Ford A. Phaenton. 1928.

Ford Model A of 1928-1931 (also colloquially referred to as the Ford Model A-or A, was the second huge success for the Ford Motor Company , after its predecessor, the model T . First produced on October 20 1927 but not sold until December, it replaced the model T venerable, which had been produced for 18 years. This new model A ( a previous model had used the name in 1903-1904) was designated as a model 1928, and was available in four standard colors.

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On February 4, 1929, came to the million of turnover with this Model, and the 24 July, two million dollars. The variety of styles of bodywork was developed between the network of U.S. $ 500 (in grey, green or black) to the Town Car with a hood double in US dollars $1200. In march of 1930, this model a sales hit three million, and there were nine body styles available.

The Model A was produced through 1931. When production ended in march 1932, had 4.849.340. Model As made in all styles. Its successor was the model B which featured an updated version of the 4-cylinder engine , followed by the model 18 which introduced Ford's new flathead (sidevalve) V8 engine .

Features

Prices for the Model A were US $ 385 for a roadster to $ 1400 for the top-of-the-line car. The engine was water-cooled L-head 4-cylinder with a displacement of 201 cubic inches (3.3 l) . This engine of 40 horse-power provided (30 kW; 41 PS). The fuel consumption typical was between 25 and 30 miles per gallon (U.S.) (8 to 12 kilometres per litre or km 8.9 l/100) ^{[ citation needed ]} using a Zenith one-barrel shot up ^{[ citation needed ]} carburetor, with a top speed of around 65 mph (105 km / h); it Had a 103,5 (2.630 mm) wheelbase with a final ratio of 3.77:1. The transmission was a conventional 3-speed gear manual-sliding of the unit is not synchronized with a single speed reverse . The model has four-wheel mechanical drum brakes . The editions of 1930 and 1931 came with stainless steel cover radiator housings and the headlights.

The model was produced in a wide variety of styles: Coupe (Standard and Deluxe), Coupe, business, Sport Coupe, Roadster Coupe (Standard and Deluxe), Convertible Cabriolet , Convertible Sedan , Phaeton (Standard and Deluxe), Tudor Sedan (Standard and Deluxe), Car Town, Fordor (2 window) (Standard and Deluxe), Fordor (3 window) (Standard and Deluxe), Victoria, Station Wagon, taxi, truck, and Commercial.

The Model A was the first Ford to use the standard set of controls in the driver-clutch and conventional brake pedals, throttle and gearshift. Previous Ford models used controls that had become uncommon to drivers of other manufacturers. The fuel tank of the model A is located in the chimney, between the fire wall of the engine compartment and the dashboard. I had a fuel gauge visual, and the fuel to the carburetor flowed by gravity. A rear view mirror was optional. In cooler climates, owners could purchase a spare unit of cast iron to place over the exhaust manifold to provide heat to the cabin. A small door provided adjustment of the amount of hot air that enters the cabin. Model A was the first car to have safety glass in the windshield.

The Soviet company GAZ , which started as a collaboration between Ford and the Soviet Union , made a licensed version of the Model A from 1932 to 1936. This was the basis for the FAI and BA-20 armored car , which saw use as the rovers in the early stages of the Second World War .

In addition to the united States , Ford made the model A in plants in Argentina , Canada , France , Germany and the United Kingdom .

In Europe, where cars are taxed based on the engine size, Ford equipped the Ford model a with a cc 2033 (124,1 cubic inches) engine which provides an output claimed of just 40 HP (30 kW; 41 PS). However, the engine Size was still large enough to equate to a power tax of 14.9 hp (in opposition to the engine of 24HP larger) and attracted a punishment tax, annual car tax of £ 24 in the Uk and penalties are similar in other european countries principal markets. Therefore, it was expensive to purchase and too heavy and thirsty to achieve volume sales, so they can't compete in the mass market of recent development, while also too crude to compete as a luxury product. The European model manufactured as a did not achieve the sales success in Europe, which he greeted his successor smaller in England and Germany.

Historical context of the development of the model To

From 1913 through the 1920s, the Ford Motor Company dominated the automotive market with its Model T. however, during the 1920s the middle of this dominance eroded as competitors, notably General Motors, were found with the system of Ford and the mass production started to close Ford in some areas, especially by offering more powerful engines, new convenience features, or customization aesthetic. In addition, features Henry considered to be unnecessary, such as starters, electrical , were gradually shifting in the public opinion the perception from luxuries to essentials.

Sales force Ford recognized the threat and advised Henry Ford to respond to it. At first he resisted, but the sagging T market share finally forced him to admit the substitution was necessary. When they finally agreed to begin the development of this new model, focused on the mechanical aspects and on what today is known as design for manufacturing (DFM), which had always embraced strongly and for which the Model T was famous production system. Although in the last instance, the success, the development of the Model To problems including many that had to be resolved. For example, the matrix of the stamping of parts from sheet steel , which the Ford company had led to new heights of development with the production of the model T system, was something Henry had always been ambivalent: it had led to success, but I felt that it was not the best choice for durability. It was decided that the model would be based more on drop forgings than the Model T, but his ideas for improving the DFM of forging were not found to be practical. With time, the Ford engineers persuaded her to give up, is not that the Model strength of cost of production to its sale price too.

Henry's disdain for vanity cosmetic as applied to automobiles led him to leave the model has styling to a team led by Edsel Ford .

It was during the period between the mid-1920s to early 1930s that the limits of the first generation of mass production , perfectly illustrated in the system of production of the model T, it became obvious. The era of "mass production, flexible" had begun.