AUGUST 2026 - CAR OF THE MONTH STORY – JIM SKALICKY'S 1928 FORD MODEL A PHAETON

Some cars find their owners…and some owners patiently wait for the right car to find them.

Jim spotted this beautiful 1928 Ford Model A Phaeton online, but the seller wasn’t quite ready to let it go. After six months—and another buyer who didn’t work out—the seller called Jim back. The rest, as they say, is history. Jim purchased the car in 2014 from a gentleman in Corona who had enjoyed it for nearly 40 years.

Finished in classic Dawn Gray with a brown vinyl interior, this Model A remains true to its roots. Under the hood is Ford’s dependable 201 cubic-inch L-head inline four-cylinder engine, producing 40 horsepower and paired with a 3-speed sliding-gear manual transmission. It also features the early “banjo” semi-floating rear axle and authentic 21-inch steel wire spoke wheels with 30-inch spokes.

Jim enjoys taking the Phaeton to car shows, parades, and special events, including driving Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus through the Glendora Christmas Parade. While it doesn’t rack up cross-country miles, it certainly brings smiles wherever it travels around Southern California.

The Model A isn’t lonely in Jim’s garage, either. It shares space with a 1931 Model A Coupe and a 1927 Ford Model T, proving that Jim has a real appreciation for Ford’s early automotive history.

When asked if he’s the original owner, Jim laughs and says,

“It hurts a bit when people ask if I am!”

His favorite part of owning the car is simple:

“It’s a fun ride. Kids love it…and so do the older folks. It feels like taking a ride down Main Street at Disneyland.”

That’s what makes this Model A so special. It’s more than an antique automobile—it’s a rolling time machine that creates smiles, sparks conversations, and reminds everyone of a simpler time.

Congratulations to Jim Skalicky and his beautiful 1928 Ford Model A Phaeton, our CAL-RODS Car of the Month!