Pic-A-Day (785) Albert Mach Fine Art

1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster

This was seen at the 2014 AACA Hershey Fall Meet.

http://www.hersheyaaca.org/fallmeet.html

If you could have any body style of the Model A Ford, what would you choose?

Among Model A Ford enthusiasts, the choice would likely be the 1930 – 1931 Deluxe Roadster! The Town Car and Deluxe Phaeton are favorites of some, but for sheer sportiness and driving enjoyment, none matches the Deluxe Roadster of 1930 – 1931. It is a car of classy lines and sparkle.

The Deluxe Roadster was announced in late July 1930 and reached the dealers in August 1930. It was the beginning of the Great Depression and Chevrolet and Plymouth were outselling Ford. Henry responded in 1930 and 1931 by introducing several deluxe models including the Deluxe Roadster. It was styled as a “sporty” automobile, and this image was stressed in Ford Advertising. Young men and women attired in the current fashions were pictured stepping into their Deluxe Roadster (top down, windshield folded) at the golf course or yacht harbor. In 1931 the price was reduced from $520 to $475 and the luggage rack and rear straight bumper were sold as accessories and side mount spare tire was moved to the rear like most other Model A’s. Ford production in 1931 was half of what it was in 1930, yet 56,702 Deluxe Roadsters were produced (90% of all the Ford roadsters produced in 1931) largely due to the attractive price and sporty appeal. The Deluxe Roadster climbed to 10.2% of total Ford production in 1931.

During the Model A years, 1929 to 1931, there were 32 assembly plants throughout the US. The primary production and assembly plant was the Rouge Plant in Dearborn, MI. “Knocked-down” unpainted bodies and parts for assembly were shipped to the various assembly plants in freight cars from Dearborn. Assembly Plant letter codes and numbers were stamped on the front cross-member of the body (was not uniformly followed at all plants). With this information, it is possible to identify the original assembly plant for a specific car. The engine number is used in determining the month of manufacture. When the engine was fitted to the frame, the engine number was stamped on the left frame side rail near the cowl.

Here is the song "The Little Ford Rambled Right Along"

by Billy Murray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EE-CDBrAuY