Known as the “Universal Car” for its simplicity and ubiquity, the Ford Model T no doubt possessed a certain charm; it was not exactly known for its style, however, especially by the time production wound down in 1927. The Model A that arrived for 1928 was greatly improved mechanically, most notably thanks to its 40-horsepower 200.5-cubic-inch inline four and sliding-gear three-speed transmission. The Model A also boasted a surprisingly diverse catalogue of available bodies, as even Henry Ford was forced to concede that aesthetics, too, helped sell automobiles.
Budget-minded buyers could get a basic Model A Tudor or Fordor sedan or a useful pickup truck, but Ford would also offer a rakish Phaeton and even a Town Car for those who preferred to be chauffeured! In 1930, the Model A Victoria joined the lineup. Immediately identifiable by its slanted “bustle back” rear end, the Victoria could be had in either cloth-topped (by Briggs) or steel-topped (by Murray) forms.
Story by RM Sotheby’s
