What a joke...

[Beauford]

Glad I paid $2 for this at a yard sale...I don't know if it's worth that but what a strange omen as I'm working on one. Found some notes and stuff inside. Only thing I learned is repo parts were cheap in the 70's.....

[Jim Mason]

And quality just that...cheap

[CarlG]

I was contemplating buying one of those books. Guess I won't bother.

[Beauford]

I've seen better "Tin Type" photos...and that is all there is...

[ddweave]

Yes, the photo quality isn't the best, but there is still some useful info in the book.. I bought mine used on eBay. I was glad I didn't pay full price for a new one.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yes, the photo quality isn't the best, but there is still some useful info in the book.. I bought mine used on eBay. I was glad I didn't pay full price for a new one.

I agree. I bought mine for $10 at a swap meet, and am also glad I didn't have to pay full price.
As you say, it still has some useful information, and to find the book for only $2 is a real bargain.

[benson]

Glad I paid $2 for this at a yard sale...I don't know if it's worth that but what a strange omen as I'm working on one. Found some notes and stuff inside. Only thing I learned is repo parts were cheap in the 70's.....

The parts were not cheaper in the 70's ... in real money terms anyway ....

The problem was that the money was worth much more... true story ... 45 years from now you will say the same thing about today's prices.

It is inflation that has eroded the value of the money.

Example In 1969 when got back from Vietnam I was making $307 a month (that included Combat pay, overseas pay and Proficiency pay) as a Specialist E5 in the Army.

A new 1969 VW Type III Fastback (the fancy larger model with 30 % more HP) was $2300.

In 1973 a new Type III Squareback station wagon was $3300.

In 1976 a new VW Dasher Fastback was $5200.

as you can see , the money was simply worth more back then and rapidly decreased in value.

[Guest]

Glad I paid $2 for this at a yard sale...I don't know if it's worth that but what a strange omen as I'm working on one. Found some notes and stuff inside. Only thing I learned is repo parts were cheap in the 70's.....

I happen to like that book just fine, and it had a lot of good info and pics in it that were not widely available when the book was new. Mack Hils did a lot for restorers of that era.

http://www.mackhilsmetalfabrication.com

I suppose many of you think the 'red book' is the fountain of knowledge, but I have always been put off by it and its many mistakes.
I have no use for it.

Here is the primary resource list (which is still available) which I recommend:

1. Ford Model A Instruction Book, 1928-31 whatever year is right for your car. (instructions)(authenticity)
2. Ford Service Bulletins, 1928-31 (instructions)(theory)(heavy repair)(authenticity)
3. Victor Page's Model A Repair, 1928 (instructions)(theory)(heavy repair)
4. The Model A Ford as Henry Built It, by George DeAngelis and Ed Francis, several editions since 1980 (authenticity)(especially for body details)
5. Restoration Guidelines & Judging Standards, 2016, MARC & MAFCA (authenticity)(chassis, body, and trim details)
6. Anything by Murray Fahnestock, 1928-1966 (instructions)(methods)(theory)(authenticity)
7. Anything by Lorin Sorenson, books, magazines, videos (history and context of Ford operations and products)

[Mitch]

I hear ya about the misinformation in the red book and totally agree. I do reference it at times but i know the good from the bad. It can definitely screw up the uninformed for sure.
I wonder why it was never revised to eliminate these issues?

[Greynomad]

Probably not corrected for the dame reasons vendors these days won't correct wrong info. I don't know how many times I have drawn to their attention things like install the big end caps with the dipper facing the passenger's side. WRONG!!! Well, at least it is wrong here. I wonder if a law suit over a destroyed engine would get their attention? There are several cases of similar poor advice given. In the example above, why not say "Install he dippers facing the cam shaft"? That would be correct everywhere. (and easier for the guy putting the motor together) The red book has it's share of boo boos too.