The Ford Model A replaced the wildly successful Model T for the 1928 model year with production lasting until 1931. A far more complex vehicle than its predecessor, it debuted many significant improvements. Its L-head inline four-cylinder engine gained more displacement and produced a claimed 40 horsepower—twice that of the Model T. Fuel was gravity fed to the carburetor from a tank positioned in the cowl, between the engine compartment and the dashboard, featuring a visual fuel gauge. Other new features included four-wheel mechanical brakes, a battery-powered ignition system, and safety glass for the windshield, an industry first. Significantly, the Model A was also the first Ford to adopt a standard set of driver controls, with conventional clutch, throttle, and brake pedals and a gear shifter like on vehicles from other manufacturers of the day.

Ford offered a wide variety of consumer and commercial body styles for the Model A, with the Roadster body seen on the car offered here remaining particularly popular among collectors. This 1930 Model A DeLuxe Roadster is finished in blue with black fenders and a tan top. It rides on wire wheels finished in yellow and wrapped in whitewall tires, as are the dual side-mounted spares. Exterior features of note include a radiator stone guard, winged Boyce MotoMeter, Sparton horn, cowl lights, windshield-mounted driver sideview mirror, etched wind wings, sideview mirrors strapped to the side-mounted spares, as well as a trunk rack with trunk.

The Roadster’s interior is trimmed in tan upholstery, including on the door panels and rear rumble seat. The interior features a Waltham speedometer, rearview mirror with Ford clock, driver windshield wiper, and a Boyce MotoMeter radiator temperature gauge mounted on the steering column.

As far as significant cars from Ford’s history go, the Model A is right up there with the Model T, the ’49 Ford, and the Mustang. This restored 1930 Ford Model A DeLuxe Roadster would make a wonderful addition to any Ford or discerning pre-war collection.