Help the Dummy...What does AR stand for??

I've read about AR Model A roadsters and such, but have never heard of them before. What does it stand for and what are they? Thanks for the knowledge!

Dukes

 

I have no idea what the AR letters designate, but it is a term that is refering to early production 1928 model A's.

 

AR stands for 'after remodel' as in my 28 rpu is a AR 1928. Built in 1927 actually.

 

from Ahooga.com

Body Styles for P***enger Cars

<table border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr><td>Des.</td> <td>Style Name</td><td>Year</td></tr> <tr><td>_______</td> <td>_____________________</td><td>_______</td></tr> <tr><td>35A</td><td>Standard Phaeton</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>35B</td><td> Standard Phaeton</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>40A</td> <td>Standard Roadster</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>40B</td> <td>Standard Roadster</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>40B Dlx </td><td> Deluxe Roadster</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>45A</td><td> Standard Coupe</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>45B</td><td> Standard Coupe</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>45B Dlx </td><td>Deluxe Coupe</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>49A</td><td> Special Coupe </td><td>1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>50A</td><td> Sport Coupe</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>50B</td><td> Sport Coupe</td> <td>1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>54A</td><td> Business Coupe</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>55A</td> <td>Tudor Sedan</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>55B</td> <td>Tudor Sedan</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>60A</td><td> Fordor (brown top)</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>60B</td><td> Fordor (black top)</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>60C</td><td> Fordor (steel top)</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>68A</td> <td>Cabriolet</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>68B</td><td> Cabriolet</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>68C</td><td> Cabriolet (slant windshield) </td><td>1931</td></tr> <tr><td>135A</td> <td>Taxicab</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>140A</td> <td>Town Car</td><td> 1928-29</td></tr> <tr><td>150A</td><td> Station Wagon</td> <td>1928-30</td></tr> <tr><td>150B</td><td> Station Wagon</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>155A</td><td> Town Sedan (Murray)</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>155B</td><td> Town Sedan (Briggs)</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>155C </td><td>Town Sedan (Murray)</td> <td>1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>155D</td><td> Town Sedan (Briggs)</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>160A</td><td> Fordor Sedan</td><td> 1931</td></tr> <tr><td>160B</td><td> Town Sedan (slant windshield) </td><td> 1931</td></tr> <tr><td>160C</td><td> Delux Fordor (Blind Quarter)</td><td> 1931</td></tr> <tr><td>165A</td><td> Standard Fordor (Murray) </td><td>1929</td></tr> <tr><td>165B</td><td> Standard Fordor (Briggs)</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>165C</td><td>Standard Fordor (Murray)</td> <td>1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>170A</td><td> Two-Window Fordor</td><td> 1929</td></tr> <tr><td>170B Std </td> <td>Standard Fordor</td><td> 1929-30</td></tr> <tr><td>170B DL </td><td>Deluxe Fordor</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>180A</td> <td>Deluxe Phaeton</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>190A</td> <td>Victoria Coupe</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>400A</td><td> Convertible Sedan</td> <td>1931
</td></tr> </tbody> </table>

Body Styles for Commercial Models

<table border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr><td>Des.</td> <td>Style Name</td><td>Year</td></tr> <tr><td>________ </td> <td>_____________________</td><td>_______</td></tr> <tr><td>66A</td><td> Delux Pickup</td><td> 1931</td></tr> <tr><td>76A</td><td> Open Cab</td> <td>1928-30</td></tr> <tr><td>76B </td><td>Open Cab</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>78A</td><td> Pickup</td> <td>1928-31</td></tr> <tr><td>78B</td><td> Pickup (wide bed)</td><td> 1931</td></tr> <tr><td>79A</td><td> Panel Delivery</td><td> 1928-30</td></tr> <tr><td>79B</td><td> Panel Delivery</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>82A</td><td> Closed Cab</td><td> 1928-30</td></tr> <tr><td>82B</td><td> Closed Cab</td><td> 1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>130B </td><td> Deluxe Delivery</td> <td>1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>225A </td><td> Panel Delivery (drop floor) </td><td>1930-31</td></tr> <tr><td>155A </td><td> Special Delivery </td><td>1931</td></tr> <tr><td>295A </td><td> Town Car Delivery</td><td> 1930</td></tr> <tr><td>195A </td><td> Town Car Delivery (slant windshield) </td><td> 1931</td></tr></tbody> </table>

 

The AR designation is just shorthand for early Model A with numerous variations from 1929-31 stuff when it is applied to a car.

It is actually a part number suffix:

When the car was introduced, let us say the gear shift ball was A-7213. Then, if the design changed, the original type is re-marked as A-7213A and the new one is A-7213B if the B version becomes the replacement in the parts catalog for both.
If the new version used in production cannot fit the earlier cars (true of many '27-8 time period A mechanicals), then the early version becomes A-7213AR and the new one is still A-7213B, with notes in catalog as to years or whatever they fit.
AR means 1st version R, with the R probably meaning replacement. It clearly designates a a part that is sold from parts counter because newer part cannot be used for the early application, so now parts guy stocks 2 different shift knobs.
BR parts also exist meaning ANOTHER early part not serviceable by the new...

AR and BR does not always mean super early, either...many times it jut divides a 1928-9 part from the restyled '30-31.

 

There is a drop dead gorgeous 1928 AR Roadster for sale up here, 100% correct and restored, No outside door handles, crooked louver hood, Fluted headlight lenses, Red hoses and steering wheel.... and all the other little things, like I said 100% correct,...

I will try to get pictures,.... but anymore, I'm really bad about actually doing it. soooo no promises.

 

There were lots a odd features to early A Models, and they were changed out over a span of time in 1928...along with visual details above, different brake system, multi-disc clutch, stuff like that that usually doesn't involve the pieces that go into a hotrod. There was a continuum of cars with various combinations of the early parts as they dropped out of use and the car evolved into the normal '28-9 that saw VERY high production.

 

Yup!! You guys are right. The AR was the early 28 production car. It had a solid front motor mount, A crazy brake system that was mounted to the transmission, a mulitple disc clutch Narrower hubs for the rims. These are just a few of the things that were changed for the better. The real early cars had open end bumpers. (The first 200 A's I think)

Here another interesting bit of "A" trivia The Early 1930 car had the bead of the fender run around the front edge of the fender down to the mounting flange at the frame. If you have a couple of spares kicking around let me know!! In 35 years I've only seen 1!!!

The Old Tinbasher

You think I like "A"'s ,Original, Rodded it's OK