It’s surprising that the oldest remaining Model A Ford is for sale to the general public. You would think it would be locked away in a museum now, but this poor Ford just can’t seem to find a stable home. It is a meticulously restored, red 1903 Ford Model A and is being sold for the third time in five years. Perhaps the third time will be the charm for this gorgeous vehicle from days gone by. It has had only five owners over the past 109 years and as the one of the first three cars every made by Ford Motor Company, you would think it would be a hot item.
This Model A Ford is being auctioned off to a lucky sixth owner in Hershey Pennsylvania at the RM auction that takes place next month. In 2007 it sold for $693,000, so it is expected to get a pretty price again this year. When it was originally sold, the price was $850 which makes this a more than 81,000% appreciation if you don’t adjust for inflation. Not too many cars can say that.
While this is being touted as the oldest remaining Ford, there are two other ones that can’t be located. There is a Model A #9 and Model A #11 still out there, somewhere, and hopefully not disintegrating away on someone’s back forty. Until they are found though, this current Ford Model A #30 is the oldest known vehicle produced by the Ford Motor Company. The pre-auction prices will be anywhere from $300,00 to $500,000.
As for the Model A’s history, it was originally owned by a butter maker in Britt, Iowa by the name of Herbert L. McNary. The car was sold to Harry E. Burd, another Iowa resident in the 1950s for $400 and this Harry restored the car to cherry condition and sold it to a Swiss Ford Dealer in 1961, we don’t know what price, but we expect for a good deal more since it was restored. Then in 2001 an anonymous owner bought it and shipped it back to America which seems fitting of this piece of United States history. Then John O’Quinn bought it at an auction, for the hefty price listed above in 2007.
Source Hemmings