Ford Model A Sport Coupe 50A

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Introduced to the public in December 1927, the Model A was such a sensation that riot police had to be deployed outside Ford showrooms to control the crowds.

Taking Ford overnight from country cousin to country club, the Model A had a cachet lacking in the workhorse Model T and suddenly film stars and presidents were happy to pose next to one. Longer, lower-slung and better-suspended than its predecessor, it was powered by a Howard Hicks-designed 3,285cc, L-head four-cylinder engine developing 40bhp (twice the Model T's output) and boasted coil ignition and an integral water pump.

Mated to a three-speed manual gearbox, it gave up to 30mpg and had a top speed of 65mph with four-wheel drum brakes to bring it safely to a halt. When production finally ceased in 1931, over 4.3 million had been sold in no fewer than 22 different styles.

First registered in September 1930, this Model A is a rare right-hand drive Manchester-built car with Sports Coupe coachwork and rear dickey seat. In 1979 it was acquired by a Peter Longden who was to keep it for 28 years, treating to the car to a full body-off restoration during this period as documented by a vast number of bills and letters on file. This included fitting a fully rebuilt 24hp engine with new pistons etc, a high ratio rear axle, cast iron brake drums, 12v electrics, tow bar and a full interior retrim using correct materials throughout.

It then had two further owners before being acquired by the vendor in 2014. She has used the car regularly and looked after it well, including an engine overhaul with a Snyder high compression cylinder head, new radiator, five new tyres and upgraded LED lights front and rear so you can now see where you are going in the dark!

In very good order throughout and said to drive exceptionally well, it comes with a vast history file extending back to 1979 along with many old MOTs which show that it has covered some 10,200 miles in the last 20 years. Featured in The Automobile magazine in 2001 and on the front cover of the Model A Club magazine in 2005, this is a well-known and thoroughly sorted A that doubtless has decades of useful life ahead of it.

Only reluctantly for sale due to an impending house move, it has an MOT until February 2019 with no advisories recorded and is due to be driven over 50 miles to the sale.