All Original Is Unsafe

[Russ B]

My four cylinder A ‘29 cabriolet has those upgrades and more, and is well maintained. I agree with Bob. In 2017, I took a solo 500 mile freeway drive with the cabriolet. I felt comfortable except for one incident about a hundred miles from home. My brakes were inadequate in modern traffic when a single driver jumped in front of me and quickly applied his brakes because there was too little room for him. I was barely able to avoid a collision, but sufficiently scared.

Driving our Model A’s in normal traffic during the 1960s was safe because driving conditions and cars were quite different than they are today. It was pre interstate freeways, pre radial tires, pre disc brakes, and pre antilock brakes. Newer car drivers are not used to driving with older cars on the road. Those drivers make our driving among them unsafe.

[bigmegina]

i drive mine almost every day, to coffee shops,gasateria,grocey store,all original.the speed limit in my town is 35 and nelly loves 35mph.i am not afraid because i am a biker for 56 years and nothing scares me on the road.

[Wick]

Where I live the speed limits are mostly 45-35 But those speeds are just suggestions. Most here want to ride your bumper and pull out in front of you, they don't respect the old Fords....but if it's a truck, you get respect.
I have added turn signals and better lights, Brakes, the truck I just did will lock up all four wheels, steering if perfect. I adjust the brakes so the Fronts work first like a modern car, we are not on gravel roads anymore. I have found over the years this really helps in stopping a model A.
I've added turn signals to my 40 Ford also.
Wiring harness....I hate patched up old rats nest wiring, shorts,bad grounds and fires Will happen.
Always carry a Fire extinguisher, Jack, spare tire and have AAA

[rackops]

Got to agree on the seat belts and AAA as posted earlier. I wouldn't drive my car without seatbelts (no matter if they aren't the best protection) and, while it's kind of embarrassing to get a tow home...sometimes it's inevitable.

[shiver]

Seatbelts are only as good as the anchor they are attached to.

No matter what modifications are performed the car is dangerous to occupants in a crash, from a fuel tank in your lap to a ridgid steering column to doors that pop open on impact.. no to mention folks in a rumble seat if you have one. Driving an A is like riding a motorcycle.. tons of fun as long as you don’t crash.

[JoeCB]

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Enjoyed following this thread, and got a few chuckles along the way.
Safety is not an absolute... it's all relative. With your "A" its relative to your driving environment (too many BMW's ...bad!), miles driven, your age and ability, condition of the car etc. It's not safe to get out of bed or the bathtub... nothing and nowhere is 100% safe... risk is relative.
Enjoy your Model A
Joe B

[David in San Antonio]

Some days people seem to be less alert. I’ve taken to driving with the four-way hazard flashers going. That seems to make a difference.

[Gene F]

Some interesting comments on this topic.

[bigmegina]

Originally Posted by shiver

Seatbelts are only as good as the anchor they are attached to.

No matter what modifications are performed the car is dangerous to occupants in a crash, from a fuel tank in your lap to a ridgid steering column to doors that pop open on impact.. no to mention folks in a rumble seat if you have one. Driving an A is like riding a motorcycle.. tons of fun as long as you don’t crash.

well put

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by ronn

AN interesting fact is where Bob lives and where you live Brent. I agree to keep the cars mostly original, but if you havent driven in LI traffic, you havent driven..............


I know Ten U Cee is building up, but still mild compared to LI. I used to drive up there and will never go back. Life is too short.

Yeah, to a certain extent I would agree that location means alot but much of my driving is done outside of 10-uh-C too. This past weekend we drove brass-era cars thru Dearborn traffic up to Lansing by way of Ann Arbor -and even a place called Hell, Michigan!! In the past I have driven in urban areas of Florida, Ohio, Georgia, N Carolina, etc. where traffic could have been a danger to me and my vehicle if I chose to drive on those roads. Instead I found nearby alternate roads that were safer for me and surrounding motorists. Again, I try to be prudent and try not to throw caution to the wind and put myself in what I would call precarious situations.

Therefore much of this topic simply boils down where I am generally not going to drive any of my antique vehicles in places like the Beltway around DC, -or expressways in major metropolitan areas such as Houston, Chicago, LI or LA ...however just because someone who chooses to do so should not mean that I must succumb to their opinion about modifying my car to satisfy that someone's idea of what is safe -or not. If anyone needs inspiration of being able to drive in busy traffic, that would have been Marco in his Roadster. Marco had no difficulty driving his Roadster with the flow of traffic.
As I stated above, most hobbyists drive Model-As with worn mechanicals and because of their lack of effort to properly maintain it, they try to convince others that original Model-As are unsafe by nature and must be modified to become reliable or capable of participating on a tour.

