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Trucks on Display

 

Below is a sampling of the many trucks on display in our Trucking Hall of Fame® Exhibit Hall. Check out our app for more information, photos, and an audio recording for each truck.  Click here to download.

1930 Ford Model A Snowmobile


Engine Type:
Ford 200.5 Cubic Inch 4-Cylinder, 40 Horsepower at 2300 RPM

Transmission Type:
3-Speed Ford Sliding Gear

Truck Information:
This 1930 Ford A snowmobile paved the way with its innovative skis. Back then, customers could buy snowmobile conversion kits from a number of different manufacturers to use on their vehicles during the winter. When summer came, they would put the regular wheels and tires back on. The Postal Service converted Model T's and Model A's into snowmobiles using these kits so that they could deliver mail in areas that experienced rough winters. Ford made over 4 million Model A trucks from 1927 to 1931. It was the first car made after the Model T and with it, Ford aimed to combine mass production with exclusivity. The Model A was available in various models including coupe, convertible, sedan, town car, and station wagon. It was the first Ford to use a standard set of driver controls with conventional clutch, brake pedals, throttle, and gear shift. When new, it carried a price tag of $1,200. This particular truck was restored in 2010. It was painted dark green and black to represent the official colors of the US Postal Service – then called Post Office Department – from 1918-1955. Perhaps the most unique feature of this Ford A model are the wheels. They are equipped with cogged tires, which are like a rotational gear part with teeth, or cogs, that mesh and allow rotation in the winter weather. The back wheels had tank-like treads which were on year-round. This model was manufactured in early 1930 in Montana and was modified in the 1940s to work better in the winter. None of the vehicles at this time were overpowered. With low octane gas and low compression, the engine in this truck didn’t generate a lot of power. All the parts of the conversion kit were metal; it was a lot of weight to push. Back in the day, you would have seen a lot of these cars with homemade cabs on them and homemade boxes. People just did what they needed to do with the truck, modifying them as they saw fit. This truck has a battery and electric light and electric start too. Gone were the days of carbide and kerosene. Top Speed: 45 MPH (with tires)



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