What's it like to drive a '34 Ford?

[Dixie]

Or any pre-WWII vehicle. I imagine they ride and behave nothing like a modern car, but I have never driven one. Have you?

(The closest I've come is riding in a T-bucket. That was akin to a carnival ride in a flowerpot.)

[Yorkie]

I’ve driven a ‘31 Model A a few times. It’s an involved driving experience for sure. The gearbox has no synchromesh so you are double de-clutching. Steering wanders as it’s a steering box with ancient bias tires so it follows the road. You have to retard the ignition to start and advance as you gather speed. My Dad had a coupe and it was always hot inside - and noisy. The Phaeton was more pleasant. We drove hundreds of miles in them on Model A club runs and they are fun if you like a challenging driving experience. When my Dad passed I was left the Coupe and my brother took the Phaeton. Eventually I sold the coupe so that should tell you a thing or two.

[wdfifteen]

In my job as editor of an antique truck magazine I've driven lots of them. Model T Fords, with their planetary transmission and throttle on the steering wheel are interesting - and weird. It drives more like a piece of farm machinery than a car.
I've driven Model A and Model AA Fords, and a '39 Ford COE dump truck that I embarrassed myself in by starting out in 1st gear. My '47 Dodge pickup was designed in the late 1930s so was basically a pre-war truck. I drove an old American LaFrance fire truck that may or may not have been pre-war. It's hard to tell since they updated them so infrequently.

[Otter74]

Only thing prewar that I've driven is a Model T, and it was an absolute riot. I had a giant smile on my face the entire time. The control layout is different (neutral/low/high pedal, hand throttle, etc.) but is easy to learn. As with anything that old, stopping requires some thinking ahead but you're never going very fast anyway.

[wdfifteen]

Somewhat related, here is an editorial I wrote for Vintage Truck about 25 years ago. It is mostly true and only slightly exaggerated for effect:

Jake's AA Ford

I have mixed emotions about Ford AA trucks. They are historically important, look kind of neat, and thousands of people love and swear by them.

But then, I’ve driven one.

It wasn’t much of a drive. In fact, I didn't leave the township, but I had a small field of straw to get under cover and the forecast was for rain. Having fun playing with a quaint old truck was not on my agenda. I need a truck. What I got was the use of Jake’s Ford AA.

My friend Jake, who passed away 12 years ago, owned a ’29 Ford AA flatbed. He was one of that strange breed who can be intensely proud of his truck even though it is a piece of junk that hasn’t seen regular maintenance since Ike was in the White House. He had been proudly driving this truck since the 1940s and didn’t seem to mind, or maybe he just didn’t notice, all its foibles and eccentricities. He probably didn’t realize it was a piece of junk and a death trap.

When I mentioned at the coffee shop that I needed a truck bigger than my pickup for a few hours Jake proudly announced that his AA was just what I needed and insisted that I borrow it. Maybe he thought that if I survived after beating myself up in that cramped cab and risking death at the wheel of that clattering heap, I, too, would find something endearing about the old wreck.

His driving instructions went something like this:
“The only funny thing about this truck is the door latch is broke so you gotta use this wire to tie it shut. Remember, when you shift from 2nd to 3rd push the clutch in, pull it in neurtral, and let the clutch out. When the engine gets pretty quiet, push the clutch in and shove ‘er into 3rd. She don’t idle good so if you wait too long and let the engine die, you have to start ‘er up an gun ‘er to get ‘er going, then try to catch it on the way down between runnin’ and not runnin’ – just when it’s nice and quiet but not all the way quiet. Now, don’t let ‘er die too many times ‘cause the battery’s about shot and if you run it down you’ll have to crank ‘er. The blinkers don’t work, so you have to use hand signals. Don ‘t try to use the brakes unless you got both hands on the wheel real good ‘cause they pull pretty bad – sometimes left and sometimes right, it depends. That’s all you have to remember.”

