Model A Ford owners preserve early 20th-century driving experience

The Model A Ford continues to attract drivers nearly a century after its initial release.

Ford Motor Company produced approximately 5 million Model A vehicles between 1927 and 1931. Henry Nelson, secretary of the Old Dominion Model A Ford Club of Greater Richmond, noted that an advertisement in a December 1927 newspaper announced the arrival of the new model. The car served as the successor to the Model T.

Dennis Stone, president of the club, and Stew Wolfe, vice president, lead the group based in Glen Allen, Virginia. Stone stated that the vehicle offered bare bones driving. He explained that most cars lacked radios, air conditioning, or power brakes, making them the cheapest options on the market at the time. Wolfe added that the cars generate excitement among spectators, particularly when the drivers use the ahooga horn.

The Model A included specific mechanical upgrades over its predecessor. Nelson said the car came standard with an electric start system rather than a hand crank. It featured brakes on all four wheels and shock absorbers. The vehicle also included a dipstick for checking oil levels without requiring the driver to get under the car. Gauges inside the cabin allowed drivers to monitor speed.

Club members keep the engines running through regular gatherings. Stone described the social aspect of these events, mentioning a woman hanging out of a window to wave at the passing cars. The group aims to preserve the history of these vehicles while demonstrating their continued functionality.