shay model A

I'm lookig for some information on the Ford kit called the shay model a, how's the quality and how close to an original are they? I've never herd of one till today.. its a roadster. Any help Is appreciated

 

Shay is g*y!
Seriously, it's not really worth it. There is still lots if original model A stuff out there for cheap. They are getting up in age as well and you will be facing similar problems.

 

fiberglass body, it's not much like a real A. It was factory built, not a kit, afaik.

 

check ebay and you will see some listed , they seam to bring pretty good money. why i don't know...i wouldn't have one if you gave it to me. they are so far from original with a pinto 4 cylinder , mustang II front suspension and glass body. they do look like a Model A from about 25 feet but i wouldn't consider one rod material

just my opinion

 

Save your money!!!!!!!!!! They are a poor attempt at a reproduction Model A. Bob

 

They are pretty obviously not a Model A......An experienced car buff will spot one from a distance. They're a fiberglass car with the hood being metal, and every one I've saw the hood is a slightly different shade than the body.
I was told the fenders, splash aprons and body are all one piece so there's no making a highboy out of one. The dash is plastic and doesn't come close to looking good, in my opinion. Also, if you get the delux model, which most of the ones I see are, the've got twin sidemounts and with the fender none removable, you are pretty much limited to the stock narrow tire set up...
Running gear is that of a Pinto- four cylinder four speed or automatic. They drive about like a Pinto does, maybe a little more squirrely due to the narrow tires, but I felt comfortable at 55. Wouldn't push it much over that though, myself.
Having said all that- my uncle owns one and loves it. With the semi-modern drivetrain, he drives it constantly trouble free, and the general public sees a Model A. I'd own one as a daily driver, or even as is, if the price was really good, but I'd be under no illusions about what it is- a kit car that was sold through Ford Dealerships.
On top of everything else, the ones I've saw for sale around my area are priced around the same price as the real deal.
Hope this helps a bit...

 

Honestly,between a Shay and a Pinto,,,I'd take the Pinto! HRP

 

great car...if your not a car guy.
buy it, get a blow up doll for the passenger seat, a case of Odouls, and get the video series about hiking america's national parks.
phony car, girl, beer, and vacation.

 

I don't know what kind of info you are really looking for, but the Shay reproduction was sold through Ford dealerships in the early 1970s. Sorry, but I don't remember the exact years. You have to remember that this was at the same time as the beginning of the street rod movement and the vast array of high quality reproduction pieces that have come forth since.

As far as the Shay reproduction of a Model A, you could probably compare it to a Street Beast or whatever they are now known as compared to a '34 Ford... not a very authentic reproduction.

Dennis W. Parks
author of automotive how to books

 

Wasn't there another repop Model A roadster on International Scout chassis's?

 

yes, they were "Glassics" built in florida, had 302,c-4 and 9" rears,more leg room and actually uglier.

 

Father owned one years ago.Did'nt keep it long sort of an impulse buy.
Quality was Horrible.Doors fit so bad I thought they were for another car.
Finally gave up on trying to make it a better car and sold it.Pleny of Original Model A's and parts still out there.
Just my two cents.

 

I liked the Shay! Not the actual thing, but the ease with which someone could tell one.
The Pinto rack-and-pinion, stretched across the front where the 'A' gravel pan should have been...the obvious 'glass fenders, the wrong wheels, but furthermost:

That proud Pinto fat steering column that is now represented in the Spirit rods one can order...
I don't know who on the Ford Board of Directors gave the nod to sell these things at Ford dealerships, but he must have been a GM mole...

"Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open Shay..."

 

Say, (Shay...) did anyone ever see one in a 'body-off' situation?
I can only imagine what the frame looked like....If anybody knows, please mention it.

Oh, I'm having some Gibson Martinis, so my wit is razor sharp.....lay it on me. LOL

 

Guys,
I was just seeing what you all knew about them... Chill...ive never herd if one until today.. thanks for the info.. guy had offered me one that was really nice but.I have never seen one.. thanks guys

 

A shay as stated is a poor attempt at a model a. every single parts is different than original model a, that was mandated by ford when they produced it. the only thing nice about them is mustang parts can be installed farely easily. the frame from what i remember just looked like something someone threw together in their garage. almost like two frames mated together.

