a ford oldtimer driving through friesland by anne droogsma

The Ford Model A (also colloquially called the A-Model Ford or the A, and A-bone among hot rodders and customizers)[6] was the Ford Motor Company's second market success, replacing the venerable Model T which had been produced for 18 years. It was first produced on October 20, 1927, but not introduced until December 2.[7] This new Model A (a previous model had used the name in 1903–04) was designated a 1928 model and was available in four standard colors.

By February 4, 1929, one million Model As had been sold, and by July 24, two million.[8] The range of body styles ran from the Tudor at US$500 (in grey, green, or black) ($8,872 in 2023 dollars[9])[8] to the town car with a dual cowl at US$1,200 ($21,293 in 2023 dollars [9]).[10] In March 1930, Model A sales hit three million, and there were nine body styles available.[8]

Model A production ended in March 1932, after 4,858,644 had been made in all body styles.[11] Its successor was the Model B, which featured an updated inline four-cylinder engine, as well as the Model 18, which introduced Ford's new flathead (sidevalve) V8 engine.

Features
Prices for the Model A ranged from US$385 for a roadster to US$1,400 for the town car. The engine was a water-cooled L-head inline four with a displacement of 201 cu in (3.3 L).[12] This engine provided 40 hp (30 kW; 41 PS).[12] Top speed was around 65 mph (105 km/h). The Model A had a 103.5 in (2,630 mm) wheelbase with a final drive ratio of 3.77:1. The transmission was a conventional unsynchronized three-speed sliding-gear manual[12] with a single speed reverse. The Model A had four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.[12]

The Model A came in a wide variety of styles including coupes (standard and deluxe), business coupe, sports coupe, roadster coupes (standard and deluxe), convertible cabriolet, convertible sedan, phaetons (standard and deluxe), Tudor sedans (standard and deluxe), town car, Fordors (five-window standard, three-window deluxe), Victoria, town sedan, station wagon, taxicab, truck, and commercial. The very rare special coupe started production around March 1928 and ended in mid-1929.[citation needed]

The Model A was the first Ford to use the standard set of driver controls with conventional clutch and brake pedals, throttle, and gearshift. Previous Fords used controls that had become uncommon to drivers of other makes. The Model A's fuel was situated in the cowl, between the engine compartment's fire wall and the dash panel. It