How do you use your Model A?
 

In the 1960’s my only car was a 1930 coupe. I drove it to and from high school, on dates, and later to and from college. When I first got married it was still just an old car that I drove as my main and only form of transportation.

Fast forward to 2026. In the back of my mind I still want to drive my current Fordor as my main means of transportation but I have given this some serious second thoughts. I have decided to save my Model A for special occasions and not drive it to the market for groceries or to the hardware store for supplies.

How do you feel about this? How do you use your Model A?

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Very early Sunday mornings with no one around to spoil the occasion before the mad house opens.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

There aren't enough special occasions so I use mine for lots of errands.

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I am like jb-ob ..... I go out early before the idiots and their teslas wake up ...... right now I am working on the house so my "A" is surrounded by lumber and tarps and paint cans.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Back in the 60s when I was a kid, my parents used the 28 for a 2nd car. About the only time it wasn't driven was in snow. Nowadays I hop in it to run errands and go to shows. I'd love to drive it more but I don't trust everyone around me on the road.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I don't go to shows, I'll drive it anywhere, like any other car...once I'm convinced it is safe to do so. The shackles are worn and possibly everything else in the front end too. I'm working on all that.

Once I have it as safe/sorted as it gets for OE...yah, I'll avoid peak traffic...but my goal is to be able to drive it wherever I want.

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I use my Model As as TV actors

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Occasional use on backroads. Typically during the daylight hours. Seems like I used to drive them more frequently, but the kids texting on their phones and not paying attention cause me to think twice.

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Depends where each of us lives. Tacoma/Seattle are dangerous nowadays. So many drivers display a sense of entitlement when on the road. I'm heading for Pendleton for the MAFCA meet. This will be my last long tour. Even giving up the local car cruise in's and shows. Goin for ice cream from now on.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I use my A to store my money, radial tires, synchronized transmission, overdrive, oil and gas ! Drive when ever where ever , Sunday mornings ? watch out for that honorary old woman that’s driving 10 mph under the limit and then you try passing her and you both are doing 15 mph over , finally got my rear bumper a head of her front bumper and slid in front of her , she then slow back down to 45 mph

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Drive my A when the modern car is being worked on at the dealership.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Back when I was still working (on Pt. Loma in San Diego, in the 2010s), I'd make it a point to drive my Model A once a month into work - pretty much a 20 mile scenic drive along the coast in San Diego; it took me an hour, but the experience (and reactions from people who saw me driving by) was well worth it.

Fast-forward to now-retired me. I use it mainly when doing short errands that aren't time-sensitive (e.g. trips to the local grocery or hardware store).
It's still fun to see the reactions from people who see me driving by, or striking up conversations with the curious folks who stop by when they see it in the parking lot and are bold enough to start asking about it.


I try to avoid driving it on weekends, or during busy times: ever since COVID, there are lots of people who seem to have lost their minds on the road - it's a lot more dangerous out there now.

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I take ours out on our monthly club meets as a group. Then on an occasional car show if it's fairly close.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

i use mine for senior's visits.
during the summer, on Tuesdays and Thursdays the club puts on a mini car show at senior's residences (10-12 cars max), most of those folks don't get out much, gives them a change to see and chat about the cars. at the beginning of the year those places will arrange with the club a date. the club does over 30 senior's visits per summer.
i will do the ones that are easy access or close to me as I'm like you folks i don't want to fight the traffic trying to get to the other side of town.
no car shows for me either, not my thing.
i am a builder, tinkerer, fixer volunteer on other cars.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I would like to share some perspective. I'm a musician too, and years ago bought a very expensive "dream" guitar which was incredible to play. Because it was so "special" I had a tendency to keep it in its case under the bed. Finally, after much angst, I decided to sell it as it didn't get used much. As I was driving away from the new owner's house, I realized what regret I had! Luckily, I was able to find another and purchase that and it gets played all the time.
My Model A is similar, I didn't buy it to stick it in a garage and have it only be taken out to go to shows. The fun of owning a Model A is driving it, no matter how long or short a distance! I think of the people taking these cars over rutted dirt roads out in the country in the 30's, 40's 50's and so on. These cars were built to be driven so in my opinion a trip to the hardware store on Saturday morning or a hop to the grocery store or to get an ice cream is the perfect opportunity to drive my Model A.
Last thing I want is when I'm dead and gone for someone to open up the garage and find my Model A hardly ever driven. As they say, life is about the journey....so drive em!

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Your driving time in your A depends a lot on where you live. In the SF Bay Area, we can drive our cars year-round and we do. Once a month we have a club tour to somewhere.
Lots of civilian traffic out there, so we drive defensively. Wife loves beeping the horn and waving to people along the way. It's still enjoyable and fun!