[German guy]

I would add seat belts to that list. The fact is that ANY seat belt would be better than no seat belt. At the speed at which it is "safe" to drive (nothing above 50 mph) any model A "crash loading" is not critical. Anyone out there bragging about driving a car with inner tunes in very narrow tires that are highly susceptible to truck groves and other dangers at 65 mph has limited credibility with regard to 'safety'.

[rackops]

Originally Posted by David in San Antonio

Some days people seem to be less alert. I’ve taken to driving with the four-way hazard flashers going. That seems to make a difference.

If I'm driving on a highway or causeway, I always turn my flashers on. This is a great point. I prefer to stay off of larger roads, but living in an area near the water and surrounded by swampland, driving on major arteries (not freeways, but 50 mph two and four lane highways) is unavoidable for short jumps to get from one point to another.

[dan]

I had a (mostly) all-original coupe that I drove to work three days a week, 17-mile round trip, in California Bay Area traffic. Admittedly on surface streets and "expressways" not actual highways. Sure, some days it was "interesting" but I never worried too much. It's no different than riding a motorcycle--drive defensively, politely, and never assume.



There's nothing you can do to a Model A that's going to make it "safe" if it gets T-boned by a modern car going 40mph. Nor are you going to be able to out-stop a modern car sports car that cuts you off and slams on its ABS. No amount of new lighting is going to prevent someone who's texting and driving from rear-ending you.



Every owner will need to make their own assessment of the risks they're willing to take. Personally, I'm so used to seat belts now that it's uncomfortable not to wear one... twelve-year-old me would never believe that day would come. And I can't recall the last time I saw a car with non-safety glass-though I suppose they're out there.



My advice: maintain your car and drive the heck out of it.

[ronn]

Well said Brent. great thread.............

[German guy]

I think that it largely depends on where you drive the car. I am surrounded by very hilly winding roads with steep inclines and switchbacks. My mechanical brakes scare the crap out of me on a regular basis no matter how carefully I drive. There is always a farm tractor pulling a wagon just around the next downhill hairpin curve. If I lived in typically flat Ohio, Kansas, etc I would probably feel differently.

[Raaf]

Interesting thread and honestly difficult to consider. The implications here are that the door may be closing on our cars, or that it has closed. I do appreciate the comparison to motorcycles, but then again I've lost two loved ones to motorcycles.

For me it comes down to using the A where it makes the most sense - where I get the most enjoyment, appreciation for the car, and can limit risk to a degree.

I choose my routes very carefully. I understand where I am on in the overall pecking order out there. ...and that even a fender bender could cost me my teeth, my face, or worse.

But I can't let go. I'm not ready. The simplicity, the design, the feel of the road...and the sounds are incomparable.

29' roadster...when I drive it I can't help but think everyone else has it all wrong.

[Harpkatt]

Originally Posted by Raaf

Interesting thread and honestly difficult to consider. The implications here are that the door may be closing on our cars, or that it has closed. I do appreciate the comparison to motorcycles, but then again I've lost two loved ones to motorcycles.

For me it comes down to using the A where it makes the most sense - where I get the most enjoyment, appreciation for the car, and can limit risk to a degree.

I choose my routes very carefully. I understand where I am on in the overall pecking order out there. ...and that even a fender bender could cost me my teeth, my face, or worse.

But I can't let go. I'm not ready. The simplicity, the design, the feel of the road...and the sounds are incomparable.

29' roadster...when I drive it I can't help but think everyone else has it all wrong.

RAAF this is beautifully put. If I wanted to be reasonable, I'd rebuild Camrys not these old fords

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Raaf

29' roadster...when I drive it I can't help but think everyone else has it all wrong.

When I drive my Town Sedan I tell my wife I'm going out to get some "Smileage" in the Ol' Girl.

[WHN]

Model A’s weren’t safe when they were new. People didn’t know the difference. Who would know what 100 years would bring in car technology.

I have always driven on country roads. Even than, I try to look ahead as far as possible.

I am always thankful to get home safely. Breakdown, accident, whatever. She’s back in the barn, safe and sound. Me to.

Enjoy.

[nkaminar]

The speed limit in most highways in 1930 was 45 mph and cops would give you a ticket if going over that. Now the speed limit on most highway is 65 or 70 and I get passed by people doing 90 all the time. In my modern car I put the cruise control 5 mph over the speed limit and don't bother slowing down when passing a cop.

The Model T was a lot less safe than the Model A.