Country Roads Take Us Closer to Home in this 1931 Ford Model A 

An epic drive for a 100 year old vehicle, no better way to see the country if you're not in a hurry. Thanks Merlin for taking us along

What a couple ! Any woman that knows what she is in for driving a 100 year old car across the entire country at 45 mph . Your blessed my friend .

im a retired master mopar tech of 30 years i always watch you videos Thank you

our grands and grannys are smiling their butts off

WOW! This series is great! What an adventure! You guys are awesome. Thanks for letting us ride along with you!

Definitely not a touring car, but it is a cool little ride. Sounds like she's back in fine form. "Hillbilly" and his new friend sure stepped up. Thanks for taking us along.

One of the first jobs i did as an adult apprentice mechanic in1985 was to rebuild a model A water pump. My boss turned up a bush and I cut the post off an old battery, melted it with the gas set. He made a recess in a piece of round stock on the lathe and we poured some of the lead into the recess and made sealing washers for the pump. The model As are basic but a good practical design for the day. The car ended up needing a head gasket too. I though my boss was being cheap when he told me we are reusing the old gasket, but you can reuse the copper gaskets. You clean it and just paint the head gasket with galvanised roof paint and refit it. You cant do that with a modern composite gasket LOL. Merlin your car is beautiful and the like the contrast between the rims and cars paint work. Enjoy it.

Hats off to Hillbilly for helping out. One thing I loved while I was trucking in the States was the pride of the country. Flags everywhere. We don't see that much here in Canada. 20 mpg for gas is pretty good, 160 mpg for water is not too shabby either. The adventure continues. Looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing.

Desirae is a real trooper, Merlin, you owe that lady a week on her favorite beach with a bunch of them fancy fruit drinks with the umbrellas in them. Thoroughly enjoying the videos. 👍👊😎

My dad had 1957 Plymouth station wagon that was notorious for running hot when the weather got hot. He came up with a canvas bag that he hung between the radiator and the grill. He would buy block ice and chunk it up and put in the canvas bag. The melting ice would drip cool water on the outside of the radiator. I have seen him buy 100 of block ice in 10lb blocks for a 250 mile drive to my grandmas house.

This reminds me of my childhood, traveling in the heat with no AC. Only wealthy people had vehicles with it back the day, when I was growing up. I did not have it in my vehicles until the 80's for a year or so, then back to dealing with it. If it was too hot out, we opened our wing windows. Nice work on fixing that give.

Back roads of America can’t get any more patriotic than that. Happy motoring!!!

This looks like an awesome trip!!

Being from Kansas that sure was pretty country. I love seeing a good old thunder booming storm rolling in. It’s like a lullaby as long as there’s no TORNADO!

Gravel roads, small towns, & cornfields. Just like the first year it was built! And a little "welcome to Kansas" weather.

Pleased to see your work on the engine is holding up good, I’m still amazed you got that rod out thru the bottom. An amazing trip for you two, good luck for the rest of the journey.

To be able to do what you're doing is a dream for any gear head! You are truly blessed to do what you do!!

Superb adventure, & what fun to be allowed to share your trip, Thanx !

I find myself holding my breath, hoping nothing else goes wrong while I watch your progress. It give a person much appreciation for the modern vehicles we have now days, and I realize even more what all was involved in a cross country trip back in the 30's and 40's. It was a real journey full of challenges and some hardships.

Those jars. Is he running moonshine in an old Model A? That's classy 😁😉

Looks like you have figured out all the bugs and have this 100 year old car ready for an amazing road trip, Keep on Truckin..😊

Merlin is the Man.

Epic journey. Slowing down and taking back roads is how you see the real America.

You and your wife enjoy the road trip Merlin. When that car was new the roads were not as good as the dirt road you went down. It's amazing that they held together.

Merlin - old school trick - run a rubber line from the radiator breather tube into a half full bottle of water in your running board basket. The length and the cooler air on your exterior bottle keeps the water in the system. It will also automatically top off your radiator when it cools after a stop. Then you just top off the running board tank when you stop. It helps keep it cooler and fuller longer. And just north of you Kansas stop in Minden, NE is a great museum called Pioneer Village. You have to check it out sometime.

Watching you as you drive, can watch your eyes going from straight ahead , mirror and dash guages. True professionalism

Thank you foe taking us along for the ride....

Great to see that original old car rolling along .. when our kids were younger our only car was a 1951 Chevy suburban. We towed a 1952 Yellowstone ham can all over new england and New york, going to bluegrass festivals and car shows.. I did change out the rear end and updated the brakes to the 1952 style, but, we got a couple hundred thousand out if the original babbit pounder then built a couple 235 sixes for it... I sold it with over 600 thousand on it... at that point we had put a Saginaw 4 speed out of a vega in it, and another rear out of an 88 4wd... thing would do 65-70 keeping up with traffic... we ran with a guy who had an Essex hot rod with a pinto motor in it, and another guy who had a 23 t that was just the rails with all original driveline in it... we put on way more miles than all the garage queens with their smallcock v -apes and shiny paint. Plus our cars took us to work every day...

