If you drove past the Engineering building in Provo on the morning of Nov. 4, you would have been greeted by a rather odd sight: vehicles from another time filling the parking lot.
While your first thought might have been that you accidentally stumbled upon a meeting of time travelers, the truth is quite different. This organized array of automobiles was a meeting of the Utah Valley Model A club.Â
These men and women are true car enthusiasts of one of the true classic triumphs of American engineering and manufacturing. The Ford Model A was the Ford Motor Company’s second major success that replaced its predecessor the Model T that had been produced for nearly 20 years before that. The Model A is a priceless piece of American ingenuity and machinery that is beloved by many generations. The Utah Valley Model A club brings together classic car lovers from Lehi to Manti and everywhere in between, and is hoping to grow as it teaches others about these fantastic cars.
Why is the Model A so significant to this group? For many of these classic car gurus, it came down to the most basic of reasons: reliability, nostalgia, and parts. For many of the men and women in the Model A club, the classic car was one of the first cars they remember experiencing. It’s the one their fathers worked on during the weekend or the one their grandmothers would drive to pick up groceries in. For one club member, taking a drive in a Model A was the first date he ever took the woman he now calls his wife.
This classic car represents the past while also being practical enough to own in the present with original and even better made replication parts easily available. Between being good looking, practical, and invoking old world charm at a glance, it’s no wonder why this car has such a powerful following.
The Utah Valley Model A club was started 11 years ago by Greg and Robert Mack along with their father. The founding of the club happened by accident, when they ran into trouble with their beloved Mode A and reached out for help. While looking for other Model A owners to help them troubleshoot, it was suggested that they put together a chapter for the national Model A Club. Though they didn’t think they’d be able to find enough members for such an endeavor, they began to spread the word. To their surprise, they had enough members to start up a local chapter. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Model A Club has many benefits for its members and the community, most notably, being able to meet with others who share their passion for Model A cars and socialize in monthly gatherings. These gatherings include everything from visiting the Engineering Department at BYU, to drives to the Dream Mine in Salem. The members will also arrange garage days where they work on their cars together sharing expertise and learning tips and tricks from other auto enthusiasts. Their most exciting activities include driving tours where they drive their classic cars across the country making stops to historical and fun local sights on their way to their destinations.
If you’re a lover of beautiful cars, road trips, or just enjoy spending time with great people, check out the Utah Valley Model A Club. These men and women are kind, knowledgeable, and incredibly welcoming. They love to learn and share what they know with the community including the youth as often as they can, and are wonderful wells of knowledge about cars and what life has to offer. For more information, check out their website at http://utahvalleymodelaclub.org/.
See more Model A Club photos courtesy of club members on page 7.
