How many MPG with your A?

[CornDog05]

I tried to search but did not have any luck. I was wondering what kind of gas mileage everyone is getting out of a stock Model A with a full tank of fuel? Thanks!

-Justin

[goodoldvic]

you will get some different responses. 10-18 mpg seems to be the ball park. Before my tired engine was rebuilt I was getting 12-14. I've only got like 300 or so on the new engine so no data yet. Good luck

[jhowes]

Millage varies but a club in Fla. ran a test of sorts last year and my brother with a stock B engine and a volvo overdrive did no better than any of the others. He got around 18 on his town car. On the othger hand, I, with my 31 two-door that is worn out and stock will pull 20 on most trips. I have just rebuilt the engine and no data is available yet. Jack

[Kurt in NJ]

I know i get over 20 locally, don't keep written record, but always 100 miles or more for 5 gal, on a long trip that I kept track, got 23mpg on the trip averaged over 1500 miles, rarely under 50, not over 65 ---3:78 rear, stock head, "B" cam, zenith carb, full advance

the before engine only got 15, the valve seats were ground deep, the cam worn, as a bonus the top speed went from 52 to 67 with the cam and valve seats along with some rod weight matching, thermostat

[Marshall V. Daut]

There was an article in a 1960's "Restorer" that described a California MAFCA club's efforts to measure typical gas mileage for a Model A. The club used such a similar test conducted by the Ford Motor Company in the Model A days as a benchmark to judge how well the members had restored their engines. As I recall, the CHiPS loaned the club special equipment to use during the tests so that accuracy could be assured.
It's been a LONG time since I read that article (maybe 25 years?), but as I recall, the results were all over the map, as "goodoldvic" states likely today. Some Model A's got very good mileage, while others didn't. There are so many variables involved in a test like this that to make a final definitive judgment of average mileage attained by a Model A is an exercise in futility. It could only fall into a range with an error margin of four or five MPG, which would drive a statistician to tears. I do recall that the modern test from the 1960's didn't result in any Model A achieving the mythical 32+ MPG or anywhere close to what old timers bragged about. Low to mid-20's was the high, with a loosey-goosey average falling into the mid-teens. Predictably, the Ford tests from the Model A era showed much higher MPG, as the results were used in advertising and sales pitches to mileage-conscious potential customers. Who knows how those result were skewed back in the days before truth in advertising guidelines and laws were passed? The general opinion of the people taking part in the 1960's test was that they were not able to meet the 1930's test results for mileage and therefore questioned Ford's figures.
You might try a search of back issue articles in the "Restorer" to find this article. Will the results still be relevant today, though? I imagine that with the many performance enhancement parts available to us today that weren't commonly available in the 1960's for restorations during that era, our result today would be different from 50+ years ago. More efficient cylinder heads of many favors being produced today, electronic ignition systems, flow tested jets, and advanced engine rebuilding parts/techniques have all contributed to possibly increasing the Model A's gas mileage these days. Of course, all it takes is one poorly rebuilt carburetor to throw all the results off.
My gut feeling for a TYPICAL MPG expectation would be about 16-19 if all is up to snuff and basically stock. This would be at normal 35 MPH speeds, not interstate driving or idling down the street. I think if one's Model A mileage is in this range, he has nothing or complain or brag about. Anything above 20MPG would be terrific; anything below 16MPG calls for attention to the various components of the engine.
Marshall

[Rex_A_Lott]

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Its going to make a fair amount of difference just what fuel you put in it....Ethanol or not, Marvel Mystery Oil or not, winter or summer blend, etc. It wont burn any more than you put in it, just enjoy the car. If it makes you happy to keep up with all that, and have something to sit around and discuss, then more power to you. FWIW, if youre getting any less than 15, something needs attention, but thats just my opinion.. Good Luck!

[mshmodela]

I now run 100% gasoline which has more energy than 90% gasoline... Still I'd guess in the teens mpg wise and that's all city miles...

[JimK1930A]

Last weekend I drove a 75 mile round trip of various roads doing 30 to 50 mph. I only used 5 gallons of gas=15 MPG.
I also only use 91 octane non-oxygenated gas and a Tillotson carburetor.

[Gold Digger]

I've watched this real close for the past 4 years. If I keep the points set between .018 and .020 I get the best mileage which is between 19 and 21 mpg. I run a straight rear end and always buy no-ethanol fuel. I drive around 35 to 45 mph in mountainous conditions most of the time.

[Jeff/Illinois]

We'd get 20 MPG with the '29 Tudor running Sunoco regular, in the 70's. Driving 40 MPH average.

My Dad had a 1960 Dodge that he bought new, (why he bought that thing I'll never know, got rid of it soon after and went back to Fords) and struggled to get 12 MPG. Guys at the restaurant he frequented that had '59 and '60 cars of that same ilk bragged about getting 18 and 20 MPG. Pop took that thing into the local Mopar garage several times complaining about the gas mileage, they timed and fiddled and fooled with it, and it never got better. When he told the Service Mgr. about the gas mileage the others were getting, the Serv. Mgr. told him 'The difference is, YOU'RE telling the truth.'

I never forgot that lesson he told me And I was just a kid back then.

[Rex_A_Lott]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

We'd get 20 MPG with the '29 Tudor running Sunoco regular, in the 70's. Driving 40 MPH average.

My Dad had a 1960 Dodge that he bought new, (why he bought that thing I'll never know, got rid of it soon after and went back to Fords) and struggled to get 12 MPG. Guys at the restaurant he frequented that had '59 and '60 cars of that same ilk bragged about getting 18 and 20 MPG. Pop took that thing into the local Mopar garage several times complaining about the gas mileage, they timed and fiddled and fooled with it, and it never got better. When he told the Service Mgr. about the gas mileage the others were getting, the Serv. Mgr. told him 'The difference is, YOU'RE telling the truth.'

I never forgot that lesson he told me And I was just a kid back then.

That reminded me, of something Pop told me once, " You gotta watch these people, a man will lie about how much gas mileage and how much pussy he gets".

[Mitch//pa]

As long as it's running and driving perfectly, set up correctly, the plugs show the proper burn, I don't worry about numbers

[CornDog05]

Thank you for all the responses. Lots of great info! My '28 coupe is not road ready, as of yet, but I was just wondering for when I do start driving it. Judging on the responses, the cars get better mileage than I expected.

-Justin

[TerryH]

My 1930 Town Sedan gets much better mileage on a trip or tour on the freeway. A couple of long trips got around 22 mpg, with cruising at 55 mph, but with a Mitchell OD and 5.5 head. In town with lots of stop and go driving, it falls off to about 15 mpg.

[larryf]

Usually 18 to 19

[JOHN CT]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

As long as it's running and driving perfectly, set up correctly, the plugs show the proper burn, I don't worry about numbers

Exactly right I agree I don't keep track. I just enjoy the ride!

[CarlG]

I don't keep track, but my usual response to the question is "about 20"

[Slotblog]

On my 2,800 mile trip from McMinnville, OR, to Norcross, GA, October before last I logged a low of 15.1 and a high of 17.8. Totally stock 1930 Tudor with a decent, though 40+ year old engine. Have no idea if it has ever been rebuilt.

[1931 flamingo]

Don't really care. I enjoy a ride to a show/cruise. When it gets down to about a 1/4 tank I put another 10$ in and a couple of glugs of MMO.
Paul in CT

[CYB4]

My good old, but strong engine with 5.5 Snyders head (max speed 65 mph) takes about 15.5 mpg.