1930 Ford Model A Coupe

Why Henry Ford Was Reluctant to Replace the Model T

This car is a car that Henry Ford never wanted to build. He firmly believed that the Model T was the ultimate car and changed his mind only when flashier, more modern cars made by his competitors cut deeply into the Model T’s sales.

History & Launch of the Ford Model A

Ford shut down its factories for nearly a year while the company worked to create a worthy successor to the “T.” During that time car sales everywhere slowed almost to a halt as people waited to see the “new Ford” before buying. When the Model A arrived in showrooms in 1927, even Ford’s huge and efficient factories were not able to keep up with the initial demand.

Production & Body Style Variations

Eventually, more than four million Model As were produced in a wide variety of body styles ranging from fundamental pickup trucks to formal town cars.

Generous gift of Rod Rowland

More from our automobile collection:

In our current exhibit, From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America, we present the origin story of the American automobile through 23 cars from Heritage’s permanent collection of antique and classic automobiles. Come along for a ride from the late 1800s to the 1960s and watch the car evolve from a horseless carriage to a streamlined symbol of freedom and independence.