts cleanly with a quick double-clutch, and you’ll quickly figure out the spark and throttle levers on the steering column. Of note, this car still carries an original “pop-out” ignition switch, which is getting to be a rare find, and a power point with USB ports has been added for your GPS and phone on tour. The rest of the gauges are simple, and I guess they should include the Moto-Meter out there on top of the radiator. Rubber floors in front were how these cars were originally built, but the back seat passengers get carpets and window shades—more upscale features that you wouldn’t expect in the entry-level Model A. Seat belts were added for touring safety and even the headliner is beautifully fitted. This was not an inexpensive interior job.

Ford’s reliable and familiar 201 cubic inch inline-4 has modest specs on paper but delivers energetic performance out on the road. It’s all about torque, and the long-stroke four delivers a punchy feeling in all three gears and happily cruises at 45 MPH all day. This one features the aforementioned 6-volt alternator and a few other upgrades under the hood, but there’s nothing that detracts from its authentic character. It still makes the familiar Model A sounds and delivers a no-nonsense experience that few other cars can match. Retard the spark slightly, pull the choke about half way, and hit the starter button on the floor, and the engine springs to life eagerly. Out on the road it keeps its cool thanks to a leakless water pump and that giant radiator up front. Clutch action is light and it shifts well, and we believe there are standard 3.78 gears out back, so 45-50 MPH is where it’s happiest. Brakes are mechanical, but don’t let that scare you—it has fresh cast iron drums that deliver solid braking performance. It also includes a stainless steel exhaust system that sounds just about right, as well as new splash aprons (they are the seamless 1931 versions that many people prefer) and fresh 4.40/4.50-21 Firestone blackwall tires that look exactly right.

Extras include a car cover and some minor spare parts.

If you’re a serious car guy, we think you should own a Model A at least once in your life. It teaches you everything you need to know about how a car works and better yet, they’re just wonderful to drive. There’s a reason why these cars have been the backbone of the old car hobby for nearly 80 years. They’re attractive, practical, affordable, and easy to own. Take a closer look, then give us a call!

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