after driving a manual for a couple years and getting proficient at it, I got the chance to drive my grandpas 1930 model a before he sold it...surprisingly easy and forgiving to drive compared to many other vehicles I have driven with a manual...even being a non syncro sliding gear trans, double clutch and the gears line right up. fun to drive, would like to get another if I had the cash
I learned to drive in high school in 1972. The primary teaching automobiles were large Chevy Impalas with automatic transmissions. Once you mastered that, one of the last things we did was to get a primer on a car with a shift. The local Volkswagen dealership donated a car to the school for that purpose. Since all four of us could not comfortably get into the VW, we went out individually with Mr. Lazenby on a Saturday and took a spin until we got it down. Happy days!
I learned to drive for the first time in a 66 ford, 3 speed column, then a 72 ford pickup, 3 speed column. I never even had access to a slush box transmission, to this day all my cars have 3 pedals on the floor.
@ CanalNoises - Your Toyota was built in 1987, not in 1930. On older cars it was always advised that the clutch pedal should never be depressed when starting the car. As to why, as I said 'Ask a mechanic'.
Patience between gears, something few people can relate to. That is all that is necessary. A little double clutching helps also. Yes, there is a degree of awareness that is essential in driving the Model A You get the hang of it pretty soon. There is a distinct transition between Model A and a modern car. I was wondering if the brakes on this MODEL A been upgraded to CAST IRON drums? The Model A equipped with CAST IRON drums will cause it to stop as if it had hydraulic brakes!!!!!. Cast Iron brake drums is a must for any Model A being driven on a regular basis and PLEASE keep a safe stopping distance AT ALL TIMES!! NO! tail gating allowed...
Love the video, it reminds me of driving a 1920s Morris with the brake on the right and accelerator in the centre which took a lot of getting used to. By the way, you should never start the engine with the clutch depressed (ask a mechanic) if you're in neutral with the parking brake on it isn't necessary anyway. Great video though.
Your Toyota has that feature to prevent the car from jerking forwards if the driver accidentally starts it while in gear. On older cars without the clutch-immobilizer, starting with the clutch depressed or leaving it in at a light eats through the throwout bearing very quickly. It's a wearing part that, in a simple way of putting it, engages and holds the clutch. They're cheap, but a bear and a half to replace. . In newer cars (post-1965 in some cases) it doesn't matter too much.
pefect. the only thing that may give you problems is the points and condenser ( like any 1980s cars ) but its an easy fix and just beware you want be able to do 1-60 in 9 or 10 secouds
@therobbiesmith Even if a car doesn't have a safety switch on it, as the Toyota posters does, you depress the clutch so the starter only has to crank the engine; if you have a more marginal battery you're wasting power cranking both the engine AND the transmission. And yes, it can also prevent an accident if the car has been left in gear, hence the safety switch.
@therobbiesmith Why is that? My 1987 Toyota Celica has a switch built in to the clutch that won't let the starter engage unless the clutch IS depressed, even if it's in neutral. If it was somehow bad for the car I don't think Toyota's engineers would have designed it that way… Great video. I always thoroughly enjoy seeing the Mighty Model A in action. Keep 'em coming!
well, the answer is to double clutch. to go to the next gear with no grinding, put it in neutral let off the clutch, push it down again and then shift it up a gear.
The only part of this video that confused me was the part about depressing the clutch pedal when starting the car. If I remember correctly, its almost impossible to do that, since both acts are normally performed by the 'left' foot. I'd love to drive one of these. I learned to drive in the 60's, on a manual transmission ford truck in an apple orchard. I even learned to shift gears without using the clutch. Try that one.
Why is the oil pressure so low? Is that 1 psi at 1:35 ? On a side note this concept looks really fun. Could I myself drive a 80 year old car every day? I think I could. What would you describe the greatest hazard? Is it speed or braking?
Perhaps lack of speed. The last time I drove a 1930 Model A, 45 mph was the fastest speed I was comfortable with traveling to avoid overheating or causing any other problems.
Klinger daily drove this car for a year in Michigan, in all seasons. Watch his whole series, "365 Days of A". Since he's a family man, his only regret was not having bought a Fordor.
