The Ford Model 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 2, it replaced the venerable Model T, which had been produced for 18 years. This new Model A (a previous model had used the Model A name back in 1903) was designated as a 1928 model and was available in four standard colors, but not black.
The successor to the Model A was the Model B which featured an updated 4-cylinder engine, and by the Model 18 which introduced Ford's new V8 engine.
Prices for the Model A ranged from US$385 for a roadster to $570 for the top-of-the-line Fordor. The engine was an L-head 4-cylinder with a displacement of 3.3 L. This engine gave the car 40 horsepower. Typical fuel consumption was between 25 and 30 mpg (U.S.) (8 to 12 kilometres per litre or 12-8 L/100 km using a Zenith one-barrel carburetor, with a top speed of around 65 mph (104 km/h). It had a 103.5 in (2629 mm) wheelbase with a gear ratio of 3.77:1. The transmission was a 3-speed sliding gear unit with a 1-speed reverse. The Model A had 4-wheel mechanical drum brakes.
The Model A came in a wide variety of styles: Coupe (Standard and Deluxe), Business Coupe, Sport Coupe, Roadster Coupe (Standard and Deluxe[] ), Convertible Cabriolet, Convertible Sedan, Phaeton (Standard and Deluxe), Tudor (Standard and Deluxe []), Town Car, Fordor (2-window) (Standard and Deluxe), Fordor (3-window) (Standard and Deluxe), Victoria, Station Wagon, Taxicab, Truck, and Commercial.
The vehicle was the first Ford to use the then standard set of driver controls, with conventional brake and clutch pedals, throttle and gearshift; previous Ford models used controls that often perplexed the inexperienced driver. The Model A's fuel tank was located just behind the engine and elevated above the carburetor so the fuel flow did not require a fuel pump.In cooler climates the owners of a Ford Model A could purchase a cast iron unit to place over the exhaust manifold to bring heat from the warm radiator and manifold into the passenger side of the cab through the fire wall.
A small door could be opened or closed to adjust the amount of hot air entering the cab. In the summer, some people would take the cast iron adaptor off the manifold to keep the cab cooler. The windshield would also hinge out from the bottom to allow air to flow into the cab for cooling. Also this was the first car to have safety glass in the windshield.
When production ended in March, 1932, there were 4,849,340 Model A's made in all styles.