Newer doesn’t always mean better.
At the Oklahoma State Fair this year, Ram set up an obstacle course to show off its new trucks. The course consisted of a dirt road with bumps that got progressively bigger.
The course did catch the eyes of spectators — but likely for a different reason than Ram expected. While the trucks weren’t performing, a guest tested their 1928 Ford Model A sedan on the course.
The nearly century-old automobile passed with flying colors.
Rather than getting caught in the dirt or stuck on a bump, the car drove like it was on any other road.
“That’s exactly the kind of road that car was built for,” one person commented on the video.
“That IS what a lot of roads were like in 1928,” another user added.
Built for Unpaved Roads
As the commenters implied, the car’s success is not that surprising. Until the 1930s, unlike today, many roads were constructed of dirt and unpaved.
“At the beginning of the year 1913, 90%, or approximately 2,000,000 miles, of the roads in this country were earth. The repair and proper maintenance of earth roads are therefore of great importance,” a 1913 U.S. Department of Agriculture report reads.
For most travelers back then, driving on dirt roads was the norm. Drivers mostly drove on paved roads, as in cities today.
About the 1928 Ford Model A Sedan
The 1928 Ford Model A sedan was launched by the Ford Motor Company.
Ford introduced the car as a fresh alternative to the Model T — and buyers were happy to get a new ride.
It also helped that the Model A was among the most affordable car options, selling for around $500.
Additionally, the Model A was Ford’s first car to feature controls such as a brake pedal and a gearshift. By February 1929, a whopping one million had been sold, and five months later, a million more.
By March 1930, over three million Model As had been bought by consumers, and Ford had added nine designs to its catalog.
End of an Era & Today’s Market
But all good things must come to an end. In 1932, Ford sadly stopped producing the automobile.
Yet classic automobile lovers can still buy their own Model A.
With an average price of $15,316, Classic.com has many for sale in a dedicated section. Car sites like AutoTrader, ClassicCars.com and Hemmings also have options available.