Ford Model A Replacement for the Popular Model T 1927-1932

The Ford Model A replaced the very popular car in the Model T. The new car was more powerful, with a 70-horsepower four-cylinder engine capable of reaching a top speed of 62 miles per hour. It was produced from 1927 until 1932.

The Ford Model A was available for $500 dollars at inception to $1200 for a fancy, later version. In 1930, the three millionth Model A was produced, as the car leveraged the popularity of the earlier car. The factories that produced the car were in Germany and England, in order to avoid import duties. Do you think the Model A was a suitable replacement for the Model T?

Ford Model A Features

Prices for the Ford Model A were cheapest for the roadster and most expensive for the town car version. The car was produced in several versions and may be best described as versatile and multifaceted. The engine for the Model A was a water-cooled L-head inline four with a displacement of 201 cubic inches. This engine had forty horsepower. Top speed was around 65 miles per hour. Cars were getting faster. The Model A had a 103.5-inch wheelbase. It had a final drive ratio of 3.77:1. The transmission was a conventional unsynchronized three-speed sliding-gear manual with a single-speed reverse. The Model A had four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

The Model A car was an improvement in that it came in a wide variety of styles including standard and deluxe coupes, business coupe, sports coupe, standard and deluxe roadster coupes, convertible cabriolet, convertible sedan, standard and deluxe phaetons (standard and deluxe), standard and deluxe Tudor sedans, town car, five-window standard, three-window deluxe Fordors, Victoria, town sedan, station wagon, taxicab, truck, and commercial. A wide array to be sure.

The Model A was unique in that it had driver controls with conventional clutch and brake pedals, throttle, and gearshift. Before, the cars produced by the company used controls that had become uncommon to drivers of other makes. There were a few other features to note.

The Model A’s fuel tank was located in the cowl, between the firewall of the engine compartment and the dashboard. The car had a visual fuel gauge, and the fuel flowed to the carburetor by gravity. A rear-view mirror was optional. In cooler climates, owners could purchase an aftermarket cast-iron unit to place over the exhaust manifold to provide heat to the cab. It would be a good thing if cars today had this feature, though heated seats are nice.

Ford Model A Popularity

The Ford Model A was a replacement for the very successful Model T. That said, the once-dominant Model had its market share shrinking. Competitors, especially from more powerful and better-manufactured alternatives. Henry Ford was reluctant to replace the car he liked. He eventually relented, and the Model A was the result.

Interestingly, the Model A has appeared in popular culture. There were hobby models of it. The University of North Texas sedan and the Ramblin’ Reck of Georgia Tech were both Model A cars, so you can see them today. The West Side Lumber Company of California converted several Model As into railcars that could carry 12 people. The last actual Model A that was produced was in 1931.

Parting Shots

The Ford Model A was an interesting car. It followed up the wildly successful Model T, and was only produced for four years. It is worth noting that Henry Ford himself was initially reluctant to replace the car he loved, but market conditions forced him to reconsider. So, the Model A was more the result of market dynamics than customer needs. Maybe that is why the car was so short-lived in terms of span of production.