For the time period of that car is that what road tripping in those old cars was like. A little fixing here and there to get you going again

Merlin looks like a Awesome road trip beautiful scenery. Thanks for the ride along. God Bless

My Grandpa has a 31 Model A Coup Deluxe. He says your overheating program happened to him. He now has the coolest running Model A on the road he says. Somewhere inside the radiator hose you need to restrict the flow of fluids. He believes it needs to be 5/8ths a hole. He went to the store and purchased a PVC fitting. Each side a different diameter. He drilled one side to make it the 5/8ths inch (he believes that’s the measurement. He wrote it down somewhere.) He also says you’re grinding when you double clutch and you’ll need to do a transmission job in the future if you don’t learn how to shift properly. His name is George btw. If you make a video about it I’m sure he’d love for you to mention him and his car Bessie the Model A.

Great ride, thanks for taking us along.

Thank you again, Sir. This is akin to my MOMs family driving from Wis. to Calif. in the 30’s. YOU Sir are one Super Fine mechanic, not to mention an artist at what ever you take on. At 77 I treasure your videos, saying thank you just isn’t enough. stay safe. Hope we get another chance at one last road trip, in our 2010 Toyota Prius, which was in a Houston, Tx. Flood, all before I bought it😫😎.

This is a great cross country in an antique machine...thx Merlin for taking us along.

I just gotta say Merlin, your a magician for pulling the rod out from the bottom and was so nice to see hillbilly open up his shop to you and finding the guy with parts for your car is really a surprise to find them so quickly, and you got him to do an extra one to top it off, it's an epic journey and having a car teach you patience is not a bad thing, it'll get you there if your very careful, you and your wife can say you took a trip that few have experienced in the last 100 years tripping across America in a piece of Americana , i just love those windshields that open for ventilation, my old uncle had an old truck that did that, it was a late 40's or early 50's , i think it might have been a Willys Jeep truck, i was 4 or 5 yrs old thinking it was so neat asking my dad why our 56 Ford did not have one, he said your mother doesn't like them and my uncle bursted out laughing , so did my dad, Great video ,looking forward to the rest of this epic journey , 👍

I thought those jars has shine in them until I saw him filling the water up in the car from one in this video. 🤣

#MERLIN…. That’s a hell of an awesome way to spend Independence Day!!! Awesome series!!!

You are showing a great example to anyone that has a less than a hundred year old car to go out and have a road trip ❤

Glad to see that your on the road again. FYI look for a canvas water bag to hang in front of the radiator with water in it. As it leaks out of the bag it helps to cool the radiator. My grandfather used to do that to help keep it cool. Glad to see all the People help you when you need it. Stay safe and have fun driving her back.

OK I’m not a minute and a half into this, on my 3rd cup of coffee, and I’ve already got coffee spit everywhere… Wifey is harder to crank than the Model A, and it looks like “yer hawlin moonshine in th wide open”….? Gotta love you guys.

I never considered having easily adjustable timing could help you limp a rod knock home….that’s awesome!

Merlin, with your talents and knowledge, you deserve the beautiful things in life, your wife, this lovely car, your countryside, all things good and bountiful. Thank you for taking us along… God bless you and yours 🙏🏻 Greetings from Romania❤️🇷🇴

Nothing more American than traveling across country in a model A on the 4th of July. It truly shows how far automobiles have come in 100 years. A great road trip for summer. Thanks for taking us with you brother.

This has been epic! The truism that if you have a spare (anything), you'll never need to use it... seems to be holding true! See the USA...at 48 miles an hour.... gotta love it!

I'll bet that car really enjoyed the stop at that historic homestead. It must have felt right at home. You are an awesome mechanic and this is a very special trip you're taking all of us along. Best wishes for a successful ending to it. Thank you.

Those straight cut transmission gears sure brings back memories.

Thanks Merlin for posting this before Sunday!!..When I made the comment that Sunday was a long way to wait I would have never thought that you would post it early, so thank you and God Bless.

I have carried one of those little 4 inch crescent, wrenches for over 60 years, it is good to see someone else carrying one of them besides me. Love it! Over the years it has saved me thousands of steps.

Seeing all the more modern cars in those small towns looked out of place. The Model A looked like it was supposed to be there.

Cant wait to see Merlins channel blow up. I mean who else buys a Model A and drives it across the country these days. Love the content Merlin Your a true badass

❤ Love seeing Desiree out there traversing the Country with you! 👍😎✊

Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

What a wonderful and inspiring trip. For you and your betrothed. Such memories. Thank you.

Beautiful car,beautiful wife,beautiful scenery, beautiful life.Hello Merlin,hoping all is good.Peace and love to you and yours my friend.

