Ford Model A (1927–31)

The Ford Model A, the successor to the Model T which was sold for 18 years, was also produced in Europe, South America and under license in the Soviet Union. The automobile was built from October 20, 1927 as the Model 1928 and sold from December 2. The Model A was available in four standard colors, but not in black. On the other hand, for manufacturing reasons, the fenders were always painted black.

Prices ranged from $385 for a roadster to $570 for the luxury four-door "Town Car". The engine was a four-cylinder in-line engine with standing valves, a displacement of 3.3 litres, a single updraft Zenith carburettor and about 30 kW (40 hp). Typical fuel consumption was between 8 and 9 litres per 100 kilometres. The top speed of the Model A was about 104 km/h. It had a wheelbase of 103.5 inches (2.6 m) and a rear axle ratio of 3.77:1. The transmission was a 3-speed sliding gear transmission with reverse. The Model A had mechanically operated drum brakes on all wheels. Like the T, the A had rigid drawbar axles (pushed at the front) on transverse leaf springs. The Ford A was the first Ford with standard controls: it had accelerator, brake and clutch pedals and a gear lever.

The Model A was available in many versions: as a chassis (for bodies from other manufacturers), coupé (standard and deluxe), business coupé, sports coupé, roadster coupé (standard and deluxe), two- and four-seater convertible, convertible sedan, phaeton (standard and deluxe), Tudor (two-door, standard and deluxe), Fordor (four-door, two or three windows, standard and deluxe), Town Car, Victoria, station truck, taxi, truck and commercial. The 1928/1929 and 1930/1931 model years look slightly different, but are technically the same for the most part. For example, the 1928/1929 cars are equipped with 21-inch rims, while the 1930/1931 cars are equipped with 19-inch rims.

Production ended on August 31, 1931, with 4,320,446 cars built in all versions. The Model A was replaced by an updated model, called Model B by Ford.

The Russian Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod built a licensed version of the vehicle, the GAZ-A, from 1932 in a cooperative venture between Ford and the Soviet Union. From 1930 to 1933, the Gossudarstvenny Avtosprochny Zavod imeni KIM (Russian Государственный автосборочный завод имени КИМ, German Staatliches Automontagewerk names KIM), later Moskvich plant, had already assembled kits from Ford in Moscow.

Ford Model A Phaeton de Luxe (1929): radiator mascot

Ford Model A (1930)

Ford Model A Coupé (1931)

Model AA

Similar to the predecessor, there was also a truck on the same basis. It was called the Ford Model AA. It has longer chassis, a reinforced suspension with steel instead of spoked wheels and double tires for the heavier versions. There was also a licensed build of this model in the Soviet Union, the GAZ-AA. In addition, the Moscow Automobile Assembly Plant assembled kits supplied by Ford as from the passenger car.