Curbside Classic: 1930 Ford Model A – True Classics And Their Unending Appeal

Who will take care of old vintage cars as time moves on? And who will value them? It’s a topic that appears on and off again in these pages. As time passes, will the cars that a certain generation lusted after remain desirable? Those Cougars, Chevelles and GTOs of the ’60s are worth beyond anyone’s imagination nowadays. But will they remain so in the years to come?

True, Duesenbergs remain million-dollar machines today. But is not like it’s a nameplate that rolls off the tongue from my Gen Z pals, much less millennials. And on that line, the names Pope Toledo or Pierce Arrow don’t come often in those circles either.

But as with many other human creations, some buck that trend and find devotees among newer generations long after. We’ve seen it time and time again; songs that resist the passing of time, books still read decades later. Buildings and cities that inspire awe centuries after. Ideas so appealing that seem to speak to some inner area of our souls.

So, could the Ford Model A be the Parthenon of the automotive world? A design to be known and remain relevant for ages to come?

After all, this almost 100-year-old design is so desirable that folks the world over go through the trouble of hunting, searching, and acquiring one.  As proof, here’s this recent addition to the city of San Salvador, just brought in from the US and now awaiting restoration.

It’s a find that goes against most American metal local collectors lust after. No Mustang, no Camaro, no Impala on this occasion. Instead, it’s one of Henry’s two evergreen classics. Back from a time when the man was still alive.

Classic-era cars are a true rarity in this city, as their numbers didn’t even break the thousand mark before the 1950s. It’s obscure automotive history in this region.

Still, a few standouts from that era do awaken desire among some in this city. This particular one belongs to a nouveau-rich restaurant owner who’s made a (greasy) killing with a trendy franchise of tasty burgers.

Needless to say, the car cuts an impossible-to-ignore shape against the fierce-looking Asian cars that populate this city. It’s unlike anything else around it. Tiny, and despite its classic lines, looking rather sprightly.

It’s a design where everything looks right; the essential classic-era car shape.

Now, if you prefer this Model A’s condition as is, I regret to inform you it won’t remain long as such. I briefly caught the car in front of the car shop where it will be refurbished, just as it had arrived from customs.

Not that I’m sure of what the car’s eventual fate will be, since the current owner restores some for driving, and some to display as props in his restaurants. Maybe it’ll depend on what the local mechanics can do with the Model A, who are otherwise trying to sort out the carburetion on an Opel GT project belonging to the same collection.

Clearly, the Model A’s background has been covered at CC, most notably by our Chief Editor. One of Henry Ford’s most notorious exploits, and as with most stories revolving with the man, stuffed with melodramatic turns worth an opera.

Who needs A/C with this nifty ventilation system? Though it probably won’t do that well in the tropical rains of this region.

Tired of those dashboards filled with distracting tech and flashy screens? Can I interest you in an old Model A?

Rumble seat! Neat! Ideal for old-style individuals not worried about minor issues like rollover protection.

Kidding aside, I would love to take a short ride sitting there.

I truly love the old-time craftsmanship of many of the car’s details.

Being a 94-year-old car, how to tell what accessories are original and which ones aren’t? What mods have been performed?

I mean, even the newest update on this one would be legally vintage now, right?

Clearly, against our modern and more posh transport, these old classics are there mostly to be seen and enjoyed as such. And if driven, only to do so for short stints. But isn’t that the true quality of a classic?

Newer stuff comes and goes, far better suited to our current needs. And yet, we reach back, bringing stuff from the past and putting up with their foibles and inadequacies. All that, just because they look and feel so right. 

 

Related CC reading:

Curbside Classic: 1929 Ford Model A – The Best Ford Ever – Maybe Even The Best Car Ever

COAL: 1929 Ford Model A Standard Coupe – Chapter 12, A Is For Awesome   by JP Cavanaugh