12:05 No cruisin' along at 80 MPH with this one! Good car for taking it easy, enjoying the ride, the scenery and Desiree's company. I get the feeling I know why gas stations were always equipped with water stations!

I'm enjoying the magical mystery tour in the ole model A.You two look perfect in it & of course Merlins magic pocket wrench keeps it running

Nice country with easy going people, no one questions the case of mason jars in the back seat.

Amazing car for being 100 years old! What a drive thanks for sharing your journey Merlin,

Amazing how much history and America is out there that not alot of people get to see. Your trip makes it seem like old time pioneers crossing America. Enjoy every moment

Awesome morning brother and little sister another awesome adventure day yall be careful and have an awesome day prayers still rolling with yall

I thought the wrecker games were great content, this far surpasses. Super cool… thanks

The guy in the red Jeep had no idea he was getting gas next to an off-road record game champion 🏆

That is just such a lovely car, I hope some of the spares you rescued from the rattler work in this one.

Merlin was my favorite person at Steve Darnells shop. (Vegas Rat Rods). And one of my favorites on RU-vid. Keep up the good work!

A joy to watch you drive through older America in an old car.

Got to love your dirt road excursion because Ceri told us…!

The epic journey continues, the best part it is running like a dream and I hope it continues to.

Doing great and I must say your lovely wife still has her smile on her face. Merlin you have a smile as well but, your's has come and gone a few times. It is amazing that you have the opportunity to partake in this trip. Your master mechanic skills and calm attitude and a hundred year old car is making this trip happen.

Incredible way to see the country! Thanks for taking us along.

And the adventure continues. Thanks for letting us come along for the ride.

Just incredible Merlin what a super incredible trip bringing home the car just love your knowledge of the Ole girl and sharing that with all of us Keep on Trucking folks we will be with you the whole way!!!!

If you were born in the early 1800's I bet you would have been a blacksmith, maybe even real horse power!?? I can hear Desiree hollering how she isn't going to wear one of those big Victorian dresses with metal hoops inside! Having 50 layers & a whale bone corset laced up tight would prob make most appreciate being able to show bare legs & shoulders lol. Such a cool old car! Amazing how most people back in the day had to know how to mechanic just to keep their car going on a trip! So cool! Lost art!

Thanks for sharing. Good seeing parts of America through the windows of a 100 year old Ford.

Those Kansas thunderstorms are No Joke!😮

what a cool cruise with the model a, i got a neighbor that inheirited a coupe that needs a fuel tank, in pristine condition, this is what he should be doing too, this is one of your epic videos merlin, thanks for your efforts!

Glad y’all made it out of the storm! As an over the road truck driver I love watching the lightning in the clouds a far off! To me, it just shows the majesty of the creator!

What a fun trip, thanks Merlin and Desiree.

I drove from Pa. to Calif. last week in a modern vehicle with A/C running full blast every mile. Cannot imagine how hot you guys must have been.

Motor easy Merlin !! 🤔👍👍👍

Feels great to have been able to follow you along this journey 😊

I am just enjoying the scenery that you are traveling through. Most of us just get to see endless miles of interstate highway. I am liking your way better. The miles across Kanas will seem almost endless. Glad you fixed the rod issue and hope you continue to have a trouble-free trip for the rest of you

What a beautiful journey.

Backroad road trips are hard to beat! Gotta love small town USA!

Merlin, you are amazing with the knowledge you have and the ability to make anything work. Your Wife is a great companion, to have on such a epic trip. Thanks for the awesome entertainment, stay safe!

Great Pic of you guys and the car in front of the old buildings.

Really glad to see that the old car is still holding up pretty well. Also glad the the rod replacement is holding. Looking forward to the next video . Take care and stay safe and healthy.

a perfect example of why there used to be so many roadside attractions

love the moon shine in the back lol nice touch :)

We miss so many beautiful things when we travel the freeways. It would be nice to take the time to rome the country.

Thanks for making. That car has seen a lot of dirt or gravel roads in its lifetime.

Hi merlin great to see you got her running like new an thanks for taking us along . Cheers mate🇦🇺

Merlin this is a very cool series. Your wife must be a pretty cool chick to endure the heat and slow going God bless

This is the trip of a lifetime for sure. 'Merle' is reliving his glory days, driving across the country as he was designed to do an the roads he was made for. It is so fitting that Merlon and his lovely wife are taking this car on this trip. So cool. Wishing you all the best.

Seeing history in a peace of history how cool can’t get much better then that .

Drove through my town, and I didn't even know it... Next time you come to Springfield, Il try a local favorite for lunch "The horseshoe".

Your wife is a real trooper!

What a great road trip. Thanks for sharing with us.

What an epic road trip. Most people couldn't do a trip like this in an old car because they dont know basic mechanics, let alone how to pull a rof and replace it.

So glad you took us along for your journey!! Really enjoying these!!!! Thanks Merlin!

Enjoying the car & videos on this trip. Super fun run you two are making!