Description

1930 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster

No Reserve

Over £15,000 spent on new parts alone; all mechanical aspects fully rebuilt - engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension, electrics etc; new weather gear; wonderful condition throughout

The Model T survived far longer than it should have done simply because Henry Ford thought all a car should do is get you from A to B: no frills, no thrills.

Not until 1926 did he finally succumb to pressure from his son, Edsel, to authorise a replacement model. Tooling up the huge factory for the new model dictated that no cars were produced for a whole year. However, when introduced to the public in December 1927, the resulting Model A was such a sensation that riot police had to be deployed outside Ford showrooms to control the crowds.

Taking Ford overnight from country cousin to country club, the Model A had a cachet lacking in the workhorse Model T and suddenly film stars and presidents were happy to pose next to one. Longer, lower-slung and better-suspended than its predecessor, it was powered by a Howard Hicks-designed 3,285cc, L-head four-cylinder engine developing 40hp (twice the Model T's output) and boasted coil ignition and an integral water pump.

Mated to a three-speed manual gearbox, it gave up to 30mpg and had a top speed of 65mph, necessitating the fitment of four-wheel drum brakes. When production finally ceased in 1931, over 4.3 million had been sold in no fewer than 22 different styles.

This stunning 1930 Deluxe Roadster was acquired by the previous owner from an auction in East Anglia in May 2011 for the sum of £17,325. As you might guess from the price paid, it was already in excellent cosmetic condition but over the next two years it was treated to a meticulous mechanical overhaul with bills on file for parts alone amounting to over £12,500 (excluding any labour).

The full extent of the work carried out is far too detailed to list in full here but is amply recorded in dozens of invoices on file. This included a full engine rebuild with new pistons and bearings etc, a new Zenith carburettor, plus a full gearbox rebuild and a new clutch. The brakes, suspension, steering and electrics have also been fully rebuilt (including an alernator conversion and hi-torque starter) with many new parts and a new set of top-quality canvas weather gear sourced and fitted. Rest assured, virtually every nut and bolt on this car has been either renewed or refurbished to an excellent standard.

Our vendor acquired the car in July 2013 to join a collection of Vintage machines and has improved it still further, invoices for another £2,000 showing a new heavy-duty radiator, new battery, new PowerLite starter motor and new flashing indicators operated via a switch under the dash. A maintenance manual and parts catalogue are also included, along with some handy tips on owning/driving and sundry useful spares. As you can see in the photos, the car is now in superb condition throughout and was driven some 30 miles to the sale, the vendor reporting that it cruises happily at 55mph and has excellent brakes.

The Model A is an incredibly rugged and powerful piece of kit which will go just about anywhere, keep up with most modern traffic and has an enviable spares back-up. As an affordable introduction to vintage motoring – whether on the highway or the trials hills – it has few equals. This is one of the best examples we have ever seen and is on offer here at no reserve so the best bid drives it home.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com