Back To The Roaring Twenties In A '28 Ford Model A Phaeton

Unfortunately, Bonnie and Clyde couldn't join us today

Today's cars are filled to the brim with features. Even a base, rental Ford Fiesta comes with air-con, adjustable seats and steering column, an infotainment system, airbags, ABS, front disc brakes, electric windows, etc.  A Fiesta is capable of cruising at 120 kph on the highway, is easy to maintain and gets very wallet-friendly mileage. It also has a couple more, very fundamental extras that, almost a century ago, the equivalent, reasonably priced Ford, couldn't even dream of. Side windows? Nope. A trunk? Just strap your suitcase in the back and call it a day. Seat belts, shatter proof glass or blinkers? Simply don't crash it or you'll meet your maker faster than you can say "Dinga-Dinga". The car I'm talking about here is this beautiful, carefully restored Ford Model A Phaeton from 1928. This is how this car would've looked new, 90 years ago. So, going for a ride in one was like time travelling back to the Prohibition Era. Fetch the moonshine, brotha!

So much chrome it blinds other drivers!

I met owner Michel at this year's Antwerp Classic Salon. I was taking pictures at the "Ancient Ford Club of Belgium" stand, with a Model T and this Model A. We sparked up a conversation over the pics and he talked me through the restoration. Being retired, Michel wanted to stay active and enjoy his passion for 2CVs and Model As. Out of luck, he found this car eight years ago for a bargain price. Well, it was cheap for a reason. The entire body and frame were rusted out, falling apart faster than a sandcastle. The work needed was so extensive that, at 70 years old, Michel took bodywork courses to learn how to fix the old gal up. Eight years later, the car is done, and it looks absolutely stunning. The turquoise-green paintjob with the beige body line and top, along with the black upholstery and fenders fits the Model A like a glove. It also has a couple period-correct accessories: a metal vase for your flowers (a.k.a. 20's air-freshener) and an old fire extinguisher. When it's really warm out and you need to cool off your face, just open the windshield and Voilà! You'll be cooler than a swimming pool.

Trunks used to be an option 90 years ago

Fortunately, a day with a clear, predictable sky came and Michel invited me to go on a ride in the Model A. We would drive 15 km from Brussels to a small city nearby called Meise. As a result, everything from city to highway driving was in the schedule. Michel and I arrived at the underground garage to pick up the Ford. With centimeters to spare from the ceiling, the old gal reversed out of the warehouse. In the dimly lit opening, the Model A looked so sinister I thought the spirits of Bonnie and Clyde would jump out of nowhere. Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any ghosts and we hit the road.

This dashboard is as simple as it gets

The fenders can be any
color you want, as long as it's black

Right from the get-go, I was surprised by the Model A’s pick-up. Inside the city where the speed limit is 50 kph, it can keep up quite well with modern traffic. On the highway, though, it’s another story. Already, when this car came out, it was more than 25 years before the first interstate. So, with a 72 kph top speed, you’re getting overtaken by every vehicle except tractors. The little 4 cylinder is working hard to keep up and it seems as if increasing the speed by 3 kph, the engine will explode. 50-55 kph is the “fastest” it can go comfortably. Compared to the Model T’s counter-intuitive controls, the A was the first Ford to have a conventional, three-speed manual gearbox with the classic pedal placement. To put it into gear, you have to have the clutch pushed to the floor and baby the minuscule, round throttle pedal. The gearbox is unsynchronized so double-clutching is always required. With probably around 28 hp, you can’t expect to have fun while speeding. On the contrary, even at city speeds, the Model A is quite lively. Already it’s got ground clearance that surpasses numerous SUVs because, back in the day, dirt roads were a common sight. We tested the suspension on a very bumpy piece of tarmac. The car was bouncing about like a rabbit while playing at full volume the only song on the non-existent radio: “A million nerve racking clicks and cracks”.  At some point, the starter got stuck and started whining . While I was freaking-out, thinking that we would be left stranded, Michel said “Whatever, I’ll hit it with a hammer at home and it will unstick itself.” … and it worked. What about the brakes? Forget about it. Spongy as hell, the only way to stop in a hurry is by ramming the car in front.  The Model A might get a scratch or two but you won’t even feel the impact!

Matching tires and top

In conclusion, this 1928 Model A is a car full of personality. Even if I find its design slightly generic compared to other cars of the era, it is dripping with charm. The contrast between the three main colors (turquoise, black and beige) accentuates the car’s lines and makes people of all ages smile. You get many more thumbs up in this than in a Porsche or a Ferrari. Then, all the little details, like the whitewall tires, the flower vase, the carved side windows, add up to a very authentic experience. It was my first time in an automobile from the 20’s and, at whichever speed, it’s fun and sensational. 50 kph or crossing the light on orange have never felt so sketchy and scary. Honestly, you don’t drive this car; you ride it like a carriage or a moving bathtub. If you’re looking for such an old antique and you’re willing to put up with the extra maintenance, you should consider the Model A. The parts are plentiful and you’ll spread joy wherever you go in it.

Many thanks to Michel for taking me for a ride in his Model A and for preserving this jaw-dropping automobile! I might not have lived in the 20's but I got to experience how driving was back then. That's already a success in itself!