Saw something I'd like to try, and I hope all my facts here are correct.

[R J]

There was a 30 year old gentleman who worked for Hagerty Insurance up in Traverse City, MI.

He put his fancy go to meetin car up for a year and drove a 30 Model A Tudor for a year.   Car was 81 years old.    Took it to his hometown in Illinois, down around Chicago for a couple holiday's, and several other pleasure trips with his lady friend.

Drove it to Hershey, PA for the big ole gathering of a swap meet that is held annually.

Don't remember what some of his other out of town trips were, but it was mainly his everyday driver unless he flew somewhere for business and then he was allowed to rent a car unless someone rented Model A's.    He also drove it to a lot of local car shows and etc.

He had a daily blog and a lot of pictures of repairs.   He rebuilt the A motor once and then bought a factory rebuilt one with inserts instead of babbitt rods.    He drove the car right around 15,000 miles.      He bought some big skinny RADIAL tires from Coker Tire, and replaced them once in the years time.    He learned how to do on the road maintenance, like set the point gap.

He also keep it 6 volt and it never failed to start even after settin outside at the airport in below zero weather while he was gone.

Something he did note was when it snowed and he was at work, the windshield and the side windows never accumulated snow.   They are straight up and down and snow wouldn't build up.

He also put all safety glass in the car shortly after buying it in IL at the start of the time frame.    I think he gave $14,000 for the car, $1,400 for 5 radial tires, and some other incidentals after he got it home.

PS:   No snow tires for the 2 winters.    One snowfall was 12", his road wasn't plowed but he made it to work on time, without shoveling or running his snow blower.   He lived 14 miles from work, and some of those that lived in town never made it.  He had a long lane as a drive if I remember correctly.

Furgetted, here is 1 link:

http://www.365daysofa.com/

[HayHauler]

Way cool story RJ.  Thanks for sharing.  It prolly didnt have a heater either!

Hay
Jimmyt

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

You made me look RJ     Several nice ones on e-bay this one caught my eye .
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Model-1931-FORD-Model-/310351708096?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4842673fc0

[Kingbee]

OK, please forgive me for this, but I sold my Rune because I bought this Model A last week.  It's being delivered this week.  It's not the first A I've owned, but probably the last....

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0603/kingbee/Walts%201930%20Model%20A%20Roadster/?albumview=slideshow

[Daniel Meyer]

That is cool....

 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

OK, please forgive me for this, but I sold my Rune because I bought this Model A last week.  It's being delivered this week.  It's not the first A I've owned, but probably the last....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370550845036&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Nice    $44,900    You Can't Hide Money

[R J]

Way cool story RJ.  Thanks for sharing.  It prolly didnt have a heater either!

Hay
Jimmyt

Had a manifold heater.    Long trips it would keep the chill off of ya.

[R J]

You made me look RJ     Several nice ones on e-bay this one caught my eye .
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Model-1931-FORD-Model-/310351708096?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4842673fc0

NO rag top, want a coupe or 4 door if I would do it.

[Valkahuna]

OK, please forgive me for this, but I sold my Rune because I bought this Model A last week.  It's being delivered this week.  It's not the first A I've owned, but probably the last....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370550845036&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Hey Kingbee,

There is a big difference between a $14,000 Model A driver, and a $44,900 Trailer Queen. I don't think you'll be driving yours through 12 inches of snow any time soon.

I'm an old car nut as well, but quite frankly, when they get that expensive they are over restored IMHO, and then it's just a matter of how much money one is willing to part with. It sure is a beauty, but a new one never even looked that good!   

[Fatboyman05]

 
Thanks for sharing R J, very interesting....

[Fatboyman05]

I am 4 pages into that blog and I really want to start over at the beginning!!!!

[BonS]

The 365daysofA blog is a great read. PITA to find out how to read it from day 1 to 365 though. I love how dash lights were an option that didn't come with his A. Some of his fans wrote in some great stories such as a guy and his brother that needed to drive a very long distance so they mounted a second transmission inline BACKWARDS that was shifted from the back seat. This gave them a variable speed overdrive.

[BonS]

This is where to start from day 1.
http://www.365daysofa.com/page/75
You're starting on page 75 and you go backwards from there.

[Spirited-6]

OK, please forgive me for this, but I sold my Rune because I bought this Model A last week.  It's being delivered this week.  It's not the first A I've owned, but probably the last....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370550845036&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Walt, you gotta be proud of that "jewel". 

[BonS]

From Day 163: "at 6,000 miles you are half way to an engine rebuild if you were driving it back when they were new”.  I think with today’s oils and maintenance the Model A engines can go longer, but 12,000 miles was considered a lot back when these were new." 

The things we take for granted today!

[NCGhostrider]

Been reading the blogs.  I love it.  I mentioned something to my wife about driving the 53 m38a1 everyday...she wasn't real impressed even when I said I would install a heater and top!!!

I love old cars.  We take for granted the dependability of today, and though we grip about computers being installed in them, it sure makes for better fuel economy and longevity etc.   That being said, I could live without it. 

I still have an old 80 model Mercedes 300d sitting in the carport.  I quit driving it because I need to do some front end work and change out the rear axels.  There isn't any computer equipment on it, just vacuum, everywhere.  At 300k it still runs good and doesn't use oil. 

