Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I noted in Mr. Edsel Ford II's remarks at Marquette that he says there are 250,000 Model A's on the road today, and another 750,000 awaiting restoration. With all due respect to Mr. Ford, can this be right? With about 15,000 members in the combined two national clubs, and figuring an average of 3 cars per member, we're only at 45,000 cars. That is a long way from a million. Does Mr. Ford know something I (or we in the hobby) don't know?

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

Why are you trying to correlate club membership with Model A ownership?

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

You can double count, one Model A gives up its body to a Hot Rod and the chassis gets a Depot Hack or Speedster body that makes two cars. Bob

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

It's the only reference I have to start with. Can you suggest a different one?

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I have four Model A's and not in any club....

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I don't know the answer, but sure enjoyed reading his speech! I wondered about that number too.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

No I can't.

At the same time, I wouldn't begin to think that club membership has anything to do with ownership.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

There are a lot of cars out there that have owners that do not belong or participate in clubs. I think I can come up with at least 10 unaffiliated cars I know of in a 10 mile range of my house. Heck, there is a local guy that has probably not driven any of his 10 cars he owns in 20+ years.

So I would not be surprised that you could come up with a lot of A's in various conditions. A million might be a stretch, but one can imagine a lot of cars around. They are constantly being found today.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I have a 1930 Coupe and not in any club. At one time many years ago I belonged to the local chapter of the AACA but haven't been a member in over 35 or so years so add one more.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I might add I have owned my 30 Coupe for over 54 years now

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I have 3 model A's and I know of about 20 more not driven and not members of clubs.
A million would be a stretch I think also. But I am suprised as to how many keep showing up!
Paul
Winthrop, WA.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I would have been tempted to raise my hand and say that a million of something is a significant market and how about stamping out some body parts for us LOL

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

On the other side, I belong to both MARC & MAFCA, and I only have one Model A. Subtract 5?

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I also see NO corrrelation between national club membershipa and Model A ownership.
I think the best way to establish a Model A owners list, at least, would be to draw a list of subscribers to the various Model A vendor catalogs, purified of duplicates.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

FWIW, following are some survival estimates from authorities in the hobby quoted in Peter Winnewisser's The Legendary Model A Ford: The Ultimate History of one of America's Great Automobiles (2005) - take your pick:

Les Henry (Henry's Fabulous Model "A" Ford; 1959) - 920,000

Murray Fahnestock (The Restorer; 1963) - 300,000

Roger Kaufman (Model "A" News; 1990) - 4% passenger and 1% commercial

Lyle Meek (former MAFCA officer; no quote date) - 250,000

George Tynan (former MAFCA officer; 2004 quote) - 500,000 to 600,000

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

IF somebody wanted to go through the work AND had access to DMV statistics in every state then it would be possible to count up all Registered Model A's. But there are non-running cars in barns all over the place also that we don't know about. I probably wouldn't count rusty hulks in the woods because they are more than likely to be used as parts cars than restored. More likely, but not always.
I guess I would have to say it is nearly impossible, but is it really significant to count a car that isn't running or won't be for maybe 10-20 years into the future?

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I know one old guy nearby that probably has 35 "driver" and/or "restorable" Model A's in the dry. (No, he will not sell any.) Most of the Model A guys that I know have three or more.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

I have 2 model a coupes and 1 model a truck and im not in any club.usually the people i know that like model a's they usually own several

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

Check out the Orange County Ca. Chapter's pancake breakfast next Spring. Usually 250-300 Model As. A large percentage never seen anywhere else.

Re: Are there still a million Model A's?
 

His numbers are as good as any.