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  #1  
Old 10-18-2014, 09:49 PM
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Drove a '29 Model A Roadster today

What a hoot. I snuck out of the dealership early and took up an invitation with a friend to play around with horses and old cars. My 18 month old loves ponies, but had never seen one in the flesh. During her first ride on a little pony named Sugar, one of the large horses had pushed the gate open and took off out of the driveway and down the road. We were alerted to it by all the other horses calling out to cheer him on, or alert us to what was happening.

Once we had him wrangled up, we got out the 29 model A roadster. It is a nice older restoration, had been sitting for months, but still fired by the second or third crank. Really easy and fun to drive. The leaf springs ride good on the dirt roads (as intended). I was expecting a rough ride but the very cushy seats and suspension made it comfortable.

Unlike the other pre-war cars I've owned/driven, you don't have to think much about planning your braking and turning. The car was light enough that steering and stopping wasn't much effort. I can see why they are so popular to collect. Just cheap, simple, good looking and fun. Reminded me of a W123 240D.

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  #2  
Old 10-19-2014, 08:22 AM
MS Fowler's Avatar
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Great ride. I envy you.
Did you hand crank it, or use the innovative electric start?
How long did it take you to get used to hand control of the spark advance?
Lots of people criticize the mechanical brakes, but, as you pointed out, the cars are light. How did you find them in use?
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Old 10-19-2014, 08:31 AM
JB3 JB3 is offline
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X2 to above, id also like to hear how difficult it was to get used to the unsynchronized 3 speed gearbox.
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Old 10-19-2014, 11:14 AM
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Electric Start. She worked the steering wheel controls for me on the cold start, but seemed pretty simple.

Brakes really didn't feel lacking. Unlike my old '41 Buick and '48 Chrysler which left me edgy in normal traffic. Also the Model A can turn on a dime, unlike those heavy old boats

Until you get to know the car, you have to double clutch the gear box. Just to the end of my drive I was getting familiar enough to know when and where without double clutching. Just 3 forward gears. First is bottom left, second is the tricky one.
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Old 10-19-2014, 01:12 PM
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Pretty sure I'd ride that car before that pony. I had one like that as a kid that was the meanest, grouchiest most bad tempered bite you when you're not looking horse I have ever had the displeasure of owning.
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  #6  
Old 10-19-2014, 04:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elchivito View Post
Pretty sure I'd ride that car before that pony. I had one like that as a kid that was the meanest, grouchiest most bad tempered bite you when you're not looking horse I have ever had the displeasure of owning.
I had a professor once who said that hell was simply full of horses. Apparently he had a horse from the coal mines who was blind and deaf and would kick at the drop of a hat. Random, but fond memory.

That must have been a blast Tyler, always wondered what actually driving something like that would be like, especially considering things like manual spark advance and stuff. For an older restoration the car looks to be in excellent condition.
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  #7  
Old 10-19-2014, 08:17 PM
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A model a would be fun to piddle around town in. Pretty cars.
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  #8  
Old 10-21-2014, 11:48 PM
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A lot of them stayed on the road for a long time. Plenty still available in the late forties and early fifties up here in Canada.
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  #9  
Old 10-22-2014, 04:23 AM
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Looks and sounds like the ideal solution to many a modern motoring dilemma.
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  #10  
Old 10-22-2014, 07:02 PM
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I have been for a ride in a Model A sedan, not a roadster. And one of the teachers in our district has a roadster that she has actually used as a daily driver from time to time. She lives only a few miles from her work and is able to take the surface streets.

- Peter.
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  #11  
Old 10-22-2014, 08:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pj67coll View Post
I have been for a ride in a Model A sedan, not a roadster. And one of the teachers in our district has a roadster that she has actually used as a daily driver from time to time. She lives only a few miles from her work and is able to take the surface streets.

- Peter.
Ideal use for an A.

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