An original character comes to the party

By ALSATAIR SLOANE motoring editor

A 1903 Model A Ford described as perhaps the most original in existence has been chugging around the town of Wynyard, Tasmania.

It is owned by retired electronics engineer Francis Ransley, a vintage car collector and former Australian powerboat champion.

Ransley bought it from its American owner in 1989. Now Ford Australia is using it as a showpiece in Ford's centenary celebrations this year.

The story starts in August 1903 when Ransley's Model A, the 31st car to drive out of Henry Ford's new factory in Detroit, Michigan, was delivered to its owner, a Mr F.E. Avery of Columbus, Ohio, 256km west of Detroit.

The two-cylinder, two-seater was simply called The Ford. The Model A designation came later.

The car cost Avery US$600. He shelled out another US$9.60 for optional headlights and US$80 for two extra seats.

Avery apparently opened a Ford dealership soon after and quickly sold the car. Nothing is known about it until it was bought by Larry Porter of Crestline, Ohio, in the late 1950s. Porter collected old Fords.

Back to Ransley in Wynyard. The Australian's main love was boats, especially fast ones. He built them and raced them and for a while held the Australian powerboat speed record of 233km/h (144mph).

But failing health forced him to give up the sport. So he looked for something else to occupy his spare time - restoring vintage cars.

His first project was a 1913 Model T Ford.

"From then on I went backwards," Ransley said. "Most people start with a Model T and then get later models, but I went the other way."

Many more vintage Fords followed and he now has the largest collection of fully restored pre-Ford Model T cars in Australia.

The more Ransley got involved in restoration the more he hankered after Henry Ford's first production car - the Model A built in 1903 and 1904.

Ford made 1700 Model As. The first 625 used an 8bhp engine; the remaining 1125 were designated the Model AC and used a 10bhp engine.

Ransley had a particular Model A in mind. It belonged to Porter, in America. Ransley had seen it, when he went to Ohio to buy a Model K off Porter. He knew, with a bit of luck, that the collector might sell it.

Porter did and Ransley shipped it back to Tasmania.

The car is arguably the most original Model A in the world.

The engine cylinders have never been bored and the pistons and rings are the originals fitted by Ford in 1903.

The wooden-framed, aluminium-skinned body is also original, as are the glass side curtains and the exhaust muffler.

Ransley has had the weather hood relined in red velvet (just as it was when new) but has had to do little other than general maintenance to keep it on the road.

Now he's counting down to the car's 100th birthday on August 3.