Are there still a million Model A's?

[700rpm]

I noted in Mr. Edsel Ford II's remarks at Marquette that he says there are 250,000 Model A's on the road today, and another 750,000 awaiting restoration. With all due respect to Mr. Ford, can this be right? With about 15,000 members in the combined two national clubs, and figuring an average of 3 cars per member, we're only at 45,000 cars. That is a long way from a million. Does Mr. Ford know something I (or we in the hobby) don't know?

[Blessyouboys]

Why are you trying to correlate club membership with Model A ownership?

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by Blessyouboys

Why are you trying to correlate club membership with Model A ownership?

It's the only reference I have to start with. Can you suggest a different one?

[Dodge]

I have four Model A's and not in any club....

[Marvin/TN]

I have a 1930 Coupe and not in any club. At one time many years ago I belonged to the local chapter of the AACA but haven't been a member in over 35 or so years so add one more.

[Marvin/TN]

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I might add I have owned my 30 Coupe for over 54 years now

[Blessyouboys]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

It's the only reference I have to start with. Can you suggest a different one?

No I can't.

At the same time, I wouldn't begin to think that club membership has anything to do with ownership.

[awander]

Originally Posted by Blessyouboys

No I can't.

At the same time, I wouldn't begin to think that club membership has anything to do with ownership.

Well, come on, it definitely has SOMETHING to do with ownership. I would bet that most members of a Model A club own a Model A.

[denis4x4]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

It's the only reference I have to start with. Can you suggest a different one?

If you were to check state DMV records and insurance companies, you'd have a starting point for the number of "road worthy' Model A's. However, hot rods are generally registered as Model A's and your numbers would be skewed.

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by denis4x4

If you were to check state DMV records and insurance companies, you'd have a starting point for the number of "road worthy' Model A's. However, hot rods are generally registered as Model A's and your numbers would be skewed.

Nor would that account for unregistered cars or cars in process, which I would speculate are the majority.

[Roadster62]

You can double count, one Model A gives up its body to a Hot Rod and the chassis gets a Depot Hack or Speedster body that makes two cars. Bob

[Jim Brierley]

I don't know the answer, but sure enjoyed reading his speech! I wondered about that number too.

[Kevin in NJ]

There are a lot of cars out there that have owners that do not belong or participate in clubs. I think I can come up with at least 10 unaffiliated cars I know of in a 10 mile range of my house. Heck, there is a local guy that has probably not driven any of his 10 cars he owns in 20+ years.

So I would not be surprised that you could come up with a lot of A's in various conditions. A million might be a stretch, but one can imagine a lot of cars around. They are constantly being found today.

[Paul E. Christen]

I have 3 model A's and I know of about 20 more not driven and not members of clubs.
A million would be a stretch I think also. But I am suprised as to how many keep showing up!
Paul
Winthrop, WA.

[ericr]

I would have been tempted to raise my hand and say that a million of something is a significant market and how about stamping out some body parts for us LOL

[CarlG]

On the other side, I belong to both MARC & MAFCA, and I only have one Model A. Subtract 5?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by CarlG

On the other side, I belong to both MARC & MAFCA, and I only have one Model A. Subtract 5?

CarlG,
Why subtract "5"? Is this some kind of "NEW ARITHMETIC"?? Or did you & I have the same teacher? I thought it would 1/2 to MARC & 1/2 to MAFCA, which would equal 1.7!
On a serious note, as I was reading all this to Buster, my Rat Terrier, he said, "Countin' Model A's here & around the world is like tryin' to count all the rats & mice, they hide everywhere and are constantly roamin' from one area to another!" (And he knows his rat & mouse stuff!) Bill W.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

"Countin' Model A's here & around the world is like tryin' to count all the rats & mice, they hide everywhere and are constantly roamin' from one area to another!"

Probably the best answer - Buster is one wise little pooch!

[Bruce Adams]

I also see NO corrrelation between national club membershipa and Model A ownership.
I think the best way to establish a Model A owners list, at least, would be to draw a list of subscribers to the various Model A vendor catalogs, purified of duplicates.

[CHuDWah]

FWIW, following are some survival estimates from authorities in the hobby quoted in Peter Winnewisser's The Legendary Model A Ford: The Ultimate History of one of America's Great Automobiles (2005) - take your pick:

Les Henry (Henry's Fabulous Model "A" Ford; 1959) - 920,000

Murray Fahnestock (The Restorer; 1963) - 300,000

Roger Kaufman (Model "A" News; 1990) - 4% passenger and 1% commercial

Lyle Meek (former MAFCA officer; no quote date) - 250,000

George Tynan (former MAFCA officer; 2004 quote) - 500,000 to 600,000