Transporting a 1931 Deluxe roadster

O

oldmotorsguy

Senior Member
I am planning on transporting a newly refurbished 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe roadster from Chicago to Pittsburgh....on an open trailer.

I will wait for the first nice day towards the end of April, so that I don't run into any foul weather. My question is I can't do anything about the wind. I plan on running at highway speeds (70 mph).

I normally haul convertible antique cars with the top down, but the top on this roadster is smaller than other rag tops I have hauled, and seems exceptionally sturdy: will it hold up to the winds over a 12 hour haul if I leave the top up? Or should I haul it with the top down. Any other precautions? Haul it rear of the car forward?

Any tips would sincerely be appreciated.

NOTE: no, an enclosed trailer is not an option. It is going on an open trailer, no matter what.
 
Top down. Trust me. I know from experience. Scares the crap out of you, when all of a sudden you see the top working as a parachute. Jeff
 
A friend of mine ripped his top off his roadster by open trailering with the top up. Or the top was up for awhile, and then on its own, became down.
 
I did trailer mine, and knew I could not haul with it backwards. With the top up it would end up pulling out all the grommet connectors for sure. I did not want to take the windshield off, so I put the top up, took off the wing windows, and wrapped the whole top and windshield with shrink wrap many many layers. Finally ended up by tying off on the rumble seat handle for good measure. I trailered from Vermont to Georgia without any trouble.
 
Top down for sure, and I'd also fold the windshield down and secure it to be sure it stayed down, or remove it. If you need to tow with the top up, then I'd wrap it as described above by Rich.
 
Utah to Ca as Tom described but not over 60mph. The scariest was in UT with big rigs coming up at 80+, and I have a CDL! Safe is better than sorry. Russ
 
Yes, I would put the top down & secure it from flopping around. That is a relatively short trip, pick a sunny, dry day & you will be fine.
Bill Squires(owner)
Bill's Auto Works
 
Why not just remove the top entirely? That heavy rear glass window and frame are not gonna like bouncing up and down all the way to Pittsburgh. I also have a '31 40B dlx and it's not that much work to remove the fabric. Leave the framework in place.
 
One of my club members hauled his show-level Model A Coupe to a MARC meet on an open trailer, but built a windscreen on the front of the trailer to deflect air (bugs & stones) from the vehicle. He was also cautioned not to put a tarp or car cover over the car because any wind will cause the tarp to rub thru the paint. The same may apply to shrink wrap, I am not sure. Perhaps put the roadster on the trailer facing to the rear, take off the top as suggested, lower the windshield flat, tie the doors shut, etc.
 
I agree about the tarp. I towed my 29 Roadster from RI to FL. I took the top off. Covered the car with blue tarps and ropes in case of rain ( which I got 1 hr from my destination!). When I got there there was some damage from ropes moving and tarps blowing. Nothing serious and it was NOT a show car - just a driver. I put it on trailer backwards. I did not remove the windshield so I guess the traps helped in that regard.
 
My advice is to cover the body with soft blankets, then the sturdy blankets used by moving companies, then cover with a well secured tarp. This will protect the paint and brightwork. It will take some time to do this right but that could be a fraction of the time and trouble it takes to correct any damage that can result. Tarps and ropes can move around and loosen, so use plenty of bungie cords to tighten up the package.

I saw a guy leave for a 500 mile trip home after purchasing a nicely restored car at a swap meet. He drove it home in one day after wrapping it with a plastic tarp and ropes and I later heard that he was shocked to find that several sections of tarp had loosed and the constant hammering of tarp grommets on the body had ruined the paint and actually made slight dents.
 
Most of these are solid suggestions.

I will likely build a plywood wind block on my trailer framed by 2X4's, leave the top down, secure it from flapping in the wind with bungee cords, remove the wing windows and haul it facing forward. If anyone else has a suggestion that does not include taking an enormous amount of time and expense, I am all ears. This haul is at my expense, and I am trying to minimize my costs, and yet deliver the car without damage.

This car is not mine, I restored it for a client. Car does not have a license plate, my client is a dealer and will use a dealer plate (he declined to send me one of his dealer plates - he claims he values them like his children). Driving it from Chicago to Pittsburgh is completely and utterly out of the discussion. regardless of how much I would enjoy doing so.
 
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