1931 Ford Model AA Pickup Truck, Hard to Find, All Steel, Rare Pickup

1931 Ford Model AA Pickup Truck
Previous restoration
201 CID four-cylinder engine
Four-speed manual transmission
Burgundy exterior with a black interior
Red wire wheels within Firestone tires
Side-mounted spare tire
Another classic truck from Henry Ford’s second era has arrived at MotoeXotica Classic Cars, a 1931 Ford Model AA Pickup Truck. This example was previously restored and the burgundy and black exterior is very handsome! Currently the pickup models are the hot item in the Model A world so this one will sell fast!
Finished in burgundy, the paint and trim are in very good order. The truck’s windows are in good shape and the lights are clear and intact. This AA truck rolls on red wire wheels surrounding Firestone tires, sized 4.75/5.00-19. The wheels and tires are all in good order. The body panels are straight and solid and in very good order, including the rubberized roof. Out back, the cargo bed has a wood floor with metal strips and is in near-excellent shape.
The engine bay, bumpers and battery are all in good order, there is a side-mounted spare tire with a cover behind the driver’s door and as a touch of whimsy with function, a late 70s or early 80s Ford sideview mirror has been mounted longitudinally on the driver’s door.
the same 201 CID inline four-cylinder engine found in the Model A, it has an up-draft carburetor, six-volt generator, two-blade fan, mechanical water pump, mechanical oil pump, electric starter and four-row radiator. All of these features were identical to the Model A Ford, except the radiator. The engine could also be crank started by hand if necessary via a hole in the radiator shell. The Model AA was based on a chassis similar in design to the Model A’s, except it was substantially larger and heavier to accommodate the work for which this truck was designed.
Backing that engine is a four-speed manual gearbox. The transmission was geared lower than the Model A to provide more power to move a loaded truck. This lower gearing reduced the top speed of the truck when compared to the Model A. The transmission also featured a lockout on the shift knob for reverse that required a lever to be activated with the thumb so reverse could be engaged. Early trucks had a worm gear rear-end that limited the top speed of the truck. That rear-end was replaced by a ring-and-pinion differential to improve the speed of the truck. Later models were fitted with braces on the differential’s outer casing to provide additional support.
Inside, the black bench seat is in very good order. There’s a black mat on the floor of the cab while a wood-slat headliner topped by the rubberized roof covers the driver and front passenger. The truck’s black instrument panel is in great shape. The original four-spoke steering wheel, inner door panels, mirror glass and shift lever are all in good order. There is no radio in this truck.
As the Models T and TT became obsolete and needed to be replaced, Henry Ford began initial designs on
the Models A and AA in 1926. Basic chassis layout was done rapidly and mechanical development was moved forward quickly. Body design and style was developed and then outsourced to various body manufacturers, including Briggs and Murray. The designs of the Model A shared parts and materials with the Model AA Ford, notably the body, engine and interior. The AA usually received plainer interiors than their car counterparts. The Model AA followed similar design changes to the Model A during the AA's four years in production, often delayed anywhere from three to nine months. The mechanical changes and upgrades were done during production of the vehicles. Body changes that occurred between 1929 and 1930 were also integrated into AA production, but leftover parts were used longer in the heavy commercial trucks.
The suspension of the AA Truck was similar to the Model A Ford in the front end. A leaf spring is centered in the front ‘A’ frame over the front axle. Shock absorbers were available for the front end. The rear suspension differed from the Model A Ford. The AA had leaf springs mounted to the chassis and shackled to the rear axle. The rear suspension did not have shocks.
The controls in the Model AA are entirely mechanical, except the windshield wipers in later models. The brakes are mechanical and the truck has four oversized drum brakes to stop the vehicle. The mechanical system is a pull lever system that applies the force from the pedal to a pivot that pulls the brake rods that expand the brakes in the drums. The brake light is activated when the brake pedal is pushed. The brakes are proportioned more toward the rear drums. The parking brake is a chrome lever on the floor with a release button on the top. The windshield wipers started as hand operated and later models were powered by vacuum diverted from the intake manifold. The horn button is mounted in the middle of the steering wheel assembly. Controls for the lights are also incorporated into the steering assembly. The switch was a three-stop switch for parking lights, headlights and high beams.
This truck is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows
45,949 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!
VIN: 582234