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I don’t take mine out as often as I should mostly cause I’m working full-time. Still, I do love seeing it every time I step out for a beer from the garage refrigerator.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

While I was still working, I drove mine to work every day. Now that I'm retired, I drive it occasionally, to club meetings, and on the several tours with our club in the summer. Plans for this summer include a couple of trips raging from 500 to 1,000 miles over several days.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

THIS THIS THIS!
i bought my car because i want to drive it as much as possible.
i was advised, however, to not make it into a daily driver. still want it daily quality though.
i put some safety features on it, and when i get everything all buttoned up, i plan on driving it at least once a week if the weather is nice.
i'll be bringing it to war reenactments, tours, and idk where ever i see antique cars frequently going.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

It’s great for bales of hay,and I especially like getting bags of cement— 6-8 bags no problem and just pull up to the mixing pan and pull it out some and cut the top off — no lifting

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I drive it.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I drive my 28 roadster as much as I can. Our daughter is 12 and loves it, so we always try to run errands in it. Two nights ago my wife, daughter, and myself took it to the garden store. Loaded up the rumble seat with two big bags of soil, some tomato cages, and some other random gardening stuff.

Funny thing is I flooded it trying to start it to leave so we pushed it out of the stall and down the parking lot to bump start it….with my daughter laughing and loving it the whole time.

Last winter our daughter and I ran to the store in it to get milk in -20C and snow. Dressed for the weather and had a blast. Even did a couple donuts.

Making memories, that’s what I say.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I LOVE driving my Model A! I use mine as much as I can. In 2023 I rebuilt the motor and trans and once I was sure the car was completely sorted I have taken it on longer drives. I have many 40 to 115 mile runs and the best part is seeing everyone’s reaction. Pulling into a gas station is normally a 20 minute event with lots of smiles and questions. I will use it for grocery or hardware store runs when the traffic is not so crazy. The car was built to be driven and I drive mine.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

My 1931 Coupe, which I have driven 50,000 Miles, is out of service and needs some engine work. However, I drive my Victoria on club events and once in while I take it for a local joy ride.
Once a year, my wife & I drive the Victoria out-of-state to the New England Model A Ford Meet. These meets are usually in Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, Upstate & Long Island of New York & New Hampshire. I do not take my Model "A" to car shows that have an entrance fee to show my car. I will be driving my Victoria from Long Island to the Finger Lakes Region on the MARC Tour.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I am into my 80s and my "Bucket List" is to be driving one of my Model A's until I reach 100 years old. Looking ahead, I foresee the time it will be too difficult to work the clutch, so a conversion to an automatic transmission is in my thinking.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Since mine is an open cab pickup anytime the weather is nice I tend to drive it I drove it more in southern California since I moved to Missouri there is about a 2 1⁄2 month winter time. Where it's too cold to drive it But I tend to drive it up to 30 miles locally often.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Hello, Istill some parts of old route 20 here in north western Pennsylvania that aren’t too busy, and a number of car shows around in summer. Do have to agree with lack of driving skills of modern drivers.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

IMO, these cars were made to be driven so I do. I have spoken often of the outback trips we do. Just last night we returned from a 1,000 miles rally. In October, we will be driving a 8,500 miles round trip to the National Model A rally and next year, 2,500 miles to a rally in Queensland and return. My Ute is used for carrying what ever I can't fit in the modern car - any time, any where.
That said, I have made them as safe as I can (lights, brakes etc) As has been said, the journey is a destination all of its own.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Arnold, Good luck on your adventure. If I lived next door to you I would be joining you. Please post photos. Maybe ask Glenda to post them for you.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

👍👍👍

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Are there any hills involved in these epic adventurous ? :D

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Double check with your insurance carrier as not all insurers will cover you for random driving during the week. One carrier in particular is strict.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

You bet there are. That's what gears are made for.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

I am very much in the "own it to drive it" camp - whether that involves a quick run to the local ice cream shop or a multi-day tour to another part of New England...and anything in between. I don't find that drivers around central Massachusetts have gotten nuttier in recent years...most folks are willing to respect a vintage machine and offer some extra slack in return from an Ahooga or two!

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

which insurance carrier is that?

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

It isn't so much the carrier as it is the policy. Regardless of the insurance company, policy will dictate what is and is not covered use. There are exceptions, I will use for this example- Hagerty.

Like some other collector car specialty carriers, Hagerty is a company that specializes in ONLY collector type cars, and does not insure the "daily driver" cars. They are picky and it is written into their policies how the car can be stored and used. Hagerty does allow what they call "pleasure use" driving. Example- Their policies state that you are not covered if you use the car to commute to work, but you are covered if you use it to attend a Model A club meeting. You are covered while driving the car on a club tour or even an overnight tour. You are even covered driving your collector car cross-country to attend the MAFCA national convention! But if you used the collector car to commute to work and it were damaged in the parking lot, they may deny coverage.

My daily-driver cars are insured through Farmers (had USAA prior to that) and although they will gladly also insure the Model As, doing so through Farmers would cost nearly 4x as much, and the coverage is not "guaranteed value" like it is through the specialty carriers. Thankfully, my insurance agent is authorized to represent both companies, so it is still basically "one stop shopping" in my case.

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

everywhere and anywhere around town if the weather is decent. Its the go to all summer long. groceries, going to the beach, ice cream, etc .Just remember, everything is going to take longer! People have many questions, and as ambassadors for the model a community, its up to us to keep it going!!

Re: How do you use your Model A?
 

Lots of great responses on this thread. My father drove a 30 sedan as a daily in the 60's-70's. I went everywhere as a kid in that car. I still drive the sedan as much as I can today but not often enough. My 5 day work week moves fast but I really enjoy a evening ride to decompress from the day. My 2 cents..... Drive them while you can and don't let them sit in the garage to collect dust.