1929 Ford Model A

Roadster Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

A500259

Gasoline

1929 Model A Rumble Seat Roadster, owned and restored by Hubert H Humphrey A very desirable collector car being offered publicly for the first time...ever! A founder of the Minnesota DFL party, mayor of Minneapolis, United States Senator from Minnesota, our 38th Vice President, and a presidential candidate, Hubert Humphrey was truly Minnesota’s liberal lion during his distinguished lifetime. Another side of “HHH”, a little known one, was his fervent love of old Fords, and in particular the Model A; a “working man’s car” for this humble champion of the working class. It is recounted in Humphrey’s biography about his courtship with Muriel Buck in his family’s Model A. He married Muriel in 1936, and spent the rest of his life with both her and a small collection of Model As. This particular rumble seat roadster was restored by HHH in the 1960s, and he and Muriel used it for pleasure touring the countryside and the lakes around the small town of Waverly Minnesota, where they built their homestead. Judging by the old placard discovered in the rumble seat cushions, they also used it in a few local parades! Judged independently of celebrity ownership, this is a very presentable looking older amateur restoration on a solid car. Done to the standards of a bygone day, it is not a show car, but it cleans up well, as can be seen in the pictures. It is complete, and could be used as it looks now without any embarrassment, however for show or display it really deserves to have some fresh paint work and perhaps some plating to look its best. The left front fender has some kind overspray marring its black paint (see photo!), and there are small marks and imperfections in areas of the green paint finish. The frame is solid, and the floors are pretty good, excepting a hole toward the rear that appears to have been patched with a piece of galvanized sheet steel and mastic (again, see photo with blue arrows to highlight!). The running boards are solid and securely attached. All the suspension and steering links appear to be in good order. The mechanical brakes work, and are not locked or rusted on from their long storage; car rolls smoothly on old tires that hold air. The stock looking motor under the hood has a block# of A500250, which corresponds to a 1928 assembly date; this engine # is also used as the VIN # on the Minnesota title. A true and proper restoration on this car would be a simple, pleasurable and straightforward affair, with parts availability being a breeze compared to other machines of the era. This car has been in dry storage, unused in the years since HHH’s passing in 1978. It is exactly as it has sat for these years, the extent of our prep-work being a gentle sponge bath with soap and water to remove the dust. We dropped in a battery and the motor turns cleanly on the starter – no issues there. The ignition looks a bit crusty, and as of yet we have not pulled a plug or added any fuel, so this car is not running today. We may putter with it during the week, and if we awaken it we will certainly post that announcement here on eBay. For now, bidders should assume that we will roll the car onto your transporter and that some basic mechanical know-how will need to be employed to get the car running. Registered ownership of this car passed from Hubert Humphrey, upon his death, to his wife Muriel Humphrey, who gave it to daughter Nancy Faye. Supporting paperwork shows these transfers, and the Minnesota title is still in her name, with her signature, dated 1992, in the seller’s field on the title. She gave the car to a close family friend, who kept it in his private collection of antique cars, never registering it. So, here for the first time in generations, the car is presented to an audience outside of the small circle of family and friends. In this, the one-hundredth anniversary of Hubert H Humphrey’s birth in rural South Dakota, it presents a unique opportunity to possess a true and personal piece of timeless American history. It would be fantastic for using to shuttle Democrat candidates and VIPS to and from conventions or in parades! We can only imagine that Mr. Humphrey will be looking down with great pride that his roadster is still working, and that his ethic and spirit can still inspire and change the lives of Americans everywhere. Aside from that, it’s also a very nice little car, in the Model A’s most valuable and desirable specification: The rumble seat roadster is an all-time classic. This car is well known within groups of early Ford enthusiasts and antique car collectors here in Minnesota, as was Humphrey’s predilection for the Model A in general. We have had numerous inquiries from people who have followed this car for many years. The heirs thought it best to present it to the world at large, and so here it is on eBay, the planet’s largest forum for collector automobile sales. Opening bid price is low, and this car is offered at no reserve to the highest bidder. Please look at all twenty-four photos, and please ask any questions before bidding. We will answer quickly and honestly and we are here to help! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just to make it clear to everyone, this is a project car for a dedicated and knowledgeable enthusiast. It will have to be trailered away, preferably in enclosed transport. Good luck. Please ask any questions. We will answer quickly and honestly. We have more photos if you would like to see something in particular. Personal inspections are welcome and encouraged! Thanks for looking. If you like this car, please also see our special 1921 STUDEBAKER Touring Car from the same estate, on another eBay auction! The Fine Print: GOOD LUCK! Please bid to the value this car may hold for you. Please feel free to ask questions or add comments. Please ask questions BEFORE you bid. We will respond quickly and honestly. This car is located in Plymouth, Minnesota 55441, about ten minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. Inspections are invited and encouraged! CONDITIONS: Winning this auction constitutes a legal and binding agreement between the Buyer, the Owner and the Selling Agents. Please bid sincerely and sensibly. Zero-feedback bidders must contact us first before bidding to establish some level of seriousness-of-intent; It's nothing personal, just business: We, and many others, have been stung on eBay Motors by too many dead-beat auction winners. Vehicle is sold "As-Is and Where-Is". If the Buyer comes to pick up this car and is in any way dissatisfied, he or she will have the Option of walking away from the Deal with Full Refund of the Deposit and any Payments made to the Owner. Otherwise, no warranty is expressed, implied or offered. Neither the Owner nor the Selling Agents can or will take any responsibility for this car after it leaves the premises. PAYMENT: Buyer must make a $500 DEPOSIT by PayPal within 24 hours of the Auction Close. The Deposit will secure the Deal for all Parties involved. Failure to make Deposit within 24 hours will risk Cancellation of the Sale at Discretion of the Owner and Sellers. BALANCE MUST BE PAID within 7 BUSINESS DAYS of sale by SECURE PAYMENT or CASH at PICK-UP. TRANSPORT: Buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs. Car is garaged in Plymouth, Minnesota 55441 (about ten minutes from downtown Minneapolis, thirty minutes from Twin Cities International Airport). We do not offer quotes on shipping. There are many vendors to choose from offering vehicle transport; eBay's "preferred" shipper, DAS, and FedEx/Passport are two great places to start getting bids. STORAGE: While the Auction Winner sorts out pick-up or transport arrangements, Owner can offer, free of charge, indoor storage for up to 30 days after auction termination. Longer periods can be arranged at cost if necessary. Seller cannot accept any liability during this storage period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank You for Looking! We are fluent in classic European cars. We are hobbyists, first and foremost, and happy to hear from you on the subject of cars or bikes. In addition to AUTOMOBILIA and PARTS, WE HAVE SOLD DOZENS OF VEHICLES ON eBAY...EACH DEAL A HAPPY ONE FOR ALL INVOLVED! We also sell non-automotive items on eBay under the names 'kowalski0001'. We invite everybody to review our auctions and feedback under both seller names. >>MM1000auto>> was created to auction the THINGS WE LOVE MOST: CARS, PARTS, and AUTOMOBILIA! On Sep-12-11 at 07:06:41 PDT, seller added the following information:The owners think there may be some significance to the unusual design and stylized lettering cast into the center-front bumper clamp. (See final photo). It appears to have the initials T.I.E.D., or T.H.D. Is this a symbol for a political affiliation, social club or society? Intelligent eBayers always seem to have the answer to every arcane mystery in the automotive world -- Take a crack at this one! We will post any good information here!