This is going to sound like a dumb question but is there a difference between a 1928 Ford Model A and a 1929 Ford Model A? If so, what is it?
I am not sure of the exact dates of production but standard coupes were made in 1928, and special coupes, with the leather tops, were made in 1929. I do not know about the other body styles
The "judging standards" will tell the true differences. To me, within the obvious '28-'29 and the '30-'31 groupings, the changes and differences were along a continuum. Extra holes in the frames, when the 2-tooth steering box actually came in, cast vs stamped fender braces, and such didn't really happen between model runs/years but according to revisions which came out continually - like every two weeks or so. I'll add, it's quite rare to find an A, regardless of condition, that is all original to it's production day specs "as Henry built it". JMO, D
On a Roadster or Roadster pickup on the 28 no outside door handles. Early 28's AR's left hand brake. Also 28s brake lever in front of shifter. Early 28s beaver tail rear fenders, drum taillight.
Basically not much. Little small details that restorers get excited about, but most hot rodders will just throw in the swap meet pile.
If you can get a look at the Judging Standards put out by the MAFCA and MARC, there are dozens of small changes. I get a laugh when someone states that all Model A frames were the same, as there were over two dozen small changes to the frame alone. There were changes almost weekly and yes, restorers do get excited about finding the correct dated parts. I would bet that the Model A is the most documented vehicle produced.
I have a 28A Roadster, owned it a long time ,first got it running as a hotrod in 1959. Get ask sometimes at shows,why there is no outside door handel?,,It's a 28,Ford added out side roadster door handel in 29.
'28s had one taillight and it was bolted to the drivers side lower edge of the body. '29s had two taillights, attached to the rear fenders. Here's a '28 sedan:
Chances are, when you buy one of these, the seller doesn't know for sure either. Not many of us are old enough for first hand experience and we are an old bunch of guys here. Things get mixed up when
They were mostly the same, but changes were made over time without an official year change. As said before, the Judging Standardsdocument the changes and when they were made. Older parts were generally used until no more of the old was around, so even the Judging Standards date of a change are not absolute. The oval window business coupe is considered a 29. The leatherback coupe is mostly a 28 model, iirc. Ford did not keep books on the numbers of these variants. My 29closed cab pickup was most likely actually a 28. Frame numbers were not the official ID, the identical engine number was the official ID. However, over the last 90 plus years, many motor changes were made without regard to engine and frame of matching years. Some A’s are registration numbered as the frame, some are numbered with the engine, and DMV staff are often ignorant of what is proper.per Henry Ford. I have one A that the VIN Verifier would not accept matching registration and engine number; he insisted on seeing the frame number. All 3 numbers matched . Another 29 A is registered by its 1931 engine number, but has a 1929 frame number. In summary, it probably does not matter what year the car is registered as.
There is actually a few differences between a 28 and 29 and there's no dead set date on when one thing ends and one thing starts, it's basically as Henry Ford ran out of the part he didn't like he replaced it with the next one for example early 1928 cars had a red steering wheel by about June or July of 28th they were gone replaced with the black steering wheel we are all familiar with. The only real difference in the hot rodding world is 28/29 cars the windshield piller body line goes all the way to the bottom of the cowl and it has a fatter shorter radiator shell.
For some reason people like to call their '28/'29s a 1928. Why it makes a difference, I don't know. For example, Ford only made 5, 1928 Station Wagon prototypes, but in the National Woodie Club there are about two dozen 1928's listed, we know that they are not '28s but who cares. Ford stamped an ID number on the frame under the left side cowl and on the drivers side of the engine. Also, from mid 1928 until September of 1929 the date of manufacture was stamped into the left side of the firewall. The frame number is the number that most DMV's use, as the engine can be replaced and was done so on Model A's frequently as engines were available for as little as $20.00. A complete timeline of most parts is available in the Judging Standards and that is what we use in the judging process.
They made Special Coupes from the middle of 28 until the middle of 29, there were Standard Coupes both years. My avatar is a 28 Special Coupe and the gray coupe is a 29 Special Coupe.
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