 

There was a Glassic roadster and a Glassic 2door Pheaton. Body proportions were a little more than ugly.

 

did'ent they have vw tail lights?

 

A guy I know built a hot rod out of a Shay, swapped in a 302 Ford engine, sprayed it red, and put some nice wheels and tires on it. Car actually turned out pretty nice for what it was, but he told me one time the frame cracked from the added weight and power and he had to do a patch job on it to get rid of it.

As everyone mentioned, they are a fake Model A and the quality wasn't really that swift. They were aimed at people who wanted something that looked like an old car but that had a modern 4 cylinder motor and automatic transmisson.

Resale value is in the dumpster too.

Don

 

I would rather drive a Shay than an A any day of the week. Especially if I really needed to get somewhere.

If you are average height/weight or greater, a Model A is just not comfortable, nor is it safe. Just try getting your foot on the brake pedal while in reverse.

Shay's are not a good clone of a Model A, but are close enough to fool the majority of the folks that glance at one. Kinda like faux Olds Rocket valve covers on an SBC.

They are reliable, parts are easy to source and they are very dependable. That is hard to say about a stock Model A. Furthermore, they are easy to start and drive, they have good brakes and they are great parade cars.

While not for everybody, there is a growing segment of the population that likes them. I cannot keep one in stock. If they are priced right, they sell immediately. Most have less than 10,000 miles on the odometer.

Resale value is actually pretty good. I feel a roadster in good condition will bring around $13k.

and the guy can actually drive it home!

if you do a google search, you will find tons of information as well as a website dedicated to the Shay vehicles.

 

Not something that a guy would want to take to hot rod shows but ok for the non car guy who wants an old looking car to haul his grandkids in parades or to the Ice cream shop in.

 

here is the one that was offered to me on trade... wasnt sure the deal with them like i said,

 

hmmm, looks like an effort was made to change up the look. The five lug hubs are of interest to me. The Shays had four lug, like the Pinto/Mustang II.

A wheel change could really make a difference. Obviously a previous owner was in search of a street rod appearance. Which may or may not be a good thing.

Don't walk away without further discussion and investigation.

 

they sent it to a professional rod shop and had alot of things changed. he drives it alot. only had like 16k miles on it. said it really does look nice and fit together well... he said the obvious, that its not a model a, but it looks good and he cruises it everywhere and it has all the power it needs....... i didnt wanna start a huge argument on here about them, i jsut wanted some info. i think with a few lil changes it could make a daily driver that you didnt have to worry about it getting all banged up and dirty. jsut drive it and enjoy it.,, ? am i wrong

 

From the pic, it's looks like a nice little run around car. Most wouldn't probably know at a glance. If the price were right, why not ? Looks like a fun grocery getter.

 

My grandfather had a shay when I was a elementary school aged kid. I can't remember much about it and he has passed so I can't ask, but he drove it daily when there wasn't snow. He also had a '32 roadster with a built flatty that he ripped around in often, but anytime he came to our house 30 miles from his, he was in that yellow shay...


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We at Specialized Auto Parts in Houston, and other wholesale Model A parts distributors, sold the Shay Motor Company boatloads of parts until they began to see financial problems and started cheapening up their cars. There were some 7-8 thousand of them built from a plan of 9,999 keeping them under the Federal requirements for crash-testing etc.
After the Shay company failed, the bodies and frames and other parts were sold to someone in TN if I remember right. They advertised new bodies for years after that.

We did a booming business for awhile selling our reproduction parts to Shay owners so they could upgrade their cars with Ford script hubcaps, step plates, bumper clamps etc.

I don't remember exactly but I think the Shay Company sold their Pinto-based cars through Ford/Merc dealers from about 76-79.

 

how much does he think it is worth?

 

The Glassic Company built their version of a Model A on mid-60s IH Scout chassis with 4cyl engines. The company folded and the moulds, frame jigs and parts were sold to the company in FL that has had many names and sells Cobras, Street Beasts, Tbirds and other generally unsavory kit cars.

 

he says he would like to see 8 grand out of it..... its like new. inside and out. he said its a very nice driver, my only issue was wanting to know the quality, if it was like a regular glass car that were real close. wasnt sure