I was dreading the possibility of having to coast to the side of the road and crank start the engine every time I tried to shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. And the part about keeping both hands on the wheel when I used the brakes while using hand signals to announce my intentions – well, I wondered if Jake noticed that I only have two hands.

It occurred to me that all along old Jake may not have been as neighborly as we all thought. What we took as a lot of friendly waving all those years may have been Jake frantically trying to signal his turns and slow down at the same time. I didn’t question him. I figured if he’d been driving the truck successfully for 50 years it must be possible.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that that as soon as I took my foot off the throttle the engine tried to die, slowing the truck dramatically and minimizing the need for the brakes. I don’t know why the truck even had brakes. With its worn-out worm gear rear-end, I doubt it would have coasted down Pike’s Peak.

I forgot the “only“ funny thing about the truck and didn’t wire the door closed, so letting off the gas not only brought the truck to a near standstill, but sent the door swinging around to slam against the front fender. I spite of this distraction; I caught the engine before it died completely and ran the first stop sign I encountered in 3rd gear with a flapping door and a tottering load of straw at a blazing 2 ˝ miles an hour.

I got the hang of driving the AA soon, but I still stayed pretty busy there in the cab, sawing away on the wheel with one hand, furiously waving out the window with the other, and dancing on the gas and the clutch to keep the engine from dying. The whole thing might have been fun if I hadn’t had a load of soon-to-be wet straw on the back and a string of traffic blowing horns behind me.

I don’t know what happened to Jake’s truck after he died. It God has a sense of humor it is clattering through heaven with Jake at the wheel, grinning and waving at the angels – or signaling a left turn, who knows?

[unclebilly]

^^^^ well written.

[Superman]

Performance wise, trains are far more sporty and responsive. Let's take a look:

Brakes: Let's just say you need to plan ahead. I suppose that if you pulled real hard on the steering wheel you could get more pressure against the brake pedal but it still won't slow down very fast. From 20 mph, you might be able to stop in 50-60 ft. Maybe. If you're going really fast, like 50 mph, then you're going to need a football field length at least. Overall, brakes can be characterized as "frightening."

Steering was sluggish, and that's an understatement. Power steering was eventually offered as an option in the mid-'50s. Steering wheels in those days were huge, for greater leverage, and it still might take two people to make a sharp turn. You'll wish you had started braking much earlier. Lots of guys restore old 40s and 50s vehicles to all original.....then eventually install a modern Mustang front 'clip.' If it only does parades, great. But if you're going to drive it occasionally for fun, you'll install that 'clip.'

Acceleration? I think my cordless drill makes more torque.

[HobieMarty]

I have always wanted to experience riding in a rumble seat.

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[Dixie]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

I have always wanted to experience riding in a rumble seat.

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Pshaw, I've been in plenty of backseats. Haha

[oldE]

In the late 50s, an older neighbor had a Model A with what you might call a convertible top and a rumble seat. My sister and I got to ride in it. I would think we went no faster than 40 mph, but it was a blast.

I have no experience driving a pre war vehicle, but a friend has a '29 Chrysler. She says it focuses you on your driving.

Best
Les

[Scott Douglas]

Dad had a Model B we used to call the Boodle Buggy. He put a V-8 in it, flathead Merc I think but I'm not sure. Mom made him leave it back east when we moved out to California on account of she didn't trust the mechanical brakes going all the way across country from New Jersey.
When my brother and I grew up enough to realize what a great hot rod that would have made, we never let Dad off about having to leave it, as in give it away, behind.
My brother has a '34 Ford panel that I've ridden in once, when we finished moving him up to Santa Ynez. We'd towed it up there on a dolly since they wouldn't rent him a car trailer with just his El Camino to pull it. I remember some guy going by us up north of Ventura, yelling and waving his fist at us. When we got there we found out we'd lost the muffler.
I think I know why he was yelling at us.
I've had the pleasure of riding in a fully restored '29 Model A Pheaton. 50 mph is downright scary, especially when you're told 'Don't lean on the door, it might open.' It wouldn't have kept me from falling out as I was sitting higher than it's upper edge anyways, or so it seemed.
The oldest Ford I've gotten to drive is a '56 T-Bird that a good friend had restored.
It totally blew my desire to have a '57 T-Bird in my garage since it drove like, well, an old Ford.
Here's Dad's Boodle Buggy out in the snow of New Jersey, or it might be Connecticut, I'm not sure, it was a long time ago. We lived in both states before coming out west.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Superman

.....then eventually install a modern Mustang front 'clip.'

