Model A commercial vehicles picture thread!!

[IrishHills]

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

Ok folks...

What do we have in this image? Look closely.
-Tim

30 Ford with 29 headlights, no sunvisor and a dead body laying in the field behind the store?

[WTSHNN]

Wrong fenders, drum tail light mounted to the fender, etc...

What about the cowl, is that a 28-29 Fordor cowl?
-Tim

[spdway1]

Tudor made into a pick up and I second the dead body laying in the field behind the store!!

[lookin-backtexas]

Here's a fun one taken May 25, 1934 in front of the Texas Capitol Building in Austin. The Austin History Center posted their comments on the photo: "Beer trucks belonging to the Lightsey Carroll Company Distributors stand at the ready to deliver beer to thirsty Austinites. Featuring the Capitol in the background lends an air of legality to beer distribution, particularly considering that Prohibition had ended just five months before."

Note the two '29 Model A Town Sedans which have been converted to delivery vehicles by painting over the side windows (homemade Sedan Deliveries) and I presume had the rear seats removed to haul more cases of brew. Wonder whether the Model AA bus was used to deliver beer or carry celebrants to parties since Prohibition had just ended.

Fred

[lookin-backtexas]

At first glance I thought this Model A Pickup was being used to pick cotton however the caption from the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame in Odessa, TX states, "Photograph of a truck with a covered shelter on the back. The shelter houses the seismograph used by the team from Shell Oil in West Texas." The spare tire cover states "Lamesa Motor Co., Lamesa, Texas". Lamesa is a small town about 60 miles south of Lubbock.

Fred

[lookin-backtexas]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Another Shell Oil truck ('28 AA) at work from the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame in Odessa, TX. "Photograph of two men (drillers) from the seismograph team from Shell Oil. The two drillers are in muddy coveralls, posing next to a truck. The back of the truck is loaded with barrels." I like seeing Model AA's as they were being used "back in the day" as opposed to a sterile showroom photo when they were new. Note the front bumper is missing and the truck has long running boards and long splash aprons with rear fenders under the bed.
Fred

[WTSHNN]

Wow wow wow.

Those aren't town sedans, those are the super rare 135-A Taxi's!

Note the "coupe pillar" and the three hinges on the rear door.

Great photos!
-Tim

Originally Posted by lookin-backtexas

Note the two '29 Model A Town Sedans which have been converted to delivery vehicles by painting over the side windows (homemade Sedan Deliveries) and I presume had the rear seats removed to haul more cases of brew. Wonder whether the Model AA bus was used to deliver beer or carry celebrants to parties since Prohibition had just ended.

Fred

[lookin-backtexas]

RE: "Wow wow wow. Those aren't town sedans, those are the super rare 135-A Taxi's!"

Tim:
You are right about them being 135-A Taxi's. The Taxi had the lowest production of all 1929 Model A's other than the Town Car (4,576 vs. 913). In fact, Ford made MORE A-400 Convertible Sedans in 1931 than they made Taxi's in 1929 (4,864 vs. 4,576). I would presume by 1934, a 1929 Austin Taxi would have had quite a few miles on it and they must have been bought for a little bit of nothing by the beer distributor to convert to a delivery vehicle. Now wonder how many Model AA School Buses were made? This photo does have some rare vehicles in it!

I've stood on that very spot where the photo was taken many times and unfortunately they weren't parked there the last time I visited.
Fred

[WTSHNN]

Here, I found a larger version that shows a bit more of the details.



Great find.
-Tim

[Russell in Tulsa]

Anyone have the picture of the Model A Coupe that was a fishing tackle dealers trailer rig with a fifth wheel coupler? I know it sold at auction, I believe, in the last few years. It is truly a "commercial" rig.

[ctlikon0712]

This one?

[lookin-backtexas]

Originally Posted by Russell in Tulsa

Anyone have the picture of the Model A Coupe that was a fishing tackle dealers trailer rig with a fifth wheel coupler? I know it sold at auction, I believe, in the last few years. It is truly a "commercial" rig.

