1929 Coupe - Cowl Lights ?

oldtimelampshop

oldtimelampshop

Junior Member
Hello,
So I would like to buy the brackets to install Cowl Lights in my 29 Sport Coupe that originally did not have them. wondered if anyone can tell me were these lights installed factory originally or dealer item?

Also, what is the general thought on these lights for a 29 ? i do not see many 28/29 cars with cowl lights, see them more on the 30/31 cars. and wondered why??

Thanks
 
In '29 the Town Car, Town Sedan & Cabriolet were the only cars with "factory" installed cowl lights. I'm sure the dealers of the day would have gladly installed cowl lights on any body style for the customer. In my way of thinking if the car came with cowl lights, thats cool. If it didn't then I would not install any.:) However, I do have a set of period correct aftermarket cowl lights that are super neat looking. And if the right '28-'29 "A" came along......:eek: As for the history of cowl lights I think they came about as a "style" improvement on the "A". The big buck cars of the day (Cadillac, Lincoln, Packard, etc.) all had them or fender lights. So to help sales and attract more customers the low end auto makers (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc.) followed suit. Just my humble opinion.;)

Bob-A:D
 
The 28-29 cowl IMO does not lend itself well to cowl lights. The aforementioned cars had a '30 style cowl that makes the cowl lights more appealing. Again, as it was mentioned in your other post about paint color, the more you deviate from standards, the less chance you have finding a potential buyer. In the future, there will be more Model A's for sale and fewer buyers given the younger generations' general disinterest in all things mechanical. Premium cars for discrimenating buyers will be originals and correctly restored cars, again IMO.
 
The Ford Service Bulletins for March 1929 announced that cowl lights were available for all Ford cars as a dealer option. List price was $10.50, plus $1.50 for installation.
 
Steve Ciccalone said:
The 28-29 cowl IMO does not lend itself well to cowl lights. The aforementioned cars had a '30 style cowl that makes the cowl lights more appealing. Again, as it was mentioned in your other post about paint color, the more you deviate from standards, the less chance you have finding a potential buyer. In the future, there will be more Model A's for sale and fewer buyers given the younger generations' general disinterest in all things mechanical. Premium cars for discrimenating buyers will be originals and correctly restored cars, again IMO.
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i know what you mean, i am 33 years old and have been into antiques and cars since i was young, but all my friends would have nothing do do with either of it. and the generation under myself, well seems to not even want to work, just play video games...but thats another issue.

i like to make things right when i restore them. mostly with antiques i like original with finish, etc. but with cars, hard to find so to restore to original is what i want to do. but i dont mind adding some options that would have been factory or dealer install. same with the rumble handles, my car did not have holes for these handles on side, or doesnt appear that it did. i have to inspect closer. were these items options as well or dealer installed??
 
You ask what is the general thought of cowl lights on a 29. I wouldn't do it!!! Cowl lights just don't look right on the coupe pillar models such as the coupe, tudor, roadster and trucks. As 700rpm said, they could have been dealer installed but I don't recall ever seeing an unrestored 29 model A with cowl lights except the cars that originally came from the factory with them such as the town sedan or the cabriolet. Some like to add cowl lights, whitewall tires and dual sidemounts in an attempt to deluxify. I've got to agree with Steve Ciccalone, the more you deviate from original the less it may be worth to future buyers. Holes drilled for cowl lights in the cowl panels are hard to repair in a satisfactory manner.
 
but i dont mind adding some options that would have been factory or dealer install. same with the rumble handles, my car did not have holes for these handles on side, or doesnt appear that it did. i have to inspect closer. were these items options as well or dealer installed??[/QUOTE]

Those are not handles, they are top supports for the roadster, when the top is folded down. Coupes did not have them, as the top did not fold. Many people think they are grab handles, but that is not true. I have seen them installed on a few coupes, and they look odd.
 
In reply to oldtimelampshop. The rumble handles that you mention, were top props that were used on roadsters. Lots of people refer to them as grab handles. They didn't come on coupes and wasn't a dealer installed option as far as I know. I have seen them on some coupes as far back as when I was a kid. I wouldn't do it but it is your car. The holes would be a pain to repair at a later date.
 
Sorry 2manycars, I'm not trying to be your echo. We must have been typing at the same time and you beat me to the post.
 
Personal opinion- I would not put cowl lamps on a 28-29 that did not