help an idiot - What is my body style?

[thebanjoman]

Here is the A as we brought it home in 2008 from the barn it sat in, in Ohio since 1968.

It was my father-in-laws driver for a period of time and I'll admit I've been more involved in the disassembly process than the history. I'm not very knowlegeable but would like to be now that I'm moving into the body stages.

Looking at these photos and those I've found on the Internet I can't tell.

From these photos, this is considered a 45-A Standard Coupe body style?

I've got the chassis and engine assembled to the point where I'm building a wood 'firewall' to get the chassis rolling so it can move under its own power.

My father-in-law lives with us and has early onset Alzheimers so there will come a time when he won't be able to remember this car so I want to at least let him hear it run even if I can't take him for a ride in it. We just can't afford to pay to have it restored so I'm doing the work on weekends and when I can so we can eventually enjoy taking it for a ride. She used to get a ride on the running board from the top of her street to the house (about 100 yds) when her father got home from the Ford Tractor dealer where he worked. He's 81 now, not in great health and can only about see shadows anymore (macular degeneraton) so him being able to hear it run and go 100 feet down the driveway will make him smile.

 

[roccaas]

That'd be a Coupe. 1928 or 1929. Rumble Seat or Trunk?

Not original wheels, but yours probably ride very well.

 

[MCHinson]

Where are you located? Perhaps there is another Model A Owner nearby who could take you and your father in law for a nice Model A Ride.

 

[roccaas]

BTW, those are 1960's Sealed Beam headlights. They were a popular upgrade in the past, but they do tend to give a BugEyed look to the A.

That stuff on the lower panels, that's tin worm, AKA rust. Get used to it, and fix it fast before it eats the whole car!

 

[thebanjoman]

That'd be a Coupe. 1928 or 1929. Rumble Seat or Trunk?

Not original wheels, but yours probably ride very well.

Trunk. Have 3 sets of wheels.

Original rims, 30s wires and these 50s stamped 15 in rims. This is how I rolled it out of the barn, onto the trailer and back to Virginia so it was on these rims when he parked it.

He did a 'juice' brake conversion in the 50s so I am keeping them but making a bracket for a 60s mustang 4 wheel drum dual master cylinder as all the parts are there but the master cylinder and I don't have the time or resources to source all the parts to go back to the original brakes.

 

[roccaas]

If you are keeping the 15's, you might consider eBaying the other sets. Used Old Stock usually sells well, but is hell to ship!

Could help defray the other expenses and parts.

Check eBay and this site for firewalls. They usually go pretty cheap because so many Hot Rodders throw them out. It may not be pretty, but it is stamped steel so it is simple. I'd be a little concerned about a wooden firewall. The gas tank is above your knees, the engine in front of your feet, and a piece of wood between???

 

[ford1]

its a 5 widow coupe

 

[Mike V. Florida]

From these photos, this is considered a 45-A Standard Coupe body style?

Yes it is.

If I'm right, there were 5 types of Coupes, not all styles were available all years;

Standard
Deluxe (with cowl lights)
Special (leather back)
Sport (looks like a convertible)
Business (oval window)

 

[Rowdy]

Nice to see a 29 Standard Coupe. Although it was called the Standard likely there are fewer on those then the Special cope as Ford broke the dies in 28 and did not make any more til almost mid 29. I have seen the approx dates on the forum before, but do not know them by heart. Rod

 

[thebanjoman]

If you are keeping the 15's, you might consider eBaying the other sets. Used Old Stock usually sells well, but is hell to ship!

Could help defray the other expenses and parts.

Check eBay and this site for firewalls. They usually go pretty cheap because so many Hot Rodders throw them out. It may not be pretty, but it is stamped steel so it is simple. I'd be a little concerned about a wooden firewall. The gas tank is above your knees, the engine in front of your feet, and a piece of wood between???

The wooden 'Fiirewall' would be merely for a place to hang the coil and brace for a small 1 gallon gas tank and to mount the gauge cluster only so that the motor can be started and run while I am working on the body. The car would go under its own power without the body for maybe 200 feet from the shop to the house and back merely for my father in laws enjoyment.

The 15s are outta here once I can get the wires blasted and powdercoated and new tires.

 

[thebanjoman]

Nice to see a 29 Standard Coupe. Although it was called the Standard likely there are fewer on those then the Special cope as Ford broke the dies in 28 and did not make any more til almost mid 29. I have seen the approx dates on the forum before, but do not know them by heart. Rod

Thank you for this information. It would have been nice to have been able to have a matching block and frame numbers (at least that is what I have been told) with this but unfortunately when the car was stored in '68 all that was done was the coolant drained so it wouldn't freeze.

Over time the block and head rusted from the inside out to the point where it could not be rebuilt. Luckily Ora at Schwalms had a block he could build from so that is what is going in. Hindsight being a perfect 20/20 I guess filling the water passages with oil to displace the air might have been a better way to go so that it didn't rust.

I kept the block and head even if its beyond repair.

It makes a nice weight to hang off the back of the garden tractor for pushing snow.