1931 model A performance

[FrankWest]

Let's say it's 1931 and I am buying a new model A. What type of typical driving
speed would I be looking at?

[Bob C]

Ford said this at the announcement of the new Ford. "The new Ford will ride comfortably at fifty and sixty miles an hour. It has actually done sixty-five miles an hour in road test."



Bob

[eagle]

Typically 45 to 50 is a comfortable speed. Watch this thread... you'll have people declaring that 65 - 85 is what they do, ALL DAY. Yeah right. Just the aerodynamics alone make that stupid.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by eagle

Typically 45 to 50 is a comfortable speed. .

The sweet spot for my A seemed to be about that.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

You would probably accept the verbiage that was printed in the sales brochure. If you were hesitant to believe that claim, your salesman would proudly demonstrate this to you..
.
.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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I like back roads and 40 to 45 for cruising around. If I want to go faster, then I'll add a 3.27 ratio ring and pinion, plus a 5.5 compression head.

[40 Deluxe]

Don't forget the question under consideration here: "Let's say it's 1931 and....". So how we drive our A's today is not the point! It's how they were used and driven in 1931! The A was not a hobbyist's toy back then. It was more a tool, almost a necessity, to get from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible during the week (on Sunday you could slow down and smell the flowers). So if the road was good enough to allow for 60-65 MPH, I'm sure A's were often going 60-65 MPH. Those were Depression years, so you didn't toodle aimlessly down back roads in your A.

[daveymc29]

With a 3:54 rear end and a Mitchell 26% overdrive on 600 X 16 tires and hydraulic brakes, I find I can stand a long day doing 55 MPH on the freeways here in Calif. I have driven from Danville (SF Bay area) to Chula Vista in one day and also the return in one day. Was a long 14 hr. Day each way. A tad over 600 down and 550 back, Hwy 1, Vs Hwy 101, with a couple of side trips to view sea and lakes. Car will do it all day and night, I, at 83 years of age, can't.

[RB_Nielsen]

How fast to go isn't nearly as relevant as how fast can one stop given the Model A's mechanical brakes compared to the ubiquitous disc brakes on all the other cars on the road. Think about it.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by RB_Nielsen

How fast to go isn't nearly as relevant as how fast can one stop given the Model A's mechanical brakes compared to the ubiquitous disc brakes on all the other cars on the road. Think about it.

So let me get this straight, ...you are trying to convince us/me that in 1931 all other cars on the road had disc brakes? I say that is total BS ...just like the BS about having a Mitchell overdrive in 1931, -or horses everywhere on the roads in 1931.

[marty in Ohio]

Someone at a car show last night asked me how fast 0 to 60. I replied "Oh, maybe 4 to 5 - days!" "Seriously, I don't know, I've never driven my "A" at 60 MPH."
Marty

[RB_Nielsen]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

So let me get this straight, ...you are trying to convince us/me that in 1931 all other cars on the road had disc brakes? I say that is total BS ...just like the BS about having a Mitchell overdrive in 1931, -or horses everywhere on the roads in 1931.

Umm - maybe this will help - my post should have read " the ubiquitous disc brakes on all the other cars currently on the road" The context of the original post referres to today's circumstance as does my original post which should have been obvious, but I suppose it was not so to everybody.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by RB_Nielsen

Umm - maybe this will help - my post should have read " the ubiquitous disc brakes on all the other cars currently on the road" The context of the original post referres to today's circumstance as doss my original post which should have been obvious, but suppose it was not so to everybody.

Hmm, the original post starts out: "Let's say it's 1931 and...". So it would seem that the "context of the original post" was referring to conditions in 1931, not today's circumstances.

[Synchro909]

I think a few people need to check the accuracy of their speedos.
When I'm asked (always by a younger person) "How fast does it go?" I answer "I don't know. I've never tried to find out." Boy does that confuse them.
BTW,There WERE a few horses on the roads even in the 1950s. I remember them. I'm sure there would have been enough there is 1931 that you's need to be aware of them.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by RB_Nielsen

Umm - maybe this will help - my post should have read " the ubiquitous disc brakes on all the other cars currently on the road" The context of the original post referres to today's circumstance as does my original post which should have been obvious, but I suppose it was not so to everybody.

Ok, I guess I see where the confusion came from but I don't think the original poster asked anything about "Currently". I think we were supposed to answer what the performance was in 1931.

[TerryH]

Given that there were no freeways in those days, plus lots of older, much slower cars, even though a Model A could go 65, I tend to doubt that was seen much in every day driving.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Given that there were no freeways in those days, plus lots of older, much slower cars, even though a Model A could go 65, I tend to doubt that was seen much in every day driving.

I think it should also be remembered that there were still plenty of horses on the roads then.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Given that there were no freeways in those days, plus lots of older, much slower cars, even though a Model A could go 65, I tend to doubt that was seen much in every day driving.

Maybe after the bank job!

[Johnny Nitro]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Maybe after the bank job!

I hit the Woolworths. Less security.

[Johnny Nitro]

My car loves 40mph. 45 and over it starts to complain, and I haven’t tried to get her above 55. Then again I daily in Chicago city traffic, and rarely get over 20 anyway!