On Dec. 2, 1927, the Model A Ford was introduced as the successor to the Model T. The price of a Model A roadster was $395.
In late November came the announcement that Americans had been waiting for: on December 2, 1927, the still-unnamed Ford automobile would be shown to the public, at locations revealed to each and every Ford dealer. Pricing was announced on December 1, the eve of the showing, and to the delight of potential buyers, the new Model A would be priced comparably to the Model T. On the day of the car’s reveal, Ford News claimed that 10,534,992 people came to see the Model A, a number that represented 10 percent of the U.S. population at the time.
The Model A allowed buyers elegant styling (described as a “downsized Lincoln” by some), four-wheel brakes, improved fuel economy, a laminated safety glass windshield, hydraulic shock absorbers, and a 200.5-cu.in. four-cylinder engine rated at 40 horsepower, enough to deliver a top speed of 65 MPH. Seven body types were offered at launch, including Sport Coupe, Coupe, Roadster, Phaeton, Tudor sedan, Fordor sedan, and truck, and buyers could choose from four colors (Niagara Blue, Arabian Sand, Dawn Gray and Gun Metal Blue).
Deposits from anxious customers poured in, and in the first two weeks the automaker had reportedly accumulated 400,000 sales orders from dealers (adding to the thousands of orders that had been placed prior to the car’s reveal). Though the Model A would only be produced from 1927 through early 1932, Ford sold over 4.3 million examples, and the car would help Ford transition from pioneer to modern automaker. The Model A would also go on to inspire generations of collectors, hot rodders and shade tree mechanics, helping to popularize the hobby that we’ve all come to know and love.
Today there are an estimated 280 plus Model A car club chapters around the world (most of them being in the United States) The photos I took here of the original Model A’s are from cars that belong to a local club called the “Acorn Model A Club” located in the San Francisco Bay area, California.
In addition to a loyal following of Model A car clubs, the Model A is also a popular car today to be turned into a “street rod”. Many of these street rods are modified but the charm of the Model A body style is kept intact. Prices of Model A’s today can run 100 times the cost of what they were brand new!
Doggedly Yours 