Strongly urge anyone teaching manual tranny to teach double clutching from the start. I taught my niece that way in a rental Dodge Colt and she's a great driver now. Also noticed the tack on oil pressure gauge read close to 'zero' most of the time. Suppose those engines were set up loose?
je Croyais avoir tout vu;starsky et hutch,chips,dallas etc...mais là,un américain qui passe des vitesses a DOUBLE embrayage sur une boite à crabots sans synchros...incroyable!!pas oublier le coup de gaz pour descendre de vitesse sinon CRAC à chaque fois...merci pour cette superbe video.
Why teach someone how to drive a manual in a 1930 Model A with a non-synchromesh transmission? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to teach him on a more modern car first so he learns the basic technique of shifting, and then teach him how to double-clutch the Model A so he wouldn't tear up the gears?
Alex Korova You may be right, but why worry which should come first? . Just remember to think differently when getting in the Ford Model A and grasping that big fat steering wheel (which is very appealing). One must simply have the presence of mind to remember It is not a modern 5 speed!! But working with and getting used to a clutch is all very much the same. In all truth, driving the Model A, it loads of fun but, it is nice to get back in with the modern 5 speed for serious driving. After a while, you will want to drive the Model A some more and so on. I tell you for most people, once they have the bug, the Model A gets in the fun part of your brain. Get it looking great and you will always get thumbs up!! Even the old un restored As put smiles on faces when you blow that old "AOOOGA" horn. especially kids...THEY LOVE IT!!!
Lynn Claughton Thanks for your comment. I agree with most of what you said, but I disagree that it doesn't make any difference which one you teach first. Imho, I believe that teaching someone to drive a modern synchromesh transmission first is a good foundation for teaching how to shift the non-synchromesh tranny in a Model A. First you establish the basic concept and shifting technique and then move on to the relatively more complicated non-synchromesh method.
But he now has the hard part out of the way. I learned how to drive a manual on a model a, and I can drive a car with synchronizers just as well as I can a car without them. The only difference is double clutching, and he wasn’t doing that so there is NO difference.
Alex, how do you think people learned to drive in 1930, when the only fully synchromesh manuals had been introduced the year before by Cadillac? They ground the gears until they got the hang of it, and if they never did even with synchromesh, Hydra Matic was the answer to a prayer. Don't think now, Alex, think then, when owning a car finally meant freedom from taking care of horses (and cleaning up their manure), riding streetcars, and walking.
@@artistmac Lol....still here after 11 months? I just read your comment for the first time. Why "grind the gears until they get the hang of" a non-synchromesh transmission and destroy it when you could avoid all that and learn on a synchromesh if it's available?
+LutzDerLurch lol, you heard very wrong my friend. While the automatic transmission does make up the majority of average modern cars, the manual transmission is still very much available and actively used in the US.
You heard right, Lutz. Here in the US, they're only available in muscle cars like Mustang, Camaro and V8 Challengers (not available on the V6), and inexpensive mini-cars. And even then, dealers don't keep them in stock, because nobody wants them, IAN.
While I appreciate the possible difficulties in driving such an old car, I struggle to understand why Americans can't drive a manual car...?? I drove a 1929 Checy about 20 years ago just for the fun of it, and found no difficulty except for trying to judge the distance to the front bumper.... We learned by following our parent's example...easy...!!
Americans fell in love with the easy of use with a automatic, it slowly started to fade within the last 20 years. I know how to drive a manual and my truck is a manual so...no one's going to steal that anytime soon.
Lets call it like it is.If you had to use the Ford as a daily driver, you wouldn't. Unless you pulled the drive line out & installed a Mitchell Synchro box & overdrive unit. Think about it & you'll see I'm right because I've done just that in my '31 Ford Slant 160B. Makes an OK car into a modern driver..............guaranteed!
after driving a manual for a couple years and getting proficient at it, I got the chance to drive my grandpas 1930 model a before he sold it...surprisingly easy and forgiving to drive compared to many other vehicles I have driven with a manual...even being a non syncro sliding gear trans, double clutch and the gears line right up. fun to drive, would like to get another if I had the cash
I learned to drive in high school in 1972. The primary teaching automobiles were large Chevy Impalas with automatic transmissions. Once you mastered that, one of the last things we did was to get a primer on a car with a shift. The local Volkswagen dealership donated a car to the school for that purpose. Since all four of us could not comfortably get into the VW, we went out individually with Mr. Lazenby on a Saturday and took a spin until we got it down. Happy days!
You should mention double clutching it will reduce grinding even more and should be considered the right thing to do with no sincro.
