1929' Ford Model A

Shay 1929 Roadster Model A. Harry J. Shay founded the Model A & Model T Motor Car Reproduction Corporation in the spring of 1978 (which name was changed to Shay Motors Corporation in November of 1980). Harry Shay had a great deal worked out with Ford. The plan was to send at least one car to every Ford dealership across the USA. Ford got publicity and attracted customers to its showrooms and Shay got access to an extraordinary distribution network.
The cars were advertized in glossy color brochures (see links at the bottom of this page) starting in late 1978: «Golden Anniversary Model A / Last of the Model A's / Limited production / Sold by Ford dealers, factory-built, warranted by Ford Motor Company. This might have been the only time a major auto manufacturer participated in the reproduction of a famous car out of its past. Ford waived design patents for its Model A so that the Shay Roadster could be built.
Ford supplied the platform, Shay manufactured the cars and Ford, Mercury and Lincoln dealers sold them. Nationally advertised on CNN, the Today Show, Price Is Right, Hollywood Squares, in the New York Times, Forbes magazine, Old Car News, Motor Trend Car & Driver and other auto magazines which praised them as highly successful and more reliable than the Model A, with the modern conveniences of today's automobile. Ads were saying there were orders to last twenty years or so.

A 10,000 limit was placed on production since above this level, the car would have had to adhere more strictly to U.S. Federal standards on design and safety. Shay was exempted from the following federal vehicle safety standards: #103 (windshield defrosting & defogging), #104 (wiped area of windshield), #108 (front side markers & reflectors), #109 & 110 (tire and rim width) and, the following more specifically relating to impacts: #201 (interior design), #202 (head restraints), #203 & 204 (steering column & rearward displacement), #207 (seating system), #210 (seat belt attachment points), #212 & 219 (windshield retention & zone intrusion from hood), #214 (side door intrusion and #301 (fuel system integrity).

Shay was to manufacture the following body styles and quantities for his Model A: 500 Super Deluxe Roadsters (twin spare mounts), 1,928 Deluxe Roadsters (left spare mount), 6,641 Standard Roadsters.

ENGINE
It's a four cylinder single overhead camshaft unit constructed from lightweight cast iron. Displacement is 2.3 liter / 140 CID and horsepower is 88 HP (compared to 200 CID and 40 HP for the real Model A). It runs on unleaded gas (recommended octane rating is 91.) It's very, very reliable. A good number of London taxis have switched to it. It's even still being made for the '99 Ford Ranger pick-up. There should never be parts availability problems, nor of mechanics which can fix it. Maintenance can be done at home using the Chilton or Haynes manuals on '80 Pintos or Mustangs. Those manuals are more and more difficult to find, though. The Pinto was rated 33 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG in the city. However, these figures relate to a car weighing about 2,400 pounds, as the Shay weighs only 1,850 pounds (compared to 2,000 to 2,500 for the real Model A). However, the Shay is also somewhat less aero-dynamic.

Since the engine compartment isn't as well insulated as a Pinto's, it does let out more engine noises than would a modern car. At idle, the engine sounds specially realistic. The camshaft is driven from the crankshaft by a toothed timing belt, which also operates the auxiliary shaft. (Timing belt-equipped car engines can be classified as either "free-running" or interference", depending on what occurs if piston/valve synchronization is lost due to a failed timing belt. An "interference" engine usually sustains damage if synchronization is lost as the valves will then collide with the pistons. This could result in very expensive engine repairs. Happily, the Ford Pinto/Mustang 2.3 liter engine of 1974-85 are classified as "free-running". Although belt life may vary, depending upon driving and temperature conditions, usual recommendation is to change it at least every 60,000 miles.) The auxiliary shaft drives the oil pump and distributor, and operates the fuel pump through an eccentric. Tension on the drive-belt is maintained by a preloaded idler pulley which runs on the outside of the belt. A separate V-belt is used to drive the coolant pump, fan and alternator Firing order: 1 - 3 - 4 - 2

Capacities when used in a Pinto:
Engine oil: 5 US quarts with filter change
Coolant: 8.6 US quarts
WHEELS & TIRES

The specially made spoked wheels have four lug holes and are usually painted black. Diameter of rims is 18 inches. The wheel lug nuts are modern Ford with thin chrome plate that scratch and can rust easily. The rims are not heavily painted and can also rust easily. The spokes are welded to a central hub and radiate to an ¼ inch thick outer ring to which they are also welded. This ring is then dropped in the slightly larger diameter wheel rim which, before being welded to this ring, is similar in design to a Model T rim. Keep an eye on the welds joining the outer ring to the tire rim. For esthetical reasons, they were done only on the inner side of the wheel assembly. There are reports that, maybe after 40,000 miles, those welds start to fail and the rims become wobbly. This is why you might find modern (Pinto) 13 inches rims and tires on Shays that have more mileage. As soon as you suspect such a crack in the welds, you should have all your wheels
re-welded on both inner and outer sides at a shop specialized in wheel repair. The mechanic should be careful that the heat he'll apply doesn't warp the rim. I didn't take any chances on such a procedure coming out right or wrong: I bought an entire set of New Old Stock wheels as spares.
Tires are 5.50 x 18. Although this is an odd size, there is no worry about availability since they are also used on '32 Fords. Those tires are wider and thicker than the ones that real Model As use. Recommended pressure is 28 PSI. Of course, handling is more squirrely than modern radials and special care should be taken in curves when this is combined with the high center of gravity of the Shay. Tire life is only between 10,000 and 15,000 miles. Owners looking for 5.50 x 18 tires might contact Coker Tire . They have new tires in black and whitewalls that are original replacements for '32
Fords. These tires require inner tubes. Radials do not exist for 18 inch tire size.

The Shay's wheelbase is 103.5 inches and its track is 56 inches, just like the real Model A.

WEIGHT
Total Weight: 2148 lbs. / Weight Per Tire: Left Front 591 lbs. Right Front 573 lbs. (Front 54.2%) Left Rear 502 lbs. Right Rear 482 lbs. (Front 45.8%)

LUBRICATION
SAE 10W-30 engine oil: