Hollywood Destroys Another Model-A....

[Bob-A]

I was watching TCM today (Turner Classic Movies) and Hollywood destroyed another Model-A. The movie was made in 1938 and the car, a 1930-31 roadster had definitely seen better days. The car was on an incline and I guess the emergency brake was supposed to have failed. As the car rolled back over the side of the road and down the side of the "small" mountain...it was competely obliterated in a cloud of dirt. I just shock my head and went; "Wow, what a shame." I know back then worn out, but still drivable "A's" could be bought for a 100 bucks or less. And the destruction was part of the story line........

Bob-A

[Steve Plucker]

And Model A's, or any older car of that vintage of that time period, were a dime a dozen...no one really cared about "restoration" then but alais...fast forward 70 plus years...times have changed.

I do not think anyone would even think twice if a 2005 Ford was shoved off cliff in todays movies...but the thought would be unbearable to understand when one sees the movie 70 plus years from now.

Pluck

[Joe K]

Dad's 28-29 roadster pickup he bought just before WWII and paid the junkman $15. According to him it never made it to the road but they drove it all around Uncle Edwin's farm. This was in 1938 and Dad was 16.

On going away to college in September 1940, he sold it back to the junkman for $15.

Dad during his lifetime never wanted to re-create/re-acquire the RPU. But he did take an interest (and considerable tolerance) to my desire to own a Model A. Eventually I'll find the pix on it's arrival at our house in 1977 and post it here.

Dad did build himself the die cast Hubley Model of the 30-31 RPU which was as close as he cared to get to the hobby himself personally.

I have just given my son Dad's 1938 time period Sears Craftsman Socket Set, which is a pretty complete set and has only had a couple of sockets replaced. Sears still warrants the set against breakage, of course.

Joe K

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I bought 493 VHS movies from 1996 back to 1932. What is this movie's TITLE? Maybe I have it. Bill W.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by Bob-A

I was watching TCM today (Turner Classic Movies) and Hollywood destroyed another Model-A. The movie was made in 1938 and the car, a 1930-31 roadster had definitely seen better days. The car was on an incline and I guess the emergency brake was supposed to have failed. As the car rolled back over the side of the road and down the side of the "small" mountain...it was competely obliterated in a cloud of dirt. I just shock my head and went; "Wow, what a shame." I know back then worn out, but still drivable "A's" could be bought for a 100 bucks or less. And the destruction was part of the story line........

Bob-A

Better not watch any Laurel & Hardys then... goodness knows how many Model T's (and other cars) made the "final sacrifice" in the name of comedy !


( I wince too when I watch movies and see old cars get destroyed... )

[Bob-A]

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Bill Williamson,

The movie was called "Merrily We Live"......If you've got it check out the Dusenburg roadster in it too.

Bob-A

[Keith True]

Back then destroying an A would be like destroying an Escort now.No big deal.My uncles told me for years how they would haul in two at a time for scrap,they would get one running and use it to drag the non runner in,then leave both there.The running car was worth $7.50 and the non runner was worth about $12.If the car was burned out first it was worth $4.50 more,so one car was always burned first.They would drive to the yard and have to walk home as they had no car to drive after.

[Hicktick]

Well hopefully the car was scrapped as many were , and turned in to a tank or battleship that won the war for all of us .

[luckyal]

The amount of Model A's that Hollywod has and will destroy is minimal compared to the scrap steel buyers that go from farm to farm wanting to buy old cars for junk steel !
Al

[David J]

And remember the Lady Bird Johnson cleanup thing in the mid 60's ? Many old cars - tractors etc fell victim to that whim .

Originally Posted by luckyal

The amount of Model A's that Hollywod has and will destroy is minimal compared to the scrap steel buyers that go from farm to farm wanting to buy old cars for junk steel !
Al

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by David J

And remember the Lady Bird Johnson cleanup thing in the mid 60's ? Many old cars - tractors etc fell victim to that whim .

That's for sure. I saw a lot of nice antique cars and tractors get hauled to the junk in the name of that "clean up America" program of her's.