I learned to drive for the first time in a 66 ford, 3 speed column, then a 72 ford pickup, 3 speed column. I never even had access to a slush box transmission, to this day all my cars have 3 pedals on the floor.
@ CanalNoises - Your Toyota was built in 1987, not in 1930. On older cars it was always advised that the clutch pedal should never be depressed when starting the car. As to why, as I said 'Ask a mechanic'.
Patience between gears, something few people can relate to. That is all that is necessary. A little double clutching helps also. Yes, there is a degree of awareness that is essential in driving the Model A You get the hang of it pretty soon. There is a distinct transition between Model A and a modern car. I was wondering if the brakes on this MODEL A been upgraded to CAST IRON drums? The Model A equipped with CAST IRON drums will cause it to stop as if it had hydraulic brakes!!!!!. Cast Iron brake drums is a must for any Model A being driven on a regular basis and PLEASE keep a safe stopping distance AT ALL TIMES!! NO! tail gating allowed...
Love the video, it reminds me of driving a 1920s Morris with the brake on the right and accelerator in the centre which took a lot of getting used to.
By the way, you should never start the engine with the clutch depressed (ask a mechanic) if you're in neutral with the parking brake on it isn't necessary anyway. Great video though.
Next, will you please make a video that actually shows us the whole shift sequence from inside the car?
Downshifting is another issue, what gear to select for your vehicle speed, the more gears you have the more you need to pay attention to your speed
Your Toyota has that feature to prevent the car from jerking forwards if the driver accidentally starts it while in gear. On older cars without the clutch-immobilizer, starting with the clutch depressed or leaving it in at a light eats through the throwout bearing very quickly. It's a wearing part that, in a simple way of putting it, engages and holds the clutch. They're cheap, but a bear and a half to replace. . In newer cars (post-1965 in some cases) it doesn't matter too much.
pefect. the only thing that may give you problems is the points and condenser ( like any 1980s cars ) but its an easy fix and just beware you want be able to do 1-60 in 9 or 10 secouds
@therobbiesmith Even if a car doesn't have a safety switch on it, as the Toyota posters does, you depress the clutch so the starter only has to crank the engine; if you have a more marginal battery you're wasting power cranking both the engine AND the transmission.
And yes, it can also prevent an accident if the car has been left in gear, hence the safety switch.
@therobbiesmith Why is that? My 1987 Toyota Celica has a switch built in to the clutch that won't let the starter engage unless the clutch IS depressed, even if it's in neutral. If it was somehow bad for the car I don't think Toyota's engineers would have designed it that way…
Great video. I always thoroughly enjoy seeing the Mighty Model A in action. Keep 'em coming!
well, the answer is to double clutch. to go to the next gear with no grinding, put it in neutral let off the clutch, push it down again and then shift it up a gear.
The only part of this video that confused me was the part about depressing the clutch pedal when starting the car. If I remember correctly, its almost impossible to do that, since both acts are normally performed by the 'left' foot. I'd love to drive one of these. I learned to drive in the 60's, on a manual transmission ford truck in an apple orchard. I even learned to shift gears without using the clutch. Try that one.
The starter button is generally on the right side, at least it is on mine
Why is the oil pressure so low? Is that 1 psi at 1:35 ?
On a side note this concept looks really fun. Could I myself drive a 80 year old car every day? I think I could. What would you describe the greatest hazard? Is it speed or braking?
Perhaps lack of speed. The last time I drove a 1930 Model A, 45 mph was the fastest speed I was comfortable with traveling to avoid overheating or causing any other problems.
How reliable is a 1930 Ford as everyday transportation?
Klinger daily drove this car for a year in Michigan, in all seasons. Watch his whole series, "365 Days of A". Since he's a family man, his only regret was not having bought a Fordor.
to dont grind the gears you most be duble cluching ;D
old transmisions
If i had that thing, id be rolling into school blasting Paul Whitman, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, or Fletcher Henderson
or Krupa's Anita O'day singing "Let me off Uptown"
Why was the Model A shuddering upon takeoff?
Strongly urge anyone teaching manual tranny to teach double clutching from the start. I taught my niece that way in a rental Dodge Colt and she's a great driver now. Also noticed the tack on oil pressure gauge read close to 'zero' most of the time. Suppose those engines were set up loose?
je Croyais avoir tout vu;starsky et hutch,chips,dallas etc...mais là,un américain qui passe des vitesses a DOUBLE embrayage sur une boite à crabots sans synchros...incroyable!!pas oublier le coup de gaz pour descendre de vitesse sinon CRAC à chaque fois...merci pour cette superbe video.