My dad and I have a model T hack (delivery truck). It is a chore to drive.  In fact, it is like driving a go cart.  It had sat for many years in storage when we got it.  I did some research and called a friend of mine in the carolinas who has restored them since he was a kid (built his first T racer at 17, he is close to 80 now). 

After a change of oil, getting the coils to buzz and some gas...she cranked right up!!  Then you had to learn the contortionists foot control to move it!!!  I now understand why and how people got run over when they cranked them up.   If the hand brake slips (which it is apt to do), it goes into gear automatically and away she goes!!! 

see ya..

Craig
NcGhostrider
99 I/S

[hubcapsc]

Old stuff's even cooler if you really use it. My buddy Dan likes old stuff... There's a really nice model A in
the garage you can barely see... it looks funny carrying Dan's mountain bike on a bike rack off to
be parked on the side of the road in the woods at the mountain bike riding place 



-Mike

[R J]

Update on my desire:


Well, put that thought down the drain.    God damn it no how.

I had a 7:30 appointment with my cardiologist this morning, told him what I'd like to do and he about had a massive heart attack.

He also said I didn't have the muscle mass to steer and turn it.    Told him I could build that back up in the gym.

His next comment was, you do it and you find another cardiologist, as I am not going to be responsible for your early death.   Said okay, got my clean go on the ticker, and another appointment in 9 months.

Then the worst part was listening to Red, bitch, holler and carry on all the way home.    I was almost ready to pull over, stop, and tell her to get her arse out and walk I was tired of hearing it.

My youngest daughter ripped me apart last night after trick or treating with her girls in the neighborhood.     Youngest son was all for it as long as I put an engine it that had been converted to inserts.     I’m not bothering to tell the older ones of my shenanigans, they will probably put me under armed guard with instructions; he tries it, shoot to kill.       I got a nice protective batch of kids.   I do have a 35 year old grandson who would love to do it with me if I asked him to.    His wife would kill both of us if we did it.

1 hour later.

Red came in and we talked for the last hour.

She said she would go along with it as long as the car never left the outskirts of Des Moines.   In other word, only town driving.     I'm giving that some thought.   That would be fun also.

Since I'm stuck on O2 she threw this requirement in.    That way I'd always be close to the O2 tank.      My biggest concern now is if I would be able to steer it with my poor old weak arms.

More later if it materializes.    At least it will be out of the kids inheritance.   This way I can enjoy the $$$$.   LOL   

[Jess Tolbirt]

i think i would be looking for another heart doctor if mine talked to me that way..
they work for you and should at least be polite and if you want to kill yourself doing someting you enjoy he should do all he can to keep you ticking..beats wilting away at home doing nothing..

[Daniel Meyer]

Can't see how lazing (LOL I know you don't) about the house is better for the heart than getting out and about and doing stuff.

You could add a oxygen generator (with a beefed up alternator/inverter on the ride to power it) to use instead of tanks...save the tanks for the "not driving" time...

Ya got my vote whatever you do or don't do. Just so long as ya post pics!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

It's better to burn out than fade away 

[R J]

i think i would be looking for another heart doctor if mine talked to me that way..
they work for you and should at least be polite and if you want to kill yourself doing someting you enjoy he should do all he can to keep you ticking..beats wilting away at home doing nothing..

This Dr is a bike rider, and I do mean a rider.   He RIDES to and from Sturgis every year while his coherts all trailer out.

If I want to do something he will usually go along with it, so I'd say his is doing this cause he knows somethign that we don't know.  I trust him, he was the one who saved me after the botched bypass job.

[Jess Tolbirt]

well RJ in that case maybe you better keep him,, sounds like he wants whats best for ya,,

[R J]

Found something real strange and we are just haggling over price now if he gets it titled.

It started life as a Ford Pinto.    Somewhere along the line it got rolled and pretty badly smashed up.

One of the brothers or sons, haven't figured this out yet, was measuring and playing around, and had a banker behind him, think it was an Uncle, anyway he decided to make a sleeper.

He removed the Pinto body and got it down to bare frame with just the running gear in it.

They also had a Model A Tudor setting in the shed, been there like 10 or 20 years, no one really knew.   The rear end had been toasted.

To make a long story short, he put the Model A body on the Pinto frame and got it all secured.    The state wouldn't title it, so it set for several years.

A friend of ours knew about it, so we went and looked, the guy has started it and drove it around the farm a lot of the time, fired it up, run nice, we snook out and drove it around a few miles.    He lives in the country on a acreage.    It had power steering, he used the Model A steering wheel, also had adapters made to put the A's little wheels on.    OH yes, it will definitely break them little suckers loose, and with out even trying.    I think it is a 2.0 liter 4 banger, with an automatic, no overdrive  trans.

My son and I know a few of the DOT people that inspect and pass or fail items like this.   We called him, he was just down the road having lunch from where the unit was.     He finished his lunch, came over, looked it over handed the guy some papers, told him to fill them out and call him when he was done.

He thought the car would pass and be licensed as a 'Reconstruction' and year would be 2011.

If he get it licensed,  just might part with some $$$$ in my moldy sock.  

God knows I need a new toy to play with.     Red has even agreed that I can have it.      She must be thinking about Christmas.   Maybe my present and she pay for it.    I can always wish.......