1929 Ford Model A

After producing 15 million Model Ts, Henry Ford shut down his River Rouge complex on May 26th of 1927 to retool for the long-awaited replacement. Over six months would pass before a new Ford appeared. Mr. Ford had been reluctant to stop producing the Model T. Instead, he had been forced to do so to remain competitive with the Chevrolet. Thus, the new Model A arrived for the 1928 model year and was first introduced to the public on December 2nd of 1927. When they arrived in showrooms, Americans crowded around to see the re-engineered Ford.

It is rumored that nearly 10 percent of the American public went to view the new car. Its engine was rated at 40 horsepower, double that of the Model T. The Model Ts eccentric planetary-gear transmission had been replaced with a more conventional three-speed manual unit with a simplified 'H' shift pattern. Safety glass was used for all the windows, and welded steel wire wheels were located at all four corners. There were welded steel wire wheels, Houdaille-type double-acting shock absorbers, four-wheel mechanical brakes, and a six-volt electrical, charging, and starting system. The passenger-car lineup wore Lincoln-inspired styling, while the pickup-truck lineup would continue on with Model T runabout pickup bodies on Model A chassis until 1930. From 1928, the Model A was available from the factory in pickup truck form, initially as an open-cab model. A closed-cab model with all-steel cab construction and roll-up side windows became available in August of 1928. Both closed- and open-cab Model A pickups were initially offered with a choice of Moss Green and black body colors, with black used for the fenders, running boards, wheels, headlight housings, and the radiator-grille surrounds.

Another departure from the Model T concept was multiple color choices. The original Model A design continued, with running improvements, into 1929. The new Model A was comprised of 6,800 parts compared to its predecessor, which was made up of 5,000 parts. Initially, the Model A was available in nine body types as before with the Model T, and had a starting price of just $460. The first Fordor Sedan offered on the Ford Model A chassis was the 'Leatherback' model, with a 'two-window' roofline without rear quarter windows, covered in pebble-grain artificial leather. Ford called it the Fordor Sedan, and was designed as a more comfortable version of the Model A. The bodies of this style were produced by Briggs, in a leased corner of the Highland Park Ford plant, and became available in mid-May 1928. The design continued into 1929, after which a 'three-window' design was adopted for future Model A Fordors.

A 'Woodie' or Station Wagon body style (one of Ford's many 'firsts') came in 1929. This multi-purpose vehicle could accommodate up to eight passengers and their baggage on the fold-down rear deck, or r alternatively the individual pair of second-row seats and the rear bench could be folded forward and lifted out, leaving a substantially flat deck area. The color selection was limited to a single color, 'Manila Brown,' while fenders, wheels, and most trim pieces were painted black.

The Ford Motor Company was offered a contract in 1929 to produce vehicles for the United States Postal Service. Approximately 300 Postal Service vehicles were produced by Ford during 1929 and 1930. The Model A delivery truck bodies were specially designed by the Postal Service and constructed in Ford's bodybuilding shops. They were constructed of wood and rested on a standard 103-inch wheelbase Model A Commercial chassis, with the standard steel fenders and cowling. The L-head engine displacing 200.3 cubic inches offered 40 horsepower and was mated to a three-speed manual transmission.

Ford began offering commercial bodies in 1929, built atop their Model A chassis. These 'light duty' commercial body styles were supplied by two of Detroit's very own coachbuilding firms, the Murray Body Corp. and Briggs Manufacturing Corp, who were already involved with supplying bodies to the Ford Model AA truck.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2019