My first Model A had four lives.
 

I am going to eventually going to do 4 entries with pictures that I just found.

Late in 1964, at age 16, I purchased my first car, a 1929 Special Coupe. I took it apart in my parents driveway. I overhauled the motor in my Inglewood High School auto shop class. I gave it a valve job, tightened all the bearings, (unfortunately some of the main bearings ended up with no shims), resurfaced the head, put it all back together and it ran great.
Every summer our city had a 'Centinella Days' celebration and encouraged people to bring their antique cars. In one of the pictures you can see my 29 Coupe and behind it is my younger brother Barry's 31 black coupe.
I am posting a picture of a 1965 Ford Parts Obsolete ad. It was located in Los Angeles around 40 minutes from my parents house. On August 11, 1965 I drove my coupe to Ford Parts Obsolete to get some parts. I took Avalon Boulevard on the way home and did not realize it at the time, but came within 1 and 1/2 miles of where the Watts Riot was just beginning. I had no idea what was going on.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

I had the opportunity to purchase a Fordor sedan body. I sold the coupe body and my car became a Fordor Sedan. It still had the California license plate number NBY007, which I thought was very cool because of the James Bond movies.
I found a picture of me dressed up for another Centinella Days celebration, this time in my 29 Fordor.

Eventually the motor threw a rod. You can see that my brother and I removed the motor with a rope and a 2X4.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Later I had the opportunity to purchase a CCPU body.
Notice the same cool license plate number.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Finally I had the opportunity to purchase a Mail truck body. It actually had been installed on an Essex chassis, but the bodies were the same as those made for Ford. I removed the cowl and using a friends mail truck as an example, cut the wood and added a Model A cowl.
I am posting 3 pictures that the seller gave me.
I eventually sold the mail truck (too slow) and it went back east.

I thought I would share how my 29 coupe had 4 lives.
I've often wondered what ever happened to the mail truck.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Neil
What a great bunch of pictures ...and a great story!
Thanks for sharing

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Chief told me about a couple of Model A's that had more lives than a CAT! Some folks had their own "wrecking yards", behind their BARNS!
Bill W.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Nice story, good pictures...cool life

Three thumbs up

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Nice story how it was back then with A's.
My first A was from a junk yard in 1960 the funny part is it was a Special coupe also, but at the time I though some one had cut the back part of the top off.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Isn't looking at your old photos fun?? Got to get into the attic, old pics and my "little" books.
Paul in CT

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

I should have kept my pictures in the attic rather than the basement, where the humidity destroyed them. Did you ever see 1960's pictures in shades of blue?:eek::mad:

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Neil, Thanks for your Model A History. I have bought several parts from you and now I Know The Rest Of The Story. I also started my History with A's in the 60's with my Dad's Pink Model A Coupe. I also bought parts from Ford Parts Obsolete. Please keep up with your posts, you are alot to All.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Great story! Thanks for the post

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Which life do you wish you had back?

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Richard,
I wish I still had it as a my original coupe, with the 007 plates.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Boy, Centinela and Inglewood sure have changed since the 1960's. Went to see the Eagles at the Forum when they reopened it not too long ago, but did not drive my 31 coupe. Great pictures! I always like to see and remember what places were like years ago.

Re: My first Model A had four lives.
 

Thanks for sharing.