Russell:
It was touted by Old Cars Weekly as being the second most valuable Model A Ford after the 20 millionth Ford. Here's a link to their article expecting it to bring between $150,000 - $225,000 in the auction.
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/auction-news/worlds-second-most-valuable-ford-model-a-to-cross-block

Here's a great website showing the restoration efforts taken on the rig; click on the "Pics" near the top of the page to see 241 photos of the restoration. It's amazing to see how bad the Coupe was before they started - looked like they found it on the bottom of a lake from all the rust it had. http://www.frogmandesignz.com/dev/

Further "Googling" found that the rig was in the Auctions America sale in Auburn, Indiana last September and only reached a high bid of $70,000 which was a "no sale" - it's still available if you have $150,000 to spend.

Fred

[spdway1]

I don't understand how it could be the "second most valuable Model A Ford", It is just a Coupe with a trailer hitch.
If this is the case, I will tow around a pot of GOLD behind my "A".

[ctlikon0712]

I think that there probably more valuable A's out there but this is a little more than a
"Coupe with a trailer hitch"
Here is what the Frogman article had to say...

This site details the restoration of J.M. Keely's ride: A uniquely designed showroom, display and live-in trailer that Mr. Keely could tow behind his car. The 1931 Ford Model-A Deluxe coupe was modified with an extra heavy reinforced rear spring and cross member, along with a custom designed and installed "Fifth Wheel Type" hitch, designed by famous American aviation pioneer, Glenn Hammond Curtiss. The Model A also has a 1/2'' vacuum line activated by the brake pedal to furnish vacuum for the rear brakes on the trailer. The furnished rear brake hubs, axle and wheels are double "AA" Ford.
The "A" engine has (2) 6V generators, one for the car and (1) for (2) storage batteries mounted in a box on the trailer tongue. These storage batteries power the running lights, tail lights and interior lights, fans, etc.
The trailer has a fuse block for 110 v "Shore" power when parked in a trailer court or 110v could be supplied by gas powered generator. These 110v outlets were probably used for interior fans, battery charger and radio which were individually switched.
Located under the floor is a 25 gallon water tank with a hand pump. It also has an external hose bibb for "shore water" for sink and water supply.
In the quaint kitchen there is a white gas stove with an exhaust hood and fan. The trailer is stocked with original enamel ware, pots, pans, silverware, cups and cooking utensils.
All windows have Model "A" operators and cranks with plate glass. Window treatments include; mahogany interior and exterior moldings, roll up shades and curtains. Exterior treatment also has brass screening with brass frames, metal rain hoods and canvas awnings that fold down. All door hardware locks, handles, dead bolts are Model "A" style.
The floor of the trailer is wood with linoleum covering. The top is long grain black vinyl and high tech insulation over chicken wire. Bunk bed frame is nickel plated brass with (2) sliding, adjustable box springs.
There are (2) brass, screened ceiling vents that crank open for ventilation.
Copies of the original bill of sale, titles, registrations for the car and trailer are still with the trailer today, including original restored 1932 license plates for both, car and trailer.
The split bamboo rods, reels, wood lures and other nautical accessories are with the trailer. There are over '50 period fishing rods in either new condition or restored. There are approximately 100 reels, some in original boxes. The collection includes approximately 75 fishing lures, together with wire rigging samples, hooks and floats, gaffes, bilge pumps, oars, etc. There are also several small outboard motors, paint brochures, marine literature, maps and J.M. Keely letterheads for the various companies he represented.

[WTSHNN]

Here are some randoms.











This C-Cab appears to be a delivery vehicle for the Chicago Sun Times, note the cop on the running board and the motorcycle escort. The wording on the back says "CAPONE HOW MUCH LONGER CAN HE GET AWAY WITH IT?"

-Tim

[WTSHNN]

Happy St. Paddy's day everyone!

[WTSHNN]

Here is a great picture of the Ford Truck Caravan in Alabama.



Note all the 1931 commercial vehicles on display with the Town Car Delivery shown prominently.

Picture was oringinally posted by Raceron on the H.A.M.B.
-Tim

[CarlG]

Do I spy an ambulance there in center front? That model was my first car (vehicle) at the ripe old age of 14.

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Do I spy an ambulance there in center front? That model was my first car (vehicle) at the ripe old age of 14.

I'd say so. Check out page 22 of this thread for pictures of an ambulance I posted a couple months ago.

-Tim

[CarlG]

Of course I never knew what a treasure I had back then, Ford only made about 85 of these. I had seen the picture of the Hoover Dam ambulance when it was published in one of the national magazines. I can't even locate any pictures of mine, although I know that many were taken.