1930 Ford Model A

1915 was a monumental year for the Ford Motor Company as they built its one-millionth Model T and half the vehicles in the world were Model T Fords. By 1923, the company was building a new Model T every fifty-nine seconds, and that year, nearly 2.3 million Model Ts were built and sold. Three years later, Chevrolet had closed the gap considerably and finally beat Ford in vehicle sales. Production of the Model T came to an end in 1927 after nearly 15 million examples had been built.

The Ford factory closed for nearly six months to retool for a new model. The new model was to be built at a Ford facility called The Rouge, which previously built parts for the Model Ts that were assembled at Highland Park. Early announcements for the car simply called it The New Ford but soon received the Model A name. It received this name because it was a radical departure from the Model T and Henry Ford felt the need to start the model alphabet over again (Ford had used the same name in 1904).

Ford introduced the Model A in October of 1927 as a 1928 model. The very first Ford Model A was sold on December 2, 1927. By February 4th of 1929, 1 million examples had been sold, and by July 24th, 2 million. It began with just two body styles but by 1930, Model A sales hit 3 million with 9 body styles available.

The Model A equipped with a larger, four-cylinder engine with a three-speed, sliding gear transmission which was completely different than the two-speed planetary transmission used on the Model T. The engine was loosely based on the Model Ts engine, but with an increased displacement size, a water pump, distributor ignition, and an updraft carburetor. It was a water-cooled L-head inline 4-cylinder unit with a 201 cubic-inch displacement and developed 40 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 65 mph. The Model A was the first Ford to use a conventional clutch, brake pedals, throttle, and gearshift. It had a visual fuel gauge and the fuel flowed to the carburetor by gravity. In cold climates, a special-order cast-iron shield could be placed over the exhaust manifold to provide heat to the carburetor and supply heat to the cabin, entering by a small window.

The chassis was designed by Henry while the body was designed by Edsel Ford. A variety of contemporary body designs were offered and catered to a plethora of needs and uses. Four standard colors were offered along with nickel-plated accessories. Prices ranged from $380 for the roadster to $590 for the four-door sedan. The top-of-the-line Town Car sold for $1,400.

The Model T had a transmission brake, while the Model A increased safety by switching to four-wheel, internally expanding brakes. It was also the first low-priced production vehicle to be equipped with shatterproof safety glass. A rear-view mirror was optional equipment.

The 1930 and 1931 models, known as Improved A's, came with stainless steel radiator cowling and headlamp housings.

Production of the Ford Model A lasted nearly four years. By 1931 over five-million Model As had been built and sold. Ford began retooling to build another revolutionary vehicle-the new V-8.

By 1931, Ford had passed the production of the 20 millionth Ford automobile, only 23 years since the first, hand-assembled Model T rolled out of Ford's shop and only about 17 years since the first moving assembly line began operation. Production of the Model A ceased in March 1932, after 4,858,644 cars were built in all body styles. Its successor was the Model B.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2020