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1931 Ford Model A Roadster

1931 Ford Model A in Love Finds Andy Hardy, Movie, 1938

Class: Cars, Convertible — Model origin:

1931 Ford Model A Roadster

Unknown vehicle role

Comments about this vehicle

Author	Message
antp ◊ 2007-09-05 11:46	Sent by Dan VT:
pilou ◊ 2007-09-05 15:04	A real car spotter puzzle and the proofs that customising was born before the forties. I suspect that the base of this exercise could be a 1932 Chevrolet DeLuxe Confederate Series BA Sports Roadster because of the belt line above the doors curving upwards to the dash and the large cowl but tis is only a suspicion.On the sides of the hood are 3 ventilation doors , but the 1932 Chevrolet had 4 and they were longer.Single blade bumper could be Chevy ( Ford A's had two bladed bumpers) but grille is 1930-31 model A.Plain disc wheels and hood mascot are custom.I also suspect that this picture may have something to do with the other one of a wreck in this movie listed as a model A ,could eventually be the same car that was rebuilt ?.Hope some others opinions will prevent me of having nightmares next night.
lightninboy ◊ 2012-12-27 04:50	Doesn't it have a Ford Model A gas cap on the cowl? Which leads me to suspect this is a highly customized Ford Model A.
bigcheese327 ◊ 2019-09-03 22:48	Don't let the hood sides fool you, they're an aftermarket piece from the 1930s. This is a 1930 or '31 Ford Model A roadster.
Animatronixx ◊ 2022-12-29 21:54	Skid wrote 1931. It was kept by the studio until 1970, when it was finally auctioned off. It was subsequently restored with most of the stock 1931 parts. It still exists today, albeit considerably changed: Link to "www.bonhams.com" Bonhams wrote The ex-Andy Hardy, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, 1931 Ford Model A Roadster, Engine no. A4736318. (...) But in fact this fairly ordinary Ford Roadster may be the most celebrated of all the cars in the collection, a featured player in some of Hollywood’s most cherished flicks, the Andy Hardy series starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. (...) Mickey Rooney would play the central character in all sixteen Andy Hardy films and from the fourth film in the series Andy became so central to the series’ concept that he worked his way into the titles. That was Love Finds Andy Hardy, in 1938. That’s also the film where he was joined by Judy Garland in the first of her three appearances in the series. They played, flirted, sang and stumbled over good intentions gone awry along with this 1931 Ford Model A Roadster, Andy’s mechanical and financial nemesis – bought with $12 down but $8 still to go. The Model A Roadster is featured throughout the film, providing continuity and distraction when needed, the perfect foil for Andy and emblematic of the effect the automobile in general, and Fords in particular, had upon the young men and women who came of age in the Thirties. It was acquired on May 21, 1970 at an MGM auction of props and costumes by Glen W. Bell, Jr. for the princely sum of $6,000. In 1976 Bell commissioned its restoration by John R. Craig’s Heritage Coachworks in Ramona, California. Even at Heritage’s 1976-77 shop rate of $16/hour by the time the job was done it had absorbed another $27,171.74, neatly recorded in a classic hand on a ledger sheet which comes with the car. Appropriate to Andy’s desire to update his Model A it has L78-15 front and G78-15 rear blackwall tires on chromed steel wheels, wind wings, cowl lights and a rear-mounted spare with “Rah Rah” painted on its fabric cover. Now a generation old, the restoration is holding up remarkably well, an endorsement of Craig’s workmanship and choice of materials. It will benefit from some cosmetic attention and freshening, particularly the wheel chrome, but overall is much better preserved than the original prints of the Andy Hardy movies. This is a classic American ride from a classic American flick staring two of the screen’s most lustrous stars, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. If that isn’t enough, Love Finds Andy Hardy marked the formal screen debut of Lana Turner. Pity poor Andy having to choose between Judy Garland’s Betsey Booth and Lana Turner’s Cynthia Potter. At least the Ford needed only $8 more to become well and truly his.

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