1929 Ford Model A Roadster - the Oppositelock Review

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 05/27/2015 at 10:45 • Filed to: oppo review, model a, patina

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[Full disclosure: Ford wanted me to drive this car so bad every single engineer, even Henry Ford himself died in their quest to hunt me down and get me to write it up for Oppo. Long forgotten in the woods of Downeast Maine and adorned with aftermarket accesories, I was finally able to fulfill their wishes and go for a drive. I sacrificed most of my blood to the black flies to do so.]

So here it is, one ‘29 Model A Roadster, owned by my girlfriends father and kept inside a garage and chicken coop. Old man Ford probably never envisioned Billy the Bass strapped to the back bumper as anti-tailgating bait, but I still had the chance to first get chauffeured around in the rumble seat with my lady for a while - but also to flog it on some logging trails. Probably very similar to what counted for roads up there when this thing was shiny and new. So here it is, the Oppo Review

Exterior - 8/10

While in pretty tough shape, I am giving it many points for patina. It certainly wears that well. The car is currently on it’s second owner after being abandoned by the originals family for decades. It appears the red 2 tone on the body was added somewhere in it’s second decade of life, and alot of the rotted body panels have been replaced. Haters to the left please, it is all there and I could fix it with a rattle can in an hour, but why would anyone want to?

Interior - 3/10

There are seats, or what is left of them, in there. The drivers seat wears the remnants of a material you might find on a chair in your great grandmothers dining room (in green, my favorite!) but that is hidden by a nasty old comforter. The rumble seat is a straight frame with bare springs, covered by a nastier comforter. Alot of you may say 0/10, but they work. It isn’t milk crates - though if that was what was in there, you bet I would have driven it still. Door held shut with a bungee, of course. Below is the rumble seat, this would be a case of zero fucks given as well

Engine - 7/10

Solid, still runs after the better part of 9 decades. The note is somewhat intoxicating when you hit the go pedal with noone but the birds around. Here is how you start it up, filmed during my tutorial before setting out.

Transmission - 10/10

If you can drive a manual with no syncros, this is one shining star in the A’s repertoire. 3 speed on the floor, dogleg 1-2-3. Keep your double clutch game strong, and it rewards you. You can roll out in first and skip to second before you get on the gas. 3rd is long but needed. Too much spirited driving without letting it settle in 3rd causes a touch of overheating.

Handling - 5/10

Being fortunate enough to drive it in the dirt, I just treated it like a big go kart. Steering was heavy, mechanism was sticky in a few places, tires too bald and skinny to grip, but god damn is it fun. I did catch a bit of Oppo, but not really at any fantastic rate of speed. Last thing I wanted to do was end up in a ditch miles from home with no seatbelt on.

Brakes - 1/10

I am just laughing about this. The fronts were barely there, the rears faded in about 2 seconds, and the e brake was a ghost. Watch the above video of bombing a hill with barely any brakes and laugh along with me (severe wind buffering in the video, beware). Mechanical brakes are easy enough to adjust. Next time I go up there I will give them some love.

Reliability - 8/10

On the high side, because though I stalled it a few times and overheated it, it started right back up and got us back. Also it is an ancient Ford that still runs year after year with a trickle charger on the battery. It has also been taken more than 50 miles away last summer. It is doing better in the reliability department than it’s prewar Ford room mates at least

Toys - 10/10

I mean the damn thing is a big toy. If you mean “modern amenities” you are dead to me. Here is a demonstration of the cupholder device, which actually held the cups on a run up the street.

Value - 10/10

You cannot have this much fun in a car for under a grand, and closer to half that. It is impossible. Torchbug has been with this car as well last year. It agrees

Billy the Bass thanks you for reading, and plugs in another 10/10 to make it 71 out of 100

CalzoneGolem > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:52

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I am so jealous right now.

Leon711 > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:52

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Lion King? Pow! Right in the childhood.

505Turbeaux > Leon711 05/27/2015 at 10:53

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haha I was wondering who was going to pick up on that

505Turbeaux > CalzoneGolem 05/27/2015 at 10:54

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it awaits you taking a trip up there with me

Then Something New > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:54

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Model A’s will last forever. My grandfather has a similarly conditioned truck and he still uses it to do work around his yard. He got it because it’s a ‘29 the same year he was born. The no synchros certainly make you pay attention when driving.

Jcarr > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:54

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Does Billy sound like this? If so, I wouldn’t tailgate.

CalzoneGolem > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:54

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Can I bring my own comforter? :p

505Turbeaux > Jcarr 05/27/2015 at 10:55

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hahahahahaha it is so close it isn’t funny. Ol Billy has seen some weather

BrainForest > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:56

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No-see-ums? Hate those little bastards.

505Turbeaux > Then Something New 05/27/2015 at 10:57

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Awesome, actually there is an A truck in the family too, in pretty awesome but dusty shape. This will have to be the next review...

Leon711 > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 10:57

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I also know what you sound like when you say “yup”.

505Turbeaux > CalzoneGolem 05/27/2015 at 10:58

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yes, you should. Damn those things were ratty

505Turbeaux > BrainForest 05/27/2015 at 10:59

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my legs are ridiculous. Here is proof of the blood letting...

jjhats > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:05

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why was I under the impression the driving pedals and shifting and everything was not the same as a modern manual car? I thought the model A had some weird shit like a a pedal for reverse and other nonsensical stuff that is not the same as todays cars?

