1931 Ford Model AA 1-1/2 Ton Sinclair Fuel Tanker
No Reserve. Built as the heavy duty commercial counterpart to Ford's enormously successful Model A, the 1931 Ford Model AA provided the rugged foundation upon which specialized commercial bodies ranging from wreckers and dump trucks to buses and petroleum tankers were constructed. This striking example, chassis AA4865762, is powered by Ford's 201 CI L-head inline-four producing approximately 40 horsepower and backed by a four-speed manual transmission. Its period three-compartment fuel tanker body is believed to have been constructed by Brown Sheet Iron & Steel Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, an established manufacturer of commercial petroleum tanks during the era. Finished in eye-catching green and red Sinclair Oil livery, the tanker rides on beautifully varnished ash hardwood supports and side shelves and retains brass fuel valves at the rear. Prior documentation records a comprehensive frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration that included rebuilding the engine and mechanical brakes, restoring the interior to period-correct specification and completely restoring the 1930s tanker body. Perhaps even more fascinating is the truck's recent history. Its late owner maintained a collection of 24 automobiles and wanted to keep ethanol-free 93-octane gasoline readily available at his facility. When local officials declined his request to install a stationary 150-gallon fuel tank, the collector arrived at a wonderfully creative solution - he bought this 1931 Ford tanker instead. The truck was subsequently fitted with fuel plumbing, filtration and an electric dispensing pump and was reportedly used as the collection's own private filling station, holding approximately 115 gallons of gasoline and fueling whatever collector cars were headed out for the weekend. Combining beautifully restored prewar Ford commercial engineering, period petroleum equipment, instantly recognizable Sinclair advertising and a remarkable modern chapter in which it once again performed the job for which trucks like it were originally created, this Model AA is equal parts collector vehicle, petroleum artifact and functional piece of American motoring history. MILEAGE: 0. VIN: AA4865762.
Please send us a message if you would like to see additional images of any vehicle.
Memorabilia purchases are eligible for free delivery to shows attended by Richmond Auctions. Memorabilia purchases can also be picked up in Greenville, SC or the McCandless Collection in Burlington, NC. Winning bidders of memorabilia items can contact us following the sale to arrange freight and shipping options. Please contact Reliable Carriers to arrange vehicle shipping.
Condition
BUYER'S PREMIUM:Vehicles: 15% on LiveAuctioneers.Automobilia & Tether Cars: 20% on LiveAuctioneersIMPORTANT STEPS TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION:1. A Letter of Guaranty from your financial institution is required to bid in The Fall Spectacular Auction at the Savoy Automobile Museum since automobiles are selling in conjunction with advertising and memorabilia. 2. Message us to request a sample format of the Letter of Guarantee required to register about the pre-set bid limit of $25,000.3. Your bid limit will be capped at the amount set in the Letter of Guaranty by your financial institution.4. Send your completed Letter of Guaranty and a copy of your driver's license (front and back) to finance (at) richmondauctions (dot) com in order to complete the registration process.5. Once a completed Letter of Guaranty is received and verified by Richmond Auctions, you will receive an email with approval notification. Completed approval will allow you to bid on Day 1 and Day 2. If you have any questions, please call our office at 864-991-5949 and ask for Accounting.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
No Reserve. Built as the heavy duty commercial counterpart to Ford's enormously successful Model A, the 1931 Ford Model AA provided the rugged foundation upon which specialized commercial bodies ranging from wreckers and dump trucks to buses and petroleum tankers were constructed. This striking example, chassis AA4865762, is powered by Ford's 201 CI L-head inline-four producing approximately 40 horsepower and backed by a four-speed manual transmission. Its period three-compartment fuel tanker body is believed to have been constructed by Brown Sheet Iron & Steel Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, an established manufacturer of commercial petroleum tanks during the era. Finished in eye-catching green and red Sinclair Oil livery, the tanker rides on beautifully varnished ash hardwood supports and side shelves and retains brass fuel valves at the rear. Prior documentation records a comprehensive frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration that included rebuilding the engine and mechanical brakes, restoring the interior to period-correct specification and completely restoring the 1930s tanker body. Perhaps even more fascinating is the truck's recent history. Its late owner maintained a collection of 24 automobiles and wanted to keep ethanol-free 93-octane gasoline readily available at his facility. When local officials declined his request to install a stationary 150-gallon fuel tank, the collector arrived at a wonderfully creative solution - he bought this 1931 Ford tanker instead. The truck was subsequently fitted with fuel plumbing, filtration and an electric dispensing pump and was reportedly used as the collection's own private filling station, holding approximately 115 gallons of gasoline and fueling whatever collector cars were headed out for the weekend. Combining beautifully restored prewar Ford commercial engineering, period petroleum equipment, instantly recognizable Sinclair advertising and a remarkable modern chapter in which it once again performed the job for which trucks like it were originally created, this Model AA is equal parts collector vehicle, petroleum artifact and functional piece of American motoring history. MILEAGE: 0. VIN: AA4865762.
Please send us a message if you would like to see additional images of any vehicle.
Memorabilia purchases are eligible for free delivery to shows attended by Richmond Auctions. Memorabilia purchases can also be picked up in Greenville, SC or the McCandless Collection in Burlington, NC. Winning bidders of memorabilia items can contact us following the sale to arrange freight and shipping options. Please contact Reliable Carriers to arrange vehicle shipping.
Condition
BUYER'S PREMIUM:Vehicles: 15% on LiveAuctioneers.Automobilia & Tether Cars: 20% on LiveAuctioneersIMPORTANT STEPS TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION:1. A Letter of Guaranty from your financial institution is required to bid in The Fall Spectacular Auction at the Savoy Automobile Museum since automobiles are selling in conjunction with advertising and memorabilia. 2. Message us to request a sample format of the Letter of Guarantee required to register about the pre-set bid limit of $25,000.3. Your bid limit will be capped at the amount set in the Letter of Guaranty by your financial institution.4. Send your completed Letter of Guaranty and a copy of your driver's license (front and back) to finance (at) richmondauctions (dot) com in order to complete the registration process.5. Once a completed Letter of Guaranty is received and verified by Richmond Auctions, you will receive an email with approval notification. Completed approval will allow you to bid on Day 1 and Day 2. If you have any questions, please call our office at 864-991-5949 and ask for Accounting.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
