This vintage Ford powered a 53-year-old love story and became the thread that stitched generations of family together
Published on Feb 01, 2026 at 1:13 AM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Jan 31, 2026 at 6:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Blue Oval has been a staple in the auto industry since 1903, and for one family, one vintage Ford glued them together.
For this couple in Flint, Michigan, the car was the basis of decades of happiness both in their relationships and family formation.
From restoration to future heirlooms, the Model A is a core member of the Gould family, and for gearhead pair Rusty and Rita, it’s simply a way of life.
However, it wasn’t quite all sunshine and rainbows when Rusty first purchased a 1930s Model A all those years ago.
VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie
The Ford Model A changed the lineup
In the 1920s, the Ford Model T needed a successor, so in late 1926, Henry Ford ordered his army of engineers to develop plans for the brand new Model A.
With a speed that ranged from 55mph to 65mph, the car also had a Triplex shatterproof windshield that provided extra levels of safety and was also the very first model to wear the oval-shaped blue logo.
Over in Michigan, for one family, the vintage Ford played a pivotal role in their relationship.
Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology
Rusty and Rita – the love story that formed over a vintage Ford
Rusty and Rita Gould have been together for 53 years, and even share a special legend status, having both served as president of the Model A Restorers Club.
With four Model As under their belts, it all began with a $600 1930 Model A Rumble Seat Coupe, which was bought by Rusty, but Rita wasn’t all that pleased.
“$600 was a lot of money back then,” Rita said.
However, it wasn’t all bad, as after a five-year restoration, the car ranked the best of the bunch in the country, and almost five decades later, the car is still ‘the trailer queen’.
The Model A passion didn’t end with Rusty and Rita either, as their three children and eight grandchildren all have a shared love for the vintage Ford, too.
“It means so much because this is our history.
“We don’t like it when people chop it into a hot rod. Everybody has their own niche, and that’s okay with them. But for us, we like to keep them as original as possible,” she continued.
The vintage Ford Model A will also serve as a family heirloom, according to Rusty, who dreams of the car’s history being preserved so that each of the couple’s children will inherit the icon.
“Each one of them is going to get a Model A, with the stipulation, you chop it, I’ll roll over in my grave because it’s a piece of history,” said Rusty.
You have to admit, a family built on a love of hot rods is something special, and thanks to Rusty and Rita’s Model A investments, the love will live on for generations to come.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Beginning her career as a lifestyle reporter and social-media manager, Grace joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025. Since coming on board, she has thrown herself into the busy daily writing schedule. Her editorial sweet spots include writing about luxury properties and the quirky features inside them that the one percent are investing in, as well as groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.
