The Ford Barn

nkaminar · 03-29-2022, 06:49 PM

Here is a story about a father who bought a Model A and found it was too complicated to drive. The son cannot figure out how to use the ignition advance lever and choke to start it. They are selling it for a loss. Here is a quote from the ad:

"After purchasing it, he found out how finicky these model A's are to drive and what he thought would be an easy car to operate, turned out to be a difficult one.

"After driving it around for a day, my dad parked it outside his house and left the battery on. The battery died so i replaced it. I got it started once after the battery was replaced but I can't figure out the timing lever and choke so it hasn't been started since my dad got it from his friend (who helped him start it).

"For someone who knows how to operate these things, I assume you would easily be able to start it. "

My dad is willing to let it go for $14,000 and take a $1000 loss.

Here is the ad:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...?lang=en&cc=gb

nkaminar · 03-29-2022, 06:56 PM

Points may be burned and coil may be toast from leaving the ignition on.

gdmn852 · 03-29-2022, 08:00 PM

Hello, my wife learned how to drive in my 1930 Model A Coupe also passing her drivers test , this was 1971 . He must not have wanted that car to bad or he would figure it out,join a local club .Just like some people can’t drive standard shift cars it’s a learning process.

jack backer · 03-29-2022, 08:19 PM

I smell fish…a fella buys a car for 12, cooks up this story and hooks a cat at 14..

1oldtimer · 03-29-2022, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack backer

I smell fish…a fella buys a car for 12, cooks up this story and hooks a cat at 14..

With all the tutorials on YouTube on how to run/drive these, it's hard for me to believe some "son" can't navigate the internet enough to find one.....riiiiight. Also who buys a 91 year old car thinking it will be "easy" to drive around Los Angeles.

ETAModel · 03-29-2022, 09:50 PM

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That's a pretty sharp looking coupe. If I was looking for one and it wasn't 2000 miles away...

Dad said it wasn't uncommon to see a T on a farm someone had bought and driven home and couldn't get it to start let it sit.

johnneilson · 03-29-2022, 10:32 PM

If memory serves, there are a couple A or T clubs near Burbank, plenty of talent to help coach a new A owner.
But, I too don't like to use the stock advance, I always retard the spark to make a right turn... Installing a centrifugal advance disty is not rocket science, it does help in traffic by reducing the workload on the driver.
That car has a Mitchell OD in it, that car is a driver.

Hopefully someone in a local club can reach out to them, especially the Son. Learning some of the basics are life lessons.

J

ETAModel · 03-30-2022, 12:22 AM

Your completely right, I see the OD stick shift. It's only 1300 miles... think of the video that would make!!

trulyvintage · 03-30-2022, 12:32 AM

If you don’t believe the story …
If you want to buy a Model A ….

Jim

ronn · 03-30-2022, 07:09 AM

well I bought my roadster up in VT about 4 yrs ago. son couldnt drive it- about 45 and parents couldnt drive it, about 75 yrs old. Father had a stroke and wasnt capable.

so they had a relative come over, get it going and it was waiting for me to drive up onto my trailer.

with all that said, it is a good story and isnt easily forgotten.

bavArian · 03-30-2022, 07:51 AM

Prior to buying my A I didn't ever drive either a non-syncho car or a car with manual spark advance.
"Not knowing how to get it started" is just an excuse for not wanting to know or some defective part imo.

Keith True · 03-30-2022, 08:05 AM

I see a lot of people that find the A isn't as much fun to them as it looks.in my area a lot of that is my fault.People I know see me driving them around,night and day all summer.Then they buy one,and find it is just too much work to keep after and drive.A young couple bought a roadster pickup because they liked mine,they used it for a summer and felt it was just too much of a chore to drive.Been sitting in their garage now for 12-maybe 15 years.An older guy bought a coupe,old restoration.I got it running and was really surprised.Drove well,stopped well,nice interior.After he broke a couple of starter drives forgetting the spark,and burning up some points by not making sure the popout was seated in he wouldn't get near it again.I told him I could sell his car for more than he had in it,but he took a hit on it because he wanted to sell it in just a few weeks.

31a · 03-30-2022, 09:07 AM

i agree with a previous post something does not seem quite right here??

McMimmcs · 03-30-2022, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 31a

i agree with a previous post something does not seem quite right here??

I certainly agree there is more to the story than meets the eye! Wayne

WHN · 03-30-2022, 09:29 AM

Can’t figure out a Model A?

Have you purchased a new car lately? Computer this, computer that? Auto stop, alarms going off everywhere, cameras everywhere, sensors everywhere. Power this, power that, reset, reset, reset!

The Model A is a simple car. Not even a radio.

I agree, there is a lot more to this story.

Enjoy.

DJ S · 03-30-2022, 10:17 AM

Look at the large oil stain on the road in the last picture...

Keith True · 03-30-2022, 10:32 AM

Those are the exact type of people that can't drive an A.They can push buttons all day long to make other things do things for them.I have three trucks that have the clocks wrong half the year because it is too much work to figure them out.I had a neighbor that would have me come check things out if he tripped a breaker.He even had me change washers in his garden hoses.I once bought an MGTD from a city guy that didn't even own a screwdriver to take his plates off.He thought that car would be a fun thing to own,but he couldn't even start it,much less drive it.The corner garage next to him took good care of him.They even would put the plates on his cars.

