Henry Ford actually did not want to stop producing the Model T; rather, he was forced to do so by rival Chevrolet, who was building far sprightlier cars. Thus, the new Model A became available for the 1928 model year, first introduced to the public on 2 December 1927. Newspaper accounts told of nearly 10 percent of the American public having gone to view the new car. Much more complex than the Model T that preceded it, the Model A was comprised of 6,800 parts compared to its simpler predecessor, which was made up of 5,000 parts. The ruggedly constructed Model A featured Ford’s first installation of safety glass in all windows. Ford continued to build the Model A through 1932, when it introduced its new V-8.

This car was sold new to Charles A. Brown of Kingston, Pennsylvania, in late 1931 from Motor Twins dealership in nearby Wilkes Barre. It was black with apple green wheels and a green pinstripe, just as it appears today. Brown, then in his nineties, sold the car to Bernard Healey of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, with just 14,000 miles on the odometer. During his ownership, Healey upgraded and maintained the car, and a list of the work, including a new LeBaron Bonney interior, is included. Healey sold the car to the Gast Classic Car Museum in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, in May 1982, and when the Museum closed, the car was sold to Alan Greenleaf of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, in 1987. After an exhaustive search, Healey’s nephew found the car, purchased it, and enjoyed it well into his eighties. A new interior was installed in 2007, for which receipts are included. Cowl lights have also been added typical of the DeLuxe Tudor and accessory step plates, windshield visor, and grille guard are also installed.

The history of this remarkable automobile is chronicled in the January/February 2011 issue of The Restorer. Today, the car is described as a “strong runner” and was most recently used for antique car rides “in 90 degree heat for two hours straight, never missing a beat.”

If you are looking for a reliable Model A with great history, this is just such a Ford.