MARC Early History
excerpts from Frank Pollack – Wilmington, Delaware
The Model “A” Legacy and the Pre-MARC Era
Introduction
This article commemorates the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Model “A” Restorers Club (MARC). It provides an overview of the past sixty years of the club, highlighting significant events and recognizing instrumental members3. The primary resource for this information is the original MARC newsletters, beginning with the first issue in May 19534.
Henry Ford and the Model A’s Genesis
Henry Ford was an inventor, a man of great vision, and also very stubborn5. He was involved in several companies before co-founding “Ford & Malcomson, Ltd.,” which was reincorporated as the Ford Motor Company in June 1903. The Model T, first manufactured in October 1908, was the car that “really put America on wheels”.
By 1926, Ford’s sales had slumped, and while Henry Ford was initially stubborn about the Model T’s demise, his son Edsel and others recognized the need for change. On May 26, 1927, Ford dealers received a telegram announcing the “entirely new Ford car”. The Model T production ceased—an unprecedented move at the time. The “New Ford” was officially introduced on December 2, 192711. Demand was immense, with over 10.5 million people viewing the car in the U.S. on the first day, and virtually every one built in 1928 was pre-sold.
The Model A served America through tumultuous times, including the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the “Dirty Thirties” (Dust Bowl era). During the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of displaced families migrated in their Model “A” or “AA” vehicles.
Its reliability and economy kept the Model A in demand, especially during WWII. With most auto mechanics in service and gas rationing in effect, the economical Model A was often the only affordable means of transportation. Larger, less economical cars were frequently put into storage or contributed to scrap drives16. By the post-WWII years, the Model A was over fifteen years old but still sought after17.
The Founding and Early Years of MARC (1952-1957)
MARC: The Beginning
In the early 1950s, the Model A was not yet considered an antique and was often seen as just an ‘Old Ford’18181818. The car was not accepted by national clubs like the AACA19.
The inspiration for a dedicated club came to William E. Hall in the fall of 1952 after attending an antique car meet where Model A’s were barred from parking with the other antiques and classified as “just cars”. Believing the Model A was “more than just a piece of ‘old iron’,” Hall invited five enthusiasts to his West Hartford, CT home, where they formed the Model “A” Restorers Club (MARC)21. Research suggests MARC was the first car club in America devoted to a single make and single model.
1953: Informal monthly meetings at Bill Hall’s home began in January, with a focus on parts swapping. The first two-page newsletter, edited by William Hall and simply called MARC, was published in May24. The club’s aim was to help Model “A” owners connect and serve as a medium for information and parts exchange. In July, Ford Motor Company placed MARC on its list to refer Model “A” correspondence to the club.
1954: Legal incorporation papers were sent out in January. The first MARC officers were elected in March: William Hall (President), Robert Carini (Vice President), William Schaminsky (Secretary), and Merle Fogg (Treasurer). By the first-year anniversary in April, MARC had grown to include members in 44 states and several foreign countries.- 1955: Circulation was noted as over 600 in February, and the newsletter name was changed to “MARC NEWS“. Discussions began for the first MARC National Meet. The first National Convention was successfully held in Dearborn, MI32. The first National MARC Car Award was won by Russ Gerrits.
- Headquarters Moves and the 1957 Split
MARC’s headquarters began at Bill Hall’s home in West Hartford, CT. In 1957, following Hall’s move to California, the headquarters relocated to Glendale, CA. After the 1957 National Convention, the Southern California Region broke away and formed the Model “A” Ford Club of America.
Structure, Publications, and Judging Evolution
Evolving Headquarters
After the move to California, the headquarters later moved to Zanesville, OH, in 195837. In 1962, the office began moving to Dearborn, MI, and it was officially selected as the permanent home office in December 1963. The office remained in Dearborn until 2004, when MARC purchased its own office building in Garden City, MI.
MARC Structure and Officers
The initial governing structure established in 1954 included the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Director from each Region. As the club grew, this structure was modified, and several changes were made to the governing body and meetings over the years. Notable Presidents include William E. Hall (1954-1959), Kenneth B. Brewer (1960-1961), and Nick Markes (1990-1993).
The Newsletter’s Evolution
The early newsletters were published monthly until 1962, when it was decided to publish the MARC News bi-monthly43. In 1965, the name was changed to include the model, becoming MARC Model “A” News (or Model “A” News)44444444. The newsletter grew significantly, from an average of three pages in 1953 to twelve pages by 1958.
Developing Judging Standards
Technical Committee: Formed in 1959, this committee focused on technical articles and answering related questions, with Glen Crawford serving as the first Chairman.
Judging Standards Committee (JSC): Discussion of a standardized national judging system began in 1959. The National Judging Standards Committee, established in 1965 with Chick Sale as its first Chairman, made the publication of judging standards a top priority to encourage the proper restoration and preservation of the Model “A”.
Fashions Committee: A regular Fashions column was introduced in 1959. The official MARC Fashion Committee was formed in 1991 to promote the collection, display, and research of Model A Era fashions.
Touring Class Judging: Approved in 1994, this judging class was created to give national recognition to well-maintained, authentic-appearing Model A’s that are regularly driven to club events and shows. The system uses objective questions that can be answered with a simple “YES” or “NO”52.
The MARC Youth Program
The MARC Board created the position of Youth Coordinator in 2001 to coordinate activities for the club’s younger members. Several youth members have achieved the Touring Class Awards of Excellence, including Blake Minor, who received a perfect score of 500 points for his 1931 Deluxe Roadster.