My dad has ya beat by a year with his 29 A
Why teach someone how to drive a manual in a 1930 Model A with a non-synchromesh transmission? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to teach him on a more modern car first so he learns the basic technique of shifting, and then teach him how to double-clutch the Model A so he wouldn't tear up the gears?
Alex Korova You may be right, but why worry which should come first? . Just remember to think differently when getting in the Ford Model A and grasping that big fat steering wheel (which is very appealing). One must simply have the presence of mind to remember It is not a modern 5 speed!! But working with and getting used to a clutch is all very much the same. In all truth, driving the Model A, it loads of fun but, it is nice to get back in with the modern 5 speed for serious driving. After a while, you will want to drive the Model A some more and so on. I tell you for most people, once they have the bug, the Model A gets in the fun part of your brain. Get it looking great and you will always get thumbs up!! Even the old un restored As put smiles on faces when you blow that old "AOOOGA" horn. especially kids...THEY LOVE IT!!!
Lynn Claughton
Thanks for your comment. I agree with most of what you said, but I disagree that it doesn't make any difference which one you teach first.
Imho, I believe that teaching someone to drive a modern synchromesh transmission first is a good foundation for teaching how to shift the non-synchromesh tranny in a Model A.
First you establish the basic concept and shifting technique and then move on to the relatively more complicated non-synchromesh method.
But he now has the hard part out of the way. I learned how to drive a manual on a model a, and I can drive a car with synchronizers just as well as I can a car without them. The only difference is double clutching, and he wasn’t doing that so there is NO difference.
Alex, how do you think people learned to drive in 1930, when the only fully synchromesh manuals had been introduced the year before by Cadillac? They ground the gears until they got the hang of it, and if they never did even with synchromesh, Hydra Matic was the answer to a prayer. Don't think now, Alex, think then, when owning a car finally meant freedom from taking care of horses (and cleaning up their manure), riding streetcars, and walking.
@@artistmac Lol....still here after 11 months? I just read your comment for the first time.
Why "grind the gears until they get the hang of" a non-synchromesh transmission and destroy it when you could avoid all that and learn on a synchromesh if it's available?
LOL...over here most cars are manual, but I hear in the US you've barely any manuals left :)
+LutzDerLurch lol, you heard very wrong my friend. While the automatic transmission does make up the majority of average modern cars, the manual transmission is still very much available and actively used in the US.
+Ian Loughney because barely anyone wants them, they're look as a burden. I see them as a fun way to drive
You heard right, Lutz. Here in the US, they're only available in muscle cars like Mustang, Camaro and V8 Challengers (not available on the V6), and inexpensive mini-cars. And even then, dealers don't keep them in stock, because nobody wants them, IAN.
Every vehicle I own is manual
@SatchmoSings Sit in the car in neutral with the engine ticking over then depress the clutch and let the engine tell you that you are wrong.
how to not get caught rolling backwards down a hill: CLUTCH DROP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While I appreciate the possible difficulties in driving such an old car, I struggle to understand why Americans can't drive a manual car...?? I drove a 1929 Checy about 20 years ago just for the fun of it, and found no difficulty except for trying to judge the distance to the front bumper.... We learned by following our parent's example...easy...!!
Americans fell in love with the easy of use with a automatic, it slowly started to fade within the last 20 years. I know how to drive a manual and my truck is a manual so...no one's going to steal that anytime soon.
the ONLY video with the engine sound properly and how to drive it.
Is it illegal to drive vintage cars out on the road that dates as far back as the 1920s?
No it is no illegal.
i like it
Damn I have to watch Chinatown again.
He couldn't learn on a POS beat up Honda first? Hahah, but still, nice car!
I always thought that was hard.
So people an America don't automatically learn driving manuals when getting the license?
I meant with the car itself. Idiots are everywhere is not different when Im on my motorcycle.
Lets call it like it is.If you had to use the Ford as a daily driver, you wouldn't. Unless you pulled the drive line out & installed a Mitchell Synchro box & overdrive unit. Think about it & you'll see I'm right because I've done just that in my '31 Ford Slant 160B. Makes an OK car into a modern driver..............guaranteed!
I would love to drive one of thos! Then have a bunch of my frends hold tompson machine guns out the side muha ha ha ha.. great video