Dear Mr. Klinger, I managed to find a link to you website, 365 days of a, when I was on Youtube looking at Model A videos. I think your project was a ambitious and pretty cool. I myself have an older car as a daily driver and I must say that driving an older vehicle is a unique experience that a large percentage of my generation won't get to experience. With that being said, I understand most of the challenges that you faced, but one. How did you get around the fear of having a crash?
Anonymous
You ask a good question and I planned on people asking this question much more than they did. The way I looked at it was bottom line there is risk in everything you do in life. Was there a risk of something bad happening to me and the car? Certainly…
However, I do think there are a few things in my favor when driving old cars like the Mighty Model A. First of all, I am not on the interstate traveling with vehicles at 70+ MPH so eliminate that variable. Secondly (and in my opinion, more importantly) knowing the limits of an older car actually forces you to be a better driver. More specifically, seeing that the brakes are not as good as modern cars you intinctively don’t tailgate people, leave more space, and start slowing down much sooner. When something unexpected happens you have a much better chance of reacting because you aren’t so close to other cars. Thirdly, driving a car like this is a two hands on the wheel experience meaning you aren’t tempted to look at your smart phone, text, or eat while driving simply because it really doesn’t work if you try to.
Again…there is always a chance and you never know what the other drivers will do. I guess to me the reward of enjoying an old car every day outweighed the risks involved.
Hi, I have really enjoyed reading about your project and it has inspired me to complete the model A I inherited from my Dad. One question - in the youtube video you mention having radial tires from Cooker, but I looked on their website and can't find any. Can you tell me the brand and size you have? Thanks
Anonymous
Go to www.cokertire.com and give them a call. You are looking for Excelsior Radials for stock Model A wheels. It isn’t obvious on the website but if you talk to someone on the phone they will help you out.
Mileage? Have you taken exact mileage numbers? Did you also include the average elevation numbers along side the mileage numbers? And how is the on-hill from stop to go?
Anonymous
I average 18 MPG…sometimes lower and occasionally a little higher in above ideal conditions. I didn’t track elevation with every tank but the majority of my travels were at elevations under 1,000 feet.
How many MPG do you typically get if you ever calculate it? I've heard you can get 30MPG if you are conservative? Also how often do you smell the car's exhaust from within the cabin, since it has no emissions controls? Probably at stop lights? Thanks and keep going with it.
Anonymous
I have also heard people claim 25-30 MPG and I can tell you that after more then 20,000 miles in my Model A I don’t think that is a realistic claim. The BEST that I have recorded is 22 MPG…and that is with a Mitchell Overdrive. In normal mixed driving I average 18 MPG. The exhaust fumes are rarely an issue for me. The only time I noticed fumes in the cab was if I let it sit and run in the garage (with the door open of course).
please tell me of the tires you have on car. I understand they are radials. What sizes do you have and do you have a link to the company that makes them. thanks,,
Anonymous
The tires are Excelsior radials and can be found at www.cokertire.com. Give them a call and tell them the year of your Model A (different years have different size rims) and tell them you are looking for the Excelsior radial replacements for your stock wheels. You won’t regret the purchase of these tires!
Just found you 10 minute video on you tube great info. Please tell me what's the name of the blue paint. I have a 30 coupe that is a very dark blue and would like a lighter shade. Thanks A-Jay
Anonymous
The techical name for the paint is Washington Blue. However, the previous owner lightened the color one shade beyond that so it is slightly lighter than most other Model A’s with Washington Blue.
Greetings old friends! I wanted to check in and say that the Mighty Model A is back on the road again for another season and is in the middle of a long road trip. Back when I was near the end of the year long project I took a road trip down to the Gilmore Museum for the ground breaking ceremony for the Model A Museum building. (You can read that post at http://www.365daysofa.com/post/10304333226/day-339-gilmore-museum.) Well, tomorrow is the ribbon cutting ceremony for the finished museum so the Mighty Model A is making the trip to witness this exciting event. This same friend and co-worker is with me so we are both looking forward to checking out the new museum. 
May 18, 2013