03-29-2022, 06:49 PM	#1
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Sad story of Model A purchase Here is a story about a father who bought a Model A and found it was too complicated to drive. The son cannot figure out how to use the ignition advance lever and choke to start it. They are selling it for a loss. Here is a quote from the ad: "After purchasing it, he found out how finicky these model A's are to drive and what he thought would be an easy car to operate, turned out to be a difficult one. "After driving it around for a day, my dad parked it outside his house and left the battery on. The battery died so i replaced it. I got it started once after the battery was replaced but I can't figure out the timing lever and choke so it hasn't been started since my dad got it from his friend (who helped him start it). "For someone who knows how to operate these things, I assume you would easily be able to start it. " My dad is willing to let it go for $14,000 and take a $1000 loss. Here is the ad: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...?lang=en&cc=gb __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

03-29-2022, 06:56 PM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Points may be burned and coil may be toast from leaving the ignition on. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

03-29-2022, 08:00 PM	#3
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 689	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Hello, my wife learned how to drive in my 1930 Model A Coupe also passing her drivers test , this was 1971 . He must not have wanted that car to bad or he would figure it out,join a local club .Just like some people can’t drive standard shift cars it’s a learning process.

03-29-2022, 08:19 PM	#4
jack backer BANNED Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Chenango Bridge NY Posts: 433	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase I smell fish…a fella buys a car for 12, cooks up this story and hooks a cat at 14.. Last edited by jack backer; 03-29-2022 at 08:25 PM.

03-29-2022, 09:50 PM	#6
ETAModel Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Along the Red River, Texas Posts: 360	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) That's a pretty sharp looking coupe. If I was looking for one and it wasn't 2000 miles away... Dad said it wasn't uncommon to see a T on a farm someone had bought and driven home and couldn't get it to start let it sit.

03-29-2022, 10:32 PM	#7
johnneilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 34.22 N 118.36 W Posts: 1,057	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase If memory serves, there are a couple A or T clubs near Burbank, plenty of talent to help coach a new A owner. But, I too don't like to use the stock advance, I always retard the spark to make a right turn... Installing a centrifugal advance disty is not rocket science, it does help in traffic by reducing the workload on the driver. That car has a Mitchell OD in it, that car is a driver. Hopefully someone in a local club can reach out to them, especially the Son. Learning some of the basics are life lessons. J __________________ As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.

03-30-2022, 12:22 AM	#8
ETAModel Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Along the Red River, Texas Posts: 360	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Your completely right, I see the OD stick shift. It's only 1300 miles... think of the video that would make!!

03-30-2022, 07:09 AM	#10
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,790	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase well I bought my roadster up in VT about 4 yrs ago. son couldnt drive it- about 45 and parents couldnt drive it, about 75 yrs old. Father had a stroke and wasnt capable. so they had a relative come over, get it going and it was waiting for me to drive up onto my trailer. with all that said, it is a good story and isnt easily forgotten.

03-30-2022, 07:51 AM	#11
bavArian Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Germany Posts: 215	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Prior to buying my A I didn't ever drive either a non-syncho car or a car with manual spark advance. "Not knowing how to get it started" is just an excuse for not wanting to know or some defective part imo.

03-30-2022, 08:05 AM	#12
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,989	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase I see a lot of people that find the A isn't as much fun to them as it looks.in my area a lot of that is my fault.People I know see me driving them around,night and day all summer.Then they buy one,and find it is just too much work to keep after and drive.A young couple bought a roadster pickup because they liked mine,they used it for a summer and felt it was just too much of a chore to drive.Been sitting in their garage now for 12-maybe 15 years.An older guy bought a coupe,old restoration.I got it running and was really surprised.Drove well,stopped well,nice interior.After he broke a couple of starter drives forgetting the spark,and burning up some points by not making sure the popout was seated in he wouldn't get near it again.I told him I could sell his car for more than he had in it,but he took a hit on it because he wanted to sell it in just a few weeks.

03-30-2022, 09:07 AM	#13
31a Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: College Station, Tx Posts: 326	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase i agree with a previous post something does not seem quite right here??

03-30-2022, 09:29 AM	#15
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,824	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Can’t figure out a Model A? Have you purchased a new car lately? Computer this, computer that? Auto stop, alarms going off everywhere, cameras everywhere, sensors everywhere. Power this, power that, reset, reset, reset! The Model A is a simple car. Not even a radio. I agree, there is a lot more to this story. Enjoy.

03-30-2022, 10:17 AM	#16
DJ S Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Southwick, MA Posts: 590	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Look at the large oil stain on the road in the last picture...

03-30-2022, 10:32 AM	#17
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,989	Re: Sad story of Model A purchase Those are the exact type of people that can't drive an A.They can push buttons all day long to make other things do things for them.I have three trucks that have the clocks wrong half the year because it is too much work to figure them out.I had a neighbor that would have me come check things out if he tripped a breaker.He even had me change washers in his garden hoses.I once bought an MGTD from a city guy that didn't even own a screwdriver to take his plates off.He thought that car would be a fun thing to own,but he couldn't even start it,much less drive it.The corner garage next to him took good care of him.They even would put the plates on his cars.