EL_ULY > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:06

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OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!

BrainForest > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:08

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Uff da.

thebigbossyboss > Leon711 05/27/2015 at 11:11

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He sounds like ducky from land before time.

$kaycog > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:11

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That is absolutely magnificent!!

thebigbossyboss > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:12

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That’s awesome. Gaaaaaahhhhh. I still need to figure out how to get to Maine!!

RazoE > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:12

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mmmhhhmmm...

505Turbeaux > $kaycog 05/27/2015 at 11:14

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thanks $kay, I didn’t know what I was rolling out this weekend, but this was one of the more interesting things I could have taken. Preferable to the ‘15 Stingray even

$kaycog > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:15

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I love it!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:15

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Hakuna matata.

505Turbeaux > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/27/2015 at 11:16

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indeed haha

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:17

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Best Torchbug photo is best.

BrainForest > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/27/2015 at 11:22

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Haven’t seen Torchbug in a while. Is he still out there somewhere?

ttyymmnn > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:23

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Here’s how you start it.....

“Yup? Yup?”

How fucking Maine is that???

extraspecialbitter > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:26

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Horry cwap! It runs well! And the balls on you guys for driving a car with no brakes down a hill!

1000/10

505Turbeaux > ttyymmnn 05/27/2015 at 11:26

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I wish I could boost the volume on the old man, he is maine as it comes

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:27

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Just be honest with us: you told them you were from Jalopnik and they let you drive it.

CB > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:28

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Blackflies, you say? (I have been spamming this in Oppo chat for the last two days)

Great review!

505Turbeaux > extraspecialbitter 05/27/2015 at 11:28

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it was something else. On the dirt with no brakes to speak of was interesting as well!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:29

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1929 Cupholders

505Turbeaux > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 05/27/2015 at 11:29

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that was oddly all it took!

505Turbeaux > CB 05/27/2015 at 11:31

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good lord it is so true. They were out something hardcore.

505Turbeaux > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 05/27/2015 at 11:31

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the realest

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BrainForest 05/27/2015 at 11:41

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http://liveandletdiecast.kinja.com/calling-all-wi…

Mattbob > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 11:48

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“second owner, clean carfax”

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > BrainForest 05/27/2015 at 11:50

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Found the Scandinavian!

BrainForest > banjo cat ghost of oppo past 05/27/2015 at 11:54

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Lol, Minnesotan, which I suppose is Scandahoovian by proxy.

I live in NYC now, and I tell my Jewish friends that Uff Da is about the same as Oy Vey.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 12:06

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Killing me, man, this is a dream come true and you have no idea how prescient this is. Don’t know if you saw this , but I’ve been trawling Craigslist for beat up old Fords lately. I wouldn’t change a damn thing on this one though!

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 05/27/2015 at 12:09

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see, just means you need make sure you get some extra days off around Watkins man!

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > BrainForest 05/27/2015 at 12:16

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Hah YES yes you are, and yes it is. I’m exactly half by way of Norway in North Dakota, abouts an hour from the Canadian border. You pretty much have to be to live up there.

..is that an MGA?

CaptDale - is secretly British > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 12:26

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Damn I want an old Model A

Then Something New > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 12:30

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Love it! I always like the incredible practically of the truck body. I’m jealous you got to drive it on a dirt road. I would imagine that’s where the narrow tires really shine.

Word of advice, driving on brick roads is comically bouncy in one of these.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 12:34

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You cannot have this much fun in a car for under a grand

Orly?

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/27/2015 at 12:35

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looks like you are having fun UNDER a car for under a grand :P

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 12:38

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Car was a grand, and tons of fun. Now much more than a grand, but a monster in the corners. I could have driven it as a beater as it was with no money at all put into it.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 13:15

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Trying to, not sure I can make it work though. My wife will be 8 months pregnant by then, and I have to take time off to go to her family reunion up by Yosemite the following week.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 05/27/2015 at 13:20

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oh yeah man, no worries there if that is the case!

BrainForest > banjo cat ghost of oppo past 05/27/2015 at 13:25

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Not as such...

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 13:31

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There will be a 505/TFritch/Ramblin mad scientist fest at some point in the future. It can’t not happen. That fam reunion will take me up to the in-law’s river cabin, where there are some 505-worthy things stuck in the silt. I haven’t been up there in 3 years, since our first daughter was born, so I’m looking forward to checking that stuff out again & getting pics to share.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 05/27/2015 at 13:46

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yes!!!

JR1 > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 15:11

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Very cool. Looks lie it was a lot of fun. I love that it still has 29 plates on the car. Cool little detail

505Turbeaux > JR1 05/27/2015 at 15:24

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I love the town designation too on top of the front plate, never changed over all those years (well, same island at least!)

Sn210 > BrainForest 05/27/2015 at 15:35

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Last seen in Missouri, en route to Chi-town

http://liveandletdiecast.kinja.com/my-long-looonn…

JR1 > 505Turbeaux 05/27/2015 at 15:39

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Part of to local history. I decree it can never leave the island!

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > BrainForest 05/27/2015 at 21:23

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...that was my first guess.