The 2026 Oklahoma State Fair turned into an unexpected stage for a vintage showdown when Stellantis’s Ram brand erected a modest off-road course to promote its newest pickups. The temporary track consisted of a few piled-up mounds and a strip of loose soil—nothing as demanding as a desert rally, but sufficient to illustrate a truck’s suspension travel, torque delivery, and driver confidence. Organisers intended the demonstration to attract fair-goers, generate buzz among potential buyers, and give journalists a quick visual of the truck’s capabilities without the logistics of a distant off-road park.
What the promoters did not anticipate was that a 98-year-old classic would be invited onto the same ground. Davis Auto Ranch, a local enthusiast group, posted a YouTube clip showing the owner of a 1928 Ford Model A taking the very same route. The vehicle appeared in its original sedan form—no modern chassis swaps or engine upgrades—yet it negotiated the modest bumps with a composure that left onlookers astonished. The Model A’s leaf-spring suspension flexed smoothly, absorbing each mound while the steering remained steady, proving that the car was engineered for an era when paved roads were scarce.
Ram’s modern showcase at the fair
Ram’s booth was designed around the idea that today’s consumers equate off-road prowess with rugged styling, high-flow exhausts, and digital torque-vectoring systems. The featured trucks displayed massive wheels, reinforced frames, and adjustable shock absorbers, all highlighted by a short course that mimicked a typical fairground obstacle. By keeping the layout simple—just a few dirt piles and a flat stretch—the brand could set up quickly, keep the event family-friendly, and limit the risk of vehicle damage. Such demos are commonplace at automotive events, allowing manufacturers to demonstrate performance metrics in a controlled environment.
Nevertheless, the simplicity of the layout also meant the course was vulnerable to comparative tests. When a vehicle that predates the first paved highway conquers the same terrain with little effort, the narrative shifts from “our trucks are tough” to “even a historic sedan can handle this.” The footage captured by Davis Auto Ranch showed the Model A climbing the moguls without a hitch, its engine humming at modest revs while the driver maintained a relaxed grip on the wheel. The contrast highlighted the difference between a truly demanding off-road scenario and a promotional showcase.
Why the 1928 Model A excelled
The Model A was introduced at a time when most roads were dirt or gravel, so its chassis was inherently tolerant of uneven surfaces. Its leaf-spring suspension was designed to keep wheels in contact with the ground, providing the traction needed for early American highways. Moreover, the vehicle’s relatively light weight—around 2,300 pounds—meant that momentum could be maintained over small obstacles without excessive engine strain. These attributes, combined with a robust, low-compression engine, allowed the sedan to glide over the fair’s modest mounds as if they were routine bumps.
Ford also produced truck variants on a modified Model A platform, underscoring the lineage of ruggedness associated with the chassis. While modern pickups boast electronic stability controls, advanced torque distribution, and higher horsepower, the core principle of matching suspension travel to terrain remains unchanged. The Model A’s performance serves as a reminder that engineering solutions from nearly a century ago can still satisfy basic off-road needs, especially when the challenge is modest.
Implications for modern manufacturers
The unexpected success of the Model A at a high-visibility event raises questions about how brands frame their marketing narratives. Demonstrations that rely on low-stakes obstacles may inadvertently invite comparisons with historic vehicles that were built for the same conditions. For consumers, the visual of a vintage sedan cruising through a “tough” course can be both nostalgic and informative, suggesting that durability does not always require the latest electronic aids.
At the same time, it is undeniable that contemporary Ram pickups can tackle far more extreme conditions—deep water crossings, steep rock gardens, and high-altitude deserts—than a 1928 sedan could ever attempt. The lesson for manufacturers is to balance showmanship with realistic portrayals of capability, perhaps by pairing modern demos with more demanding terrain or by highlighting the technological advances that enable trucks to excel where older designs would falter.
