How many Model As are still in existence?
Two distinct Ford Model A generations exist in automotive history, and their survival counts are very different. The 1927–1931 Model A survives in larger numbers, while the 1903–1904 Model A is far rarer. There is no single global tally for all Model As combined.
To understand the question in full, it’s important to distinguish which Model A is being referred to and how “existence” is defined—whether a car is drivable, merely intact, or preserved in a museum. Below is a breakdown by generation, with note of the uncertainties that surround any precise total.
Two generations, two survival profiles
The following sections summarize what is commonly cited by historians, registries, and car clubs. Numbers are estimates and reflect available knowledge from registries, museums, and hobby communities.
The 1903–1904 Ford Model A
The earliest Model A is much rarer in the modern era. Because there was no comprehensive, centralized registry at the time, counts depend on what qualifies as “in existence” (complete car, preserved example, or known in registries).
- Known surviving complete examples: roughly 10–30 cars are widely cited as known to exist in private collections, museums, or restoration projects.
- Public and private holdings: a small number of these cars are on display or available through dedicated collections, with several notable examples preserved in automotive museums.
- Overall impression: the early Model A’s rarity makes each known survivor highly valuable to collectors and historians alike.
Because there is no universal registry for all early Ford models, the total of existing 1903–1904 Model As could change with new discoveries or new restorations, but the consensus places the number in the low single digits to a few dozen at most.
The 1927–1931 Ford Model A
The more familiar Model A, produced in large numbers after the Model T era, has a very different survivorship profile. With millions of units originally built and decades of active collector interest, thousands to tens of thousands of examples are believed to remain in some form today, spanning drivable cars, restorations, and unrestored survivors.
- Estimated total surviving examples: broadly cited ranges often fall in the thousands to tens of thousands, reflecting cars in private ownership, clubs, museums, and road-ready condition.
- Drivable or restorable cars: a significant subset—several thousand—are maintained or prepared to drive for shows, parades, and enthusiasts’ events.
- Museum and public displays: dozens to a few hundred Model A units are held in public collections worldwide, with ongoing rotations and new acquisitions.
Because of the Model A’s popularity and the large production volume, the exact count is fluid and updated as discoveries are made or as cars are lost to time, making any precise global total difficult to pin down.
Why counts vary and how enthusiasts track them
Survivor tallies depend on definitions of “existence” (drivable, restorable, or mere presence), regional registries, and private versus public holdings. Car clubs such as the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA) and other regional registries maintain listings of known cars, but these databases are not exhaustive and are periodically updated as cars are found, restored, or reclassified.
Cultural factors also influence counts: high-value early models heighten restoration activity and discovery, while the vast fan base for the 1927 Model A keeps many cars in circulation through clubs, shows, and concours events. As a result, estimates can shift over time with new discoveries or restorations.
Summary
The short takeaway is that there are two Model A generations to consider, with very different survival stories. The 1927–1931 Model A exists in relatively large numbers and remains a common sight among collectors, with thousands to tens of thousands estimated to still exist in various states. The 1903–1904 Model A is far rarer, with a known survivor count typically cited in the low dozens at most. Because there is no single global registry, exact totals are difficult to pin down, and hobbyist registries and museums are the best sources for ongoing updates.
In the end, both generations reflect Ford’s enduring legacy: a mix of rarity and ubiquity that keeps Model A enthusiasts actively preserving and celebrating these early automobiles.
