How much did a 1931 Ford Model A cost new?
A new 1931 Ford Model A cost roughly between $385 for the base Runabout and about $750–$800 for the higher-end closed-body models, with most four-door sedans falling in the $700 range.
The Model A, Ford’s popular successor to the Model T, remained available in a broad slate of body styles in its final year of production. Pricing varied by body style, equipment level, and regional dealer adjustments, and the onset of the Great Depression influenced purchasing power and financing options. The figures below reflect typical sticker prices from that era.
Pricing by body style
Prices for the Model A in 1931 differed by body type. The list below provides commonly cited figures from contemporary catalogs and price sheets for the configurations most frequently sold in showrooms.
- Runabout: approximately $385
- Touring: approximately $438
- Roadster: approximately $450–$470
- Coupe (two-door): approximately $500–$600
- Victoria (closed coupe): around $650
- Town Sedan (four-door sedan): around $700
- Fordor Sedan (five-passenger): around $760
Prices varied by dealer, optional equipment, and regional taxes. The range above captures typical sticker prices seen on catalogs and advertisements from Ford showrooms of the era.
Historical context
Economic backdrop
The 1931 model year arrived amid the early years of the Great Depression, which began after the 1929 stock market crash. Vehicle prices stayed within a relatively modest band for the era, but consumer purchasing power and credit tightened as unemployment rose. Ford, like other manufacturers, kept Model A pricing competitive to appeal to a broad base of buyers, while offering a wide array of body styles to suit different budgets.
How price compared to wages
During the early 1930s, the average annual wage in the United States was far below the sticker price of a new car, though some families financed purchases or saved over time. The Model A’s price point made it the more accessible option in the Ford lineup, but owning a new car remained a substantial investment for many households.
Summary
In short: a 1931 Ford Model A could be purchased new for roughly $385 to about $750–$800, depending on body style and options. The lowest-priced open models were the most affordable, while the closed-body variants carried higher price tags, all within a market shaped by the onset of the Depression and varying dealer configurations.
How much was a Ford model a brand new?
Prices for the Model A ranged from US$385 for a roadster to US$1,400 for the town car. The engine was a water-cooled L-head inline four with a displacement of 201 cu in (3.3 L). This engine provided 40 hp (30 kW; 41 PS).Top speed was around 65 mph (105 km/h).
How much did a model Ford cost in 1931?
The final cars featured new radiator shells and, starting mid-year, optional laminated safety glass. Prices ranged from $490 for the standard coupe to $630 for the town sedan. The Great Depression halved Ford's annual production to 541,000 cars -- enough for total 1928-1931 Model A production to approach 5 million.
What was the original price of a 1930 Model A?
The table below shows the new car prices, FOB Detroit, without accessories or “dealer markup”:
| Body Style | 1928 | 1930 |
|---|---|---|
| Fordor | $570 | $600 |
| De Luxe Fordor | — | $640 |
| Town Sedan | — | $640 |
| Cabriolet | — | $625 |
How much did a brand new Ford cost in 1934?
1934 was the highlight of the Ford V8s; they were solid, dependable and pretty cars and most importantly at $575.00 brand new, still a bargain. Most of the styling changes on the 1934 cars were carried over from the 1933 model year upgrades.
