Unfinished Project with an Awesome Engine: 1930 Ford Model A Coupe
Some of us start our projects by carefully planning everything out and making purchases as needed. Others start throwing money at a project without a clear plan and figure it will all work out in the end. This 1930 Ford Model A coupe for sale on Craigslist in Leighton, Pennsylvania is a four-wheel manifestation of a project that likely got out of control without a clear plan in mind. The ad lists thousands of dollars in rebuilding and purchasing parts for the drivetrain, steering, brakes, and suspension. However, the hot-rodded four-banger still wears its mechanical brakes and requires a paint job. Is this the kind of Model A project you would like to finish out your way? Is the $15,000 asking price a bargain given all the work and parts? Thanks to Mitchell G. for this Model A Ford find!
Before you just assume that this is another unfinished Model A project in primer, you should read the ad on this car. Instead of the usual five-word Craigslist cryptic but still incomplete sentence, this one mainly consists of the exhaustive list of expenditures on this project. It is, in short, a testament to how deep you can get into a project before you wake up one day and realize you have far more money invested than you will ever get out of the project. That is okay when you want to see the project through and enjoy the finished result. However, when you are sick of throwing money down your car-shaped hole and you aren’t finished, well…
Just to get started, the seller paid $9,500 for this 1930 Model A coupe. The original engine was rebuilt, complete with new pistons, rods, modern valves, a new cam, and a lightened flywheel. That cost a total of $5,802. The original transmission was rebuilt with new gears for $797, and the shift tower was rebuilt at a cost of $148. Out back, the banjo-type rear end was rebuilt for a very reasonable $290. Machining the axle housings added up to $779, and new axle shafts were close behind at $776.
The picture above of that rebuilt engine also shows many of the add-ons that the seller strapped to this four-banger. From a high compression head to an oil filter kit, and everything and anything in between, this Model A has been modified far more than anything that Henry Ford could dream up. The fuel system, cooling system, and electrical system have all been supplemented and/or beefed up. While many of these modifications make the car more desirable to someone who wants to drive their Model A, one cannot fault how well an original Model A engine completed its basic task of running reliably.
One interesting rebuild was the mechanical braking system. Hydraulic brakes are a relatively easy add-on for a Model A. Why the owner chose to retain and rebuild the mechanical brakes is a mystery. Another curiosity is that the engine rebuild was done on the original engine. Most folks who want a tough Model A engine start with a Model B block and work forward. The Model B engine was a product-improved Model A engine that had, among other improvements, a better oiling system, a higher compression head, and a new camshaft. Later engines in the series (called Model C by builders, but not by Ford) featured counterbalanced crankshafts.
The seller estimates that over $20,000 was spent beyond the original purchase price of the car. Add another $5,000 or so for a good paint job and maybe some more for interior work, and you start getting into real money. The good part of all of this is that someone can get a strong-running Model A for a lot less than it would take to replicate this car. Add to that the price increases that parts and labor have seen in the past few years. If you wanted to finish this car and maybe add a Mitchell overdrive, then I can’t imagine a better Model A for a coast-to-coast trip. If you can cut a deal, this may be a bargain in disguise.
Have you ever had a project get out of control? How would you finish out this Model A and what would you do with it once you finished? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
What a let down,I seen awesome engine I was expecting a SBC.
Luckily, the seller didn’t ruin this A.
At this point in the game, there’s enough brand new Model A stuff that it should be a crime to hot rod an original.
I was expecting at least an OHV conversion and juice brakes with maybe front discs.
SBC would not have been an awesome engine, just another Yawn powerplant.
Interest, and values on Model A Fords, and other common pre-war cars has been drifting downward for years. Most people find them quite primitive, underpowered, and not particularly comfortable. They don’t really drive well (stopping, turning, or accelerating) in todays traffic and they offer almost no occupant protection in collisions, at any speed.
While the work, and parts invested in this car so-far, appear to be of good quality, there is still a fair amount of effort and expenses ahead. I think the seller will be lucky to find a buyer, and will likely have to cut the price by at least 30% to make a deal.
I guess some people don’t appreciate a good thing, nice A but would be even better if it was a roadster or roadster pickup. Thanks for not making it a Chevrol”A”.
