Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

Registered UK Charity (No. 115342)

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 162,259 pages of information and 244,500 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Ford: Model A

From Graces Guide
1903. Ford Model A.
1903. Ford Model A. 1,546 cc. Exhibit at the Franschhoek Motor Museum.

Note: This is a sub-section of Ford Motor Co.

Cars

The original Ford Model A was the first car produced by Ford Motor Company, beginning production in 1903. 1,750 cars were made between 1903 and 1904. The Model A was replaced by the Ford Model C during 1904 with some sales overlap.

The car came as a two-seater runabout or four-seater tonneau model with an option to add a top. The horizontal-mounted flat-twin engine, situated amidships, produced 8 h.p. A planetary transmission was fitted, with two forward gears and reverse, a Ford signature later seen on the Ford Model T. The car weighed 1,240 lb and could reach a top speed of 45 mph. It had a 72 in (1.8 m) wheelbase and sold for a base price of US$750. Options included a rear tonneau with two seats and a rear door for $100, a rubber roof for $30 or a leather roof for $50.

Although Ford advertised the Model A as the "most reliable machine in the world", it suffered from many problems common to vehicles of the era, including overheating and slipping transmission bands. The Model A was sold only in red by the factory, though some were later re-painted in other colours.

Model AC

Some 1904 Model A cars were equipped with the larger, more powerful engine of the Ford: Model C and were sold as the Model AC.

See Also

Loading...

Sources of Information