An All American Truck: 1930 Model A Pickup
By Richard Dryer, Photography by Rick Cooper
– – When Mike and Ruthie Hauser married about 56 years ago, she was well aware that old cars were going to be a part of their relationship. When Mike’s brother purchased a Ford Model A pickup truck and had a difficult time keeping it running, Mike, the better mechanic, purchased the truck from his brother and has owned and enjoyed it ever since. As time went on, the truck got harder to start and its age showed. “Every time I closed the door, about a pound of rust would fall out,” says Mike with a large grin. He knew it was time for a complete restoration.
Mike worked for many years as an engineer at the Navy Lab and had planned his retirement a couple of years in advance. He remembers his late wife’s comments; “Why don’t you find a place away from home to work on the truck and not be under foot.”
Mike took the advice and purchased a commercial building to house the Model A project. He started by completely dismantling the vehicle and worked on the frame and drive train first. Fortunately, one of the previous truck owners had exchanged the original engine with the 1936 flathead engine that has crankshaft bearings – it made the rebuild easier. An unusual part is the heater. It is actually part of the cast iron molded exhaust header and shaped like a small trumpet. Fresh air travels in the front of the exhaust heater and is forced through the header manifold and directed into the passenger compartment. The amount of air can be adjusted via a small vent opening. But only very little warm air enters into the passenger compartment when the truck is not moving.
The flat head engine develops about 65 horsepower and has a two barrel carburetor. Model A trucks were equipped with a three speed manual transmission with reverse gear. During the restoration, the body required welding and straightening of rust holes and dented panels. Once he had the chassis capable of running and driving, Mike’s grandchildren were allowed to ride around the back streets in it – fond memories. Once all the bodywork was complete, the truck was painted green with black fenders. Metal or wood bed floors were originally available from Ford and Mike built his own wooden floor because he liked the look of wood more than the painted metal floor.
Mostly by himself, it took Mike about a year and a half to complete the work. He has pictures that document the restoration hanging on the wall in his woodshop. He remembers that Ruthie enjoyed the truck and didn’t mind riding in it in parades. Nowadays the truck doesn’t see much use, maybe 500 miles or so a year. But as a highlight, Mike enters the truck in the annual Panama City Veteran’s Parade and the Lynn Haven 4th of July Parade. A life-size Uncle Sam sits in the passenger seat and Mike has constructed a pulley to make Uncle Sam’s right arm wave to the crowd – spectators love it!
Mike remembers driving the truck to work several times during his days as engineer at the Navy Base and found traveling across Hathaway Bridge with the mechanical brakes quite challenging during rush hour traffic.
Ford Motor Company started production of the Model A in 1927 and by February 4th 1929 one million Model A trucks had been sold and by July 24th two million had been sold. By March 1930 three million trucks had been built with nine body styles available. In addition to building the Model A in the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Ford built the Model A in plants located in Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, UK, and Denmark. A total of 4,858,644 Model A trucks were recorded being build worldwide and were available in four colors. The trucks were named and advertised as “commercials” at first before the name “pickup” was coined. A small van also carried the “commercial” name. It is estimated that a couple of hundred thousand Model A trucks still exist in the US.
Even today, the Model A passenger and truck bodies are a huge second success for Ford in the “Hot Rod” market. Large Ford swap meets across the country are held every year and the Model A is a huge part of the sales. George Barris, renown designer and builder of many custom cars that could be seen in Hollywood movies, won two straight “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” awards at the Oakland Roadster Show with customized Model A Fords.
Mike’s fond memories of owning the Ford Model A for 45 years most often include his late wife Ruthie and all the good times they had. Although Mike misses Ruthie greatly, he has not slowed down. He is still very active in his wood working shop where he makes and restores furniture and he finds caring for his Model A truck quite enjoyable.
The truck is not for sale, Mike says; “I am going to be buried in it”. But really he plans to pass it on to his children.