Report: Driving a Model A Ford Every Day, All Year

Many of us, observing a vintage car on the road, often wonder what it's like to drive one. Jonathon Klinger had the same thought, except that he was curious to know how it might feel to use a Model A as a daily driver for a period of one year. In particular, how the experience would compare to doing the same thing in a contemporary automobile. Backed by Hagerty Media, who actually came up with the idea, Klinger has agreed to act as the closest thing we've got to our great grandparents. He'll drive an 80+ year-old car every day, rain, shine, snow or tropical storm for the next year (when he's not traveling or can't rent a 1930 Ford Model A).

Hagerty Media thinks there's a great story in this and Jonathan is going to record the good, the bad and the hilarious in print, on the Web and in video for its magazine readers, Facebook fans and Website visitors. Although the car's daily use for the project precludes its insurance with Hagerty (therefore it is not insured by Hagerty), the point of it is, Hagerty wants people to know just how usable and easy to own great Pre-War vintage cars like the Model A really are.

The 1930 Model A being used for this project is not the same Model A that Hagerty employees restored (the employee restored Model A is far too nice to drive through the winter and it doesn’t have roll-up windows). But it is complete, unmarred, obviously in top mechanical condition, and ready to tackle frigid winter weather conditions along with the sunny summer days when Jonathon can motor along, top down, smiling back at envious onlookers. You can follow this journey through all of Hagerty's media properties, while a regular blog with photos and video will be posted to www.365DaysOfA.com.

Sidebar: I had the pleasure of driving a Model A pickup north of San Francisco a number of years ago. It was owned by a TV commercials director that I was filming with. After the shoot he took his wife and my girlfriend, and me, for a fairly lengthy ride. The ladies sat in the pickup bed, by the way. At around the midpoint of his planned journey, Alex's leg began to ache and so he asked me to take over for the ride home. (His left leg, missing from the knee on down, required a prosthetic.) I learned very quickly that old cars are indeed fun to drive but, compared to modern automobiles, they require a lot more muscle. And braking must be planned well in advance of how we'd normally react.

Thanks to contributor Nigel Matthews for this information. Nigel is Sales and Marketing Director of Hagerty Insurance in Canada. You can e-mail him at: nmatthews@hagerty.com

Comments

[taobao agent]

I love what you said.

[Devremülk]

i like to read your posts. thanks for this one.

[china wholesale store]

Nobody can stop the wheel of history.

[registry cleaners]

I like the green jeep in the photo.

[ghd online]

sooooo great post ,I love it.Ha, great !

[taobao buy]

Knowledge is important for us!

[taobao]

Never too old to learn.*

[al zim]

I hope you have the blessisng of God and a good insurance policy. Others on the road that are taking pictures of your car and texting about it can in a momemt of innattention ruin you life. Install some seat belts and s shouler harness since you have not other safety features.

[Philip Powell]

Well, if I were driving this car through the winter, I'd be glad to have the coupe!

[Harley Ferguson]

This looks like a fun blog. Not sure exactly which A he is driving. I think the blue 2-door, not the green coupe, but neither are open cars.

Harley