To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Hershey event, 5 - 6 October 2022.

• Offered from the St. Yves Collection
• Single-family ownership for over 40 years
• Ultra-rare, two-door Model A DeLuxe Phaeton configuration; just 3,946 produced for 1930
• Older restoration in deep blue over black with tan upholstery
• Well-appointed with touring-focused Columbia two-speed rear axle and hydraulic brakes; period-correct dual, side-mounted spare tires, wooden luggage rack, and winged radiator ornament

For the first quarter of the 19th century, the Ford Motor Company dominated the world car market with its venerated Model T. However, by the mid-1920s, booming economic times encouraged throngs of entrepreneurs to enter the marketplace and quickly erode this dominance. New, more powerful engines, convenience features, and artful designs were shifting the public away from the workaday products coming out of Dearborn, Michigan.

Finally seeing the writing on the wall, Henry Ford admitted a replacement for his beloved Model T was needed. Preferring to focus on this next model’s mechanical aspects, he appointed his son Edsel to lead the design team. When ready for debut in 1927, Ford was so impressed with his new car that he returned to the top of the alphabet, naming it the Model A.

The A had a larger 200-cubic-inch inline four-cylinder engine said to produce 40 horsepower. A selective three-speed gearbox replaced the previous planetary two-speed, while brakes were now fitted at all four corners. The public loved it, queuing up for a first look and placing orders that the factories took months to fill.

A mild styling revision for 1930 brought fold-down windshields to the roadster and phaeton. Mid-1930 saw the debut of the four-passenger Deluxe Phaeton featuring a sporty two-door body. Just 3,946 examples were produced for 1930.

The car presented here is one of these unique four-passenger phaetons. And is said to have been the recipient of a full restoration in the 1980s. This Model A Deluxe Phaeton still presents beautifully, wearing a striking color combination of dark blue over black fenders with luxurious tan upholstery and a tan soft-top. The phaeton also sports period touches such as dual, side-mounted spare tires, a wooden luggage rack, and a winged radiator ornament. Well sorted for touring, it is equipped with a Columbia two-speed rear axle and hydraulic brakes.

Offered for the first time in over 40 years, this unique Model A is an excellent example of one of the rarer body styles with desirable accessories and finished in an attractive color combination that is sure to impress at any gathering.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf22.