Well , I definitely think that this 1930 Ford Model A is – a pretty darn good deal after reading about the whole car through a very good article and pictures ! Although I’m not personally in the market for a 1930 Ford Model A , I would LOVE to have a project car ( in a late’70’s Cad or Lincoln) that gave me an AWESOME HEAD START ! These folks are reasonable. Really reasonable, and I think that anyone looking for a car like this – should really look closely at this one. Like I said, I’m not in the market for one like this but MAN, THIS is a project “type “ of progression that I would love to have ! Good luck to everyone! And a great article as well.
I think I’d remove the fenders and maybe drop a roadster body on it.
If I’d had modded it at all, it would have been a hydraulic brake conversion. However this seems to be a good start on a nice driver. Finish her up and just drive her! Too bad I’m ‘broke’ and lack a garage.
Aw, I too was confused by the banner headline. I expected to see that Lincoln V12 on a shortened Lincoln chassis, and a 1930 Model A body, made it look like a pup. I feel it was a waste of time and money to stick that kind of money and retain it as stock. Sadly, nobody wants a stock Model A anymore. The song will live in infamy, and if people in the future see a 1930 Ford coupe, wouldn’t it be grand to have that Lincoln motor, just like the song? Think Chevy 409, and such. It’s clearly a quality job( $4,387 misc.?) but as it is, like 30 years too late. Shame.
Your supposition that “nobody wants a stock Model A anymore” is incorrect.
I say this everytime a Model A comes up. I moved to a small Colorado town 6 years ago. We have a small car club that puts on a show every 4th, of which I try and attend. Small show, maybe 50 cars. Well, 1st couple years, there were several Model As, all driven by gray( or no) hairs, until 2 years ago, only ONE was there, so I went and talked to them. Nobody else was, and again, an older couple, she said that was their last show, and last summer, not ONE Model A. I appreciate your passion for these remarkable cars, but sadly, my friend, interest in them dies with every funeral, and I suspect what happened here.
Jeff… To answer your question, all my car projects would have been out of control if I hadn’t done all the work my myself except for the occasional cylinder head and block machining. As nice as this old car is my guess is the owner knew what he wanted and hired out a good portion of the labor. Do agree on the price but do like the car. Paint on the car and wheels would do wonders for it.
I learned a long time ago to be very wary of a car wearing what appears to be fresh primer – flat primer covers a multitude of sins . . . things that have to be dealt with eventually, whether the seller wants you to see them or not. A magnet will be your best friend when inspecting this one!
Doing all the mechanical work before paint and interior is the correct process,otherwise you risk have your new paint get scuffed up in another persons shop.
Upgrading the mechanicals to stock appearance is what a person would want if they intended to show the car in Model A Club,or Antique Auto Club Shows,where they are graded on the originality.
THIS very nice 1930 Model A is 2 years-older than ME! AND I also am in PERFECT condition. AND in love with my 1954 Bick Century. “if you were to rea d my latest book ‘HOW GODS GUIDANCE CAN AFFECT AN UNEXPECTED LIFE”…You learn how and possible why GOD has been so very good to me. tonio rocciano
Wow.
Having worked on and driven stock A’s, this one would be a driver and not a “Show” car. Considering how much was invested the asking price isn’t bad. I don’t have a place to park it but if I did, black fenders and a burgundy body would look good.
Now that I’m 81 and the government and a bad business deal took what little money I did have, IF I had 15 grand I’d run up to Pennsylvania with cash in hand in a heartbeat! Always wanted an A or a B and think this would be an OK deal. Put on that dark green paint job with black fenders and drive ‘er down Orange Avenue in Orlando one time to show it off!
John-boy Walton had a similar one. He just did a few chores to pay for his.
The kids all painted it yellow with brushes
I had a 1937 Chevy stocker, rode like a log wagon, had a 1930 Model A truck that I never drove, decided older cars needed newer drivetrains and suspensions. Had the chance to buy a 34 Ford pickup and jumped on it, without knowing it wasn’t stock.
I was pleased to find out it had a 4 cylinder 4 speed from a 1980 Toyota truck, to include the steering column, and the chassis, disc brakes and all. Now if it just had the cab space of a newer truck it would be tolerable.