Franklin Mint 1903 Ford Model A Tonneau

Armed with $28,000 in cash and fortified with boundless hope, Henry Ford and his 11 associates incorporated the Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903. The Model A became the company's first born. The first 19 letters of the alphabet were used to designate the automobiles that Henry and his engineers built between 1903 and 1908. Some of these were experimental and were never to reach a buying public. The 1903 Model A was an amazing car for that early period of automotive history. It was a stunning sight as well.

Depicted here in its Tonneau styling, large in 1:16th scale, the car is bright and jaunty. More like a horseless carriage literally, the coachwork calls back visions of horse-drawn wagons with wood-spoked wheels. There is good detail from bottom to top. Seen from below is the hard working engine, complete with its simulated chain drive and ‘plumbing’ system. The seats are fashioned from real leather and the flooring is genuine wood veneer. The rear entry door opens and is held in place with a working latch. The paint is splashy in red but delicately and beautifully finished off with gold striping so small that you need to be up close to see its fascinating detail. The proper brass lanterns are in place up front along with a single tail lantern in back and a brass replicated horn mounted on the steering column. If you are either into Fords or very early automotive examples, this is a sweet little model to own.

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Additional comments from Tom Pine: I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating – FM really does justice to the Brass Age cars. In fact, FM’s the only major mint out there doing them at all. I generally only collect in 1:24 scale but this one, it being Ford’s 100th anniversary and all, was a must. And FM did it justice. I can’t recall any of their images of cars before the twenties having suspensions and this one’s no exception. But, there are a lot of other niceties.

First, all the brass (actually, plated plastic mostly) items gleam beautifully, the rails around the seats being actual brass wire. There are three headlights – two small ones on the sides and a large one mounted in front of the radiator. Preston Tucker would reprise this setup forty-five years later. Said radiator is nicely miniaturized as well, with tiny brass springs simulating the cooling baffles. The seats are genuine leather, and the floors are genuine wood veneer, nice touches to be sure. The red painted body and wheels, and the black painted fenders, are well done, as are the simulated wicker side baskets. The undercarriage detailing is impeccable, showing off the features of the crude, 2-cylinder, 9 horsepower engine. Curiously, FM doesn’t provide a crank handle for the socket that’s there. The rear access door opens and has a working catch to keep it closed.

Since the original car was relatively small, even in 1:16 scale it fits rather well with 1:24 scale images. You could do worse than to add this centennial image of a pivotal car to your collection. After all, Henry liked it so well he used its designation (Model A) twice. The issue price is $135.

-Tony Perrone