Origin: Detroit, MI
Engine: 4-Cylinder
Transmission: 3-Speed Manual
Everyone has heard of Henry Ford’s assembly line and the Ford Model T. A little less well-known was its successor, the Model A, which started production in 1927. A previous model used the name from 1903-1904, but this Model A was known for its variety. It came in four colors and nine different body styles, from coupes to town cars to taxicabs. It was the first Ford to use the standard set of driver controls, and the first car to have safety glass in the windshield.
Henry Ford actually didn’t want to produce a new model, but Ford’s dominance in the automotive market was being challenged by General Motors and others. Features that were once considered luxuries were now considered essential. People were more interested in how their cars looked rather than things like durability and affordability. The Model T had simply fallen out of style. Grudgingly, Henry Ford allowed his team to develop a new generation of Fords.
The resulting Model A is a timeless classic. The Mean Green Machine at University of North Texas and the Ramblin’ Wreck at Georgia Tech instantly spring to mind. By 1932 when production ended, 4,858,644 Model As had been produced, and Ford had solidified yet another market success.