1928 Ford A 'Hot Rod' Pick Up (RHD)
Result: PASSED IN
Specifications
Engine | V8, 351-cid |
---|---|
Gearbox | 3-speed automatic |
Body Work | Pick Up |
Colour | Red |
Interior | Grey |
Wheels | Cast Alloy |
Brakes | Discs/Drums |
Description
Introduced in late 1927 as a 1928 model, Ford’s Model A was a milestone car in the history of the Blue Oval, replacing the much-loved Tin Lizzie and, despite its much shorter production life, proved equally successful. Almost everything about the Model A was new, including the four-cylinder L-head engine of 200-cid with 40 horsepower on tap, more than doubling the output of its predecessor. The cumbersome and outmoded planetary gearchange was replaced with a simpler, easier to use three-speed sliding transmission, while the chassis featured a longer wheelbase, new front and rear axles and hydraulic shock absorbers for a vastly improved ride. Ford offered no less than eight different Model A bodies in 1928, including the phaeton, roadster, coupe, Tudor and Fordor sedans, all fitted with safety glass for the first time, plus a number of commercial variants, including a taxi, delivery van and pick-up, underlining the A’s versatility. The American public had been waiting almost two decades for a new model so it was hardly surprising the Model A proved a resounding sales success, with 633,594 built in the first calendar year of production. What is arguably even more remarkable, given the rapidly worsening economic conditions of the time, is the total production figure, with Ford building almost five million Model As in just three years. Like its Model T predecessor and the 1932-34 models that succeeded it, the Model A has long been a favourite of rodders over the years - with reproduction chassis and body parts now readily available around the world, these classic Fords have formed the basis of many of the world’s coolest hot rods.