This makes a huge difference. Rack & pinion steering, independent front suspension and disc brakes transform the way these old cars drive.

Acceleration? I think my cordless drill makes more torque.

Yeah...you measure the 0-60 time with a calendar

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

His driving instructions went something like this:
“The only funny thing about this truck is the door latch is broke so you gotta use this wire to tie it shut. Remember, when you shift from 2nd to 3rd push the clutch in, pull it in neurtral, and let the clutch out. When the engine gets pretty quiet, push the clutch in and shove ‘er into 3rd. She don’t idle good so if you wait too long and let the engine die, you have to start ‘er up an gun ‘er to get ‘er going, then try to catch it on the way down between runnin’ and not runnin’ – just when it’s nice and quiet but not all the way quiet. Now, don’t let ‘er die too many times ‘cause the battery’s about shot and if you run it down you’ll have to crank ‘er. The blinkers don’t work, so you have to use hand signals. Don ‘t try to use the brakes unless you got both hands on the wheel real good ‘cause they pull pretty bad – sometimes left and sometimes right, it depends. That’s all you have to remember.”

The whole thing was well written and entertaining as always, but the bold part got me. Fortunately, no one is around or they'd think I was crazy from the hysterical laughter.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Pshaw, I've been in plenty of backseats. Haha

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[rockfan4]

I never got to find out.

This was my father's 34. It sat in the garage from my earliest memory until my father passed away. After he died, my mother's brother bought it from her and restored it, and then sold it a couple years later. I never got to ride in it after he restored it either. The last I heard, it was in Washington state or Oregon. He restored quite a few Fords after he retired.

[herr_oberst]

I always wanted a heavily chopped '33 or '34 fenderless three-window. Highboy or loboy; either has their plusses.

Not quite like this, but close. Good stance, the front wheels are pushed forward just right, split wishbones and a dropped and drilled Bell front axle really add some nice detail, the chop is almost there (I'd need a little less chop and a little more windshield and grille tip-back) but I love the rows and rows of louvers all over the top and hood and I'm sure the rear deck is equally festooned, the thin beltline stripe is a nice touch, but I'm not 100% about the steelies and dog-dish look, polished aluminum wheels and a little wider back tire would probably suit me more, but this white one is still a hot rod that that I like.



There's two more really famous '34's; Chuck and Marsha Rodgers' black. flamed and fenderless, and Pete and Jake's "California Kid" that have always attracted my eye, and have a lot of good mods.

[pwd72s]

One of the guys on the Bullitt Mustang posting board has both...a 1914 Model T Touring (brass radiator) and a '29 A roadster, yes, a rumble seat. Lucky guy has a 10 year old grandson who likes to help him work on them. Neither is hot rodded...originals.

Since you brought up The California Kid, here's the B movie featuring it...free on youtube now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgI7zGVOECo&ab_channel=MoviesAndFilms4You

[JackDidley]

like everybody said, the brakes can be a problem. They are not hydraulic. A bunch of levers and rods that dont really function well.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

like everybody said, the brakes can be a problem. They are not hydraulic. A bunch of levers and rods that dont really function well.

LOL! Kurt (guy on the Bullitt board) posted the best way to stop the T is to stomp all 3 pedals, using the gearbox...

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Since you brought up The California Kid, here's the B movie featuring it...free on youtube now.

Starring Martin Sheen and Nick Nolte. I tried to watch it a couple years ago, but couldn't hang in to the end.