1930 Ford Model A Pickup; 2-dr. closed cab pickup; Model 68-B
Owner: Bernie and Janice Taulborg Collection
Original cost: $645.00
Number made: 56,708
Engine, etc.: 4 cyl.; 200 cu. in.; 40 hp; 3 speed; 103.5 in. wheelbase; 2,273 lbs.
Henry Ford shut down production of Model T’s in June, 1927 so his plants could retool for the new Model A. Production didn’t resume until December, 1927. At that time, the only Model A pickup available was an open cab type with canvas side curtains and mica “windows” to keep the elements out.
A closed cab version of the pickup was released in August, 1928. It featured an all steel cab with roll-up door windows. Fenders, running boards, wheels, headlight buckets and the radiator grille were painted black on the vehicles, which came in either black or rock moss green. Some 26,171 pickups were produced for the 1928 model year.
In February, 1929, Ford released their 1929 Model A pickups with minor changes over the 1928 model. Exterior door handles were added to the open cab models and new exterior colors were offered.
The 1930 model year saw Ford redesigning all Model A’s including the pickups. They were superior in every way and much more sophisticated. They could do 60 mph and had a modern gearbox and electrical system and mechanical brakes on all four wheels instead of just two. The cowl was smoothed out, fenders restyled, the hood line was raised and a taller, thinner radiator was used. Closed cab models had an exterior sun visor over the windshield, a windshield that could be pivoted out from the bottom for cab ventilation, a new roof panel, and a cab with more rounded corners on the back. Open cab versions had a new top that could be removed and, once removed; the windshield could be laid flat on top of the cowl. Even with these changes and more color choices, pickup production dropped to 48,378 vehicles during this Depression year.
From a total of 1.5 million pickups made in 1929, production of Model A-based trucks continued to drop alarmingly. In July, 1931, Ford laid off 75,000 workers and closed 25 of 36 U. S. factories until sales showed some improvement. Ford produced 29,545 pickups that year before production of Model A trucks ceased in March, 1932.
Rumor had it that Henry Ford was working on a V-8 to get ahead of Chevrolet’s six and the new engine would be put in a new truck line that would replace the Model A based series.
Privately, Henry Ford knew it was all over for four-cylinder cars and trucks and he was well along in designing the Model A’s replacement.
Source: Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805 -1942. Beverly Rae Kimes, et al. 3rd ed. Krause Publications, 1996.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1930-1931-ford-model-a-truck.htm
See also: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/new/010211/1930%20Ford%20Trucks/dirindex.html (Original 1930 Ford trucks and light commercial cars brochure)