How much is a 1930 Ford worth?
Prices for a 1930 Ford—most commonly the Model A produced from 1927 to 1931—vary widely based on body style, condition, and originality. In general, expect about $15,000 to $70,000, with driving-quality cars often in the $20,000–$40,000 range and top-tier, concours-grade examples reaching or exceeding $60,000.
Model A scope and body styles
To gauge value, it helps to understand the available body styles and how desirability shifts by style and authenticity.
- Tudor sedan (four-door)
- Fordor sedan (five-window four-door)
- Town sedan
- Roadster
- Coupe
- Victoria (open-top with a fixed windscreen)
- Convertible/Phaeton variants
- Pickup and panel delivery versions
In practice, the more sought-after body styles tend to be those with clean, original sheet metal, a well-documented restoration, and classic-period details. Rare styles or well-preserved survivors can command premiums relative to more common configurations.
What drives value
Price is influenced by how authentic the car is, its condition, and its documented history. The following factors typically have the biggest impact on market value:
- Condition and completeness: running, driving cars with solid chassis and rust-free bodies fetch higher prices than project cars with extensive restoration needs.
- Originality vs. period-correct modifications: factory-era features and matching numbers often add value; tasteful, well-executed preservation or restoration can also merit premium.
- Documentation and provenance: clear records, photographs, and known history boost buyer confidence and value.
- Rarity and desirability of the body style: certain styles and limited editions are more collectible than others.
- Market dynamics and geographic location: demand can vary by region and by current auction/show trends.
Understanding these factors helps buyers and sellers set realistic expectations and navigate current listings more effectively.
Typical price ranges by condition
Below is a practical snapshot of what collectors and enthusiasts are currently paying for 1930 Model A variants, acknowledging that exact numbers shift with auctions, regional demand, and recent restorations.
- Project or non-running car with significant restoration needs: roughly $10,000–$18,000.
- Driver-quality or solid-running restoration: about $18,000–$28,000.
- Good to excellent restoration or well-preserved original: $28,000–$45,000.
- Concours-quality or highly sought-after body styles with thorough documentation: $45,000–$75,000+ (rare examples can exceed this).
Prices can be higher or lower depending on the specific model year within the Model A era, color and trim choices, and the car’s overall presentation and mechanical condition.
Where to look and how to verify value
For up-to-date pricing and current listings, a mix of guides and marketplaces is essential. Use these resources to triangulate value and assess a specific car.
- Classic-car price guides (such as Hagerty) for condition-based estimates
- Online marketplaces and auctions (Bring a Trailer, Hemmings, ClassicCars.com)
- Live auctions (RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Co., Mecum) for recent realized prices
- Model A clubs and forums for provenance, parts availability, and restoration benchmarks
When evaluating a purchase, consider a pre-purchase inspection by a classic-car specialist to verify numbers, authenticity, and mechanical condition.
Summary
The value of a 1930 Ford Model A varies widely with model choice, condition, and provenance. Most buyers will encounter prices from the low tens of thousands for projects to well over $60,000 for concours-quality cars, with many solid, running examples landing in the $20,000–$40,000 range. Keeping an eye on current market data, focusing on originality and documentation, and consulting reliable experts will help you determine a fair price for a given car.
