From Farms to Flatheads: Terry Burtz’s First Model A and the Spark of a Lifelong Passion

Before Silicon Valley rose from the fertile fields of Santa Clara, a teenage Terry Burtz was making firewood deliveries in a $48 Model AA Flatbed Truck—unknowingly laying the groundwork for one of the most respected names in the Model A Ford hobby. 

 Santa Clara Valley, 1962. 
Before microchips replaced apricot orchards and expressways carved through fields of plums and cherries, the valley was a quieter place—a farming region of small towns, roadside fruit stands, and kids with dirt under their nails. It was in this era—long before anyone called it "Silicon Valley"—that a young Terry Burtz took his first steps into the world of the Ford Model A. 

“This goes back to 1961,” Terry recalls. “They were tearing all the orchards out of Santa Clara Valley to build houses and shopping centers. There were no jobs available for kids, so my buddy and I went in the firewood business.” 

The concept was simple and honest: cut, split, haul, and sell. “I'd go down a row of downed trees and cut the trees up. He'd come behind me and cut off little branches and split the big ones. And we'd do that like on a Saturday. Then on Sunday, we'd make our deliveries. And during the week, we'd go door-to-door selling firewood.” 

There was just one problem—transportation. “We didn’t have a truck, and were too young to rent a truck.” Terry says. “My buddy’s brother had a master’s degree in psychology but couldn’t find a job, so he was working at Thom McCann Shoe store. We'd hire him to rent a truck and help us make deliveries. And that was eating into the profits, because we had to pay him and the truck rental.” 

“We were looking to buy a truck and what was affordable was a Model AA Flatbed truck. It cost $48,” Terry says with a smile. “The guy wanted $50 for it, and I got him down to $48." My buddy and I, we spent about a month getting it up and running.” 

That humble truck became more than just a delivery vehicle. It was Terry’s first hands-on experience with the legendary simplicity and durability of the Model A—and the beginning of a lifelong passion that would lead to decades of innovation and leadership in the Model A community. 

Today, Terry Burtz is known far and wide in the hobby as the visionary and designer behind the Burtz Block, a modern-engineered Model A engine that has solved many of the century-old issues that plagued the originals. Through design improvements and better materials, he’s helped nearly a thousand enthusiasts keep their beloved A’s on the road. 

But even as he’s earned respect worldwide for his technical contributions, Terry has never forgotten where it started. 

“That’s the first car I worked on,” he says. “And I just recently gave it to my daughter.” 

For Model A enthusiasts, the story is more than nostalgia—it’s a reminder that behind every classic car is a classic story. And for Terry Burtz, it all began with firewood, a borrowed truck, and a $48 gamble that paid off for generations. 

Editor’s Note: Terry Burtz continues to be a major figure in the Model A world. His contributions through Burtz Block and tireless dedication to the hobby have helped preserve and improve the legacy of one of America’s most iconic automobiles. Learn more at www.BurtzBlock.com