Bought another one recently...

[Slotblog]

I just realized I hadn't let you guys know about the most recent Model A I purchased, a 1931 Deluxe Roadster.

Wasn't really looking for another Model A, but stumbled on this one early Monday morning on Facebook Marketplace a mere 50 miles away at a price I simply couldn't believe (seems he'd lost his storage space, so at half the price this car would have brought four or five years ago), with a nice series of pics in the ad. Called immediately and arranged to see the car the next day.

Seller mentioned on the phone that the car had won first at some car show and I could see a very familar brass, red, and white oval badge affixed to the radiator.

Turns out this roadster won an AACA first at Hershey... in 1966! It has been very well kept and runs better than either of the other two As I've owned. The nitrocellulose lacquer on the rear fenders is cracked from UV exposure, with a litttle bit of the same damage on the rear of the splash aprons. Little bit of water staining on the top and sidemount covers.

Some here may remember the '30 Tudor I bought in Oregon in 2014 and drove home to Atlanta, or the '30 Coupe I bought in Connecticut in 2023 and drove home down the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was planning to drive the roadster home from Peachtree City, Georgia, leaving basically at dawn on Sunday morning, as there is no real non-interstate way to get to Norcross from there. But the seller was not comfortable with me doing that, as we couldn't tell how old the undated tires were and he'd only driven the car for short local distances. So he insisted on trailering it to me, which I found a little embrassing after my first two trips!

The car came with a bunch of spares, as well as a brand-new set of side curtains still in the original packaging.

Here's a couple of pics, including the interior shot which sold me on the car before I ever saw it. You almost never see a Model A interior look this nice in an ad.

If my sanity was questionable before, there should be no doubt about it now. I mean, what nutcase buys a 60-year old restoration? (Even if it means it doesn't have any repro parts on it...)

[Gil Sissons]

Score one for the good guys !

[Trapdoor2]

A beauty! I cannot drive either a Roadster, Phaeton or a Pickup...no room for big feet!

[nkaminar]

A beauty for sure. Can the lacquer paint be freshened up by spraying another coat? I guess my question is whether the lacquer solvent would partly dissolve the underlying paint so that the new paint would stick.

[Slotblog]

It's too badly cracked for that. The fenders and splash aprons will have to be sanded before repainting. But it sure beats a full repaint and this is no longer a show car. Heck, I may even spray-bomb them with enamel.

[1930artdeco]

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Dang, that is one gorgeous roadster!!!!

Mike

[old31]

That's a great find, and close to home.

[Slotblog]

You guys are too kind.

Might as well share the rest of the pictures from the seller's ad. Car is in pretty amazing condition for a 60-year old restoration.

[Keith True]

Pretty color combination.To me the cosmetics on that car are done.Drive it,and enjoy it like it is,or pour money into it to make a car that is shiny and drives the same.It fits all the requirements for a roadster restoration in 1966.Added the sidemounts,got rid of the rear mounted spare,and added step plates,dual tail lights,luggage rack with a full width rear bumper.My 31 coupe has cracking crazing laquer paint,and it is either spend a lot or drive it like it is.Can't see it from the drivers seat.

[Slotblog]

Oh, I'll be driving it. No show car for me.

[Ayers1]

Very good looking car! I'm with Keith on this. I wouldn't bother painting, just drive it the way it is!

[WHN]

Somethings should not be messed with.

I would just go over the mechanics and than enjoy it.

[400A]

Lovely roadster! I'd use it as is and make no apologies for the paint.

My roadster was restored in 1958 and won first place at the New England Model "A" Meet in 1961. Still looks fine today.

[Slotblog]

I bow to you, sir!

[Slotblog]

Originally Posted by WHN

I would just go over the mechanics and than enjoy it.

It needs nothing at all in terms of the mechanics.

[Keith True]

400 A,That car looks like the one done in that time frame by Charlie McKinnon of Salisbury Mass.He said that color combination was THE way to go at that time.He could name a dozen other guys with their cars done up the same way.There was just no way anybody would leave the original rear mounted spare on the 31 DeLuxe,you HAD to convert to the side mount.I personally much prefer old restorations over new and shiny ones.I have a 28 phaeton that was nicely done in the 80's,the laquer is crazing on that car,but it is,after all,40 year old paint.Still shines though.

[Fullraceflathead]

What an excellent find and glad to see it went to a good home and didn't get gutted and turned into a hot rod!!!

[Canton_Model_A's]

Beautiful car. Engine looks like it leaked at some time in the past with the rust. Like everyone says, drive it. As a buddy of mine says that has a '30 Town Sedan, Miles and smiles. I would get 'Darla' a mate but I have no place to store another one. She sits in an offsite storage location and I go get her and stretch her legs.

Again beautiful find!

Dave

[Slotblog]

If I told you guys how little I paid for this car, you'd all say I was lying or had held a gun to the seller's head. If anyone really wants to know, shoot me a PM.

[Slotblog]

Originally Posted by Keith True

There was just no way anybody would leave the original rear-mounted spare on the '31 DeLuxe, you HAD to convert to the side mounts.

I know this to be true, as I started in the Model A hobby in the mid-'60s, but personally I prefer cars without side mounts for multiple reasons. But you can't order a used car; you just have to decide whether or not you're going to buy the one you're looking at.

When I replace the tires, you can be sure they will be blackwalls, too.