Shay Reproduction cars for sale
About these listings
Every Shay Reproduction listed on MotorLoop.
United States
Overview
Shay Motors built reproduction Ford Model As and a Thunderbird reproduction between 1979 and 1982 — new cars with a fibreglass body in the shape of the early-1930s original, on a modern chassis and powertrain. Underneath, a Shay Model A is built on Ford Pinto running gear.
The distribution arrangement is what made these cars unusual. Shay struck a deal with Ford that put a car in Ford showrooms across the United States: publicity and showroom traffic for Ford, and a dealer network no low-volume manufacturer could otherwise have reached.
History
Harry J. Shay founded the Model A and Model T Motor Car Reproduction Corporation in 1978, renaming it Shay Motors in November 1980. Deposits opened in October 1978, but the assembly plant — at Battle Creek, Michigan — was not chosen until April 1979.
Shay Motors filed for liquidation on 6 July 1982. Camelot Motors bought the patents, tooling and equipment out of bankruptcy in April 1983 and continued production until 1986, so a Model A reproduction is a Shay if built between 1979 and 1982 and a Camelot if built later.
Buying one
Buy it as a 1980s car, because that is what it is. The mechanical parts follow the Pinto and other period Ford components rather than the Model A, and the club register for these cars is the practical source for identification and parts.
An example in Australia has been imported and needs the associated approval and compliance paperwork. Check the registration describes the car accurately — a reproduction registered as a genuine 1930 Ford causes problems at insurance and resale time.