Barry Gray, left, stands next to his 1930 Model A Ford pickup and John Gibson stands by his 1930 Ford Coupe. The Cedar Breaks Model A Club met for the first time, Jan. 26.

CEDAR CITY — An energetic group of car guys has formed the Cedar Breaks Model A Club in Cedar City for the restoration and preservation of Model A Fords.

According to enthusiast Barry Gray, at least a dozen residents showed interest in joining the group, which had its first meeting Jan. 26 at the Cedar City Library.

“In 1964, my father was talked into getting a 1930 Model A,” said Gray, who is 58 years old and a 10-year resident of Cedar City who migrated to Southern Utah after living in southern California for 36 years. “I had ended up learning how to drive it in 1965. I put a lawn mower in the back of it and went around Claremont, Calif., mowing lawns just to get gas money while also earning money for parts for the pickup.”

While searching for parts, Gray found a 1930 Model A two-door sedan basket case that he provided with a rough restoration. From there, his father retired and gave him the 1930 Model A pickup and Gray has been hooked ever since.

“The Model A is easy to work on,” Gray said. “Besides, it was my first car, so it’s sentimental to me. I worked in the supermarkets and couldn’t afford cars like the Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds and GTOs.

“The Model A was affordable because nobody wanted them. They had four cylinders and sold all day long for $15 to $20 because there were so many of them in the early 1950s. By the time I was in high school, they were selling for only $100 to $200, depending on the condition. If they were absolutely cherry, they wouldn’t be more than $800 to $900.”

With encouragement from the Pomona Valley Model A Club, Gray continued to find the vehicle not only friendly but fascinating at the same time.

Gray said the Model A is easy to work on. The cars require two wrenches — a 9⁄16- and ½-inch — along with a screw driver and they’ll cruise at about 45 mph with a 44-horsepower flathead four-cylinder power plant.

“When you look under the hood, there is a starter, the engine, the distributor and the carburetor,” he said. “It’s a very basic simple-stupid set-up. Compared to today’s vehicles, they’re very easy to understand and with the Model A swap meets, the parts are accessible.”

Gray said the club was the result of conversations with Robert Barney and John Gibson of the Rotary-sponsored car show during Labor Day weekend in Parowan. From there, the Cedar Breaks

Model A Club was formed. “A guy up there told me we should form a club,” Gray said. “I was helping Robert rebuild a ’29 pickup. We got to talking about the fact that he had no idea what to do with two 1929 Model As and I had just enough information that we’d both get in trouble.”

From there, the idea of a local Model A car club hit third gear.

“I think we’ll have between 12-20 members within a year,” Gray predicted. “Part of the local club members will be joining the national club called Model A Ford Club of America, which has thousands of members all over the country. I have been on their national tours and the club will have vehicles from all over the country, either driving them or trailering them to the event. There will be 200 to 300 cars at the Laughlin, Nev., event near the end of March or the first of April.”

Gray said he’d love to have a major gathering in Cedar City.

“There are several Model A owners in St. George,” Gray added. “Our group will tour the valley at places like the Enterprise Corn Fest every September. That would be a perfect event to attend and we’ll be in the Parowan event on Labor Day weekend. It kicks off the county fair there ever year. With fuel down in price, I think the Rotary will have another couple hundred cars this year.”

 Information can be obtained by calling Gray at 867-8304.

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