Before Tesla hype, there was Model A mania

In Fargo, “Model A mania” took over in 1927 as Henry Ford teased a replacement for the aging Model T. After nearly two decades, the Model T’s features had fallen behind newer—and more expensive—cars from Chevrolet and Dodge Brothers. Ford hinted at a new vehicle, telling newspapers that May it would offer “speed, style, flexibility and control in traffic,” alongside strong quality and price. The buildup turned into headlines and public frenzy across the Upper Midwest, with ads reading “THE NEW Ford IS COMING.” Interest escalated when someone stole the dealership’s “preliminary and experimental” advertising materials from an agency in Philadelphia. In June, Ford was reportedly seen driving a mysterious car around Dearborn, Michigan. By October, editorials joked it looked like the new Ford was being made by Santa Claus. Ford officially named it the “Model A” in late November, with a rollout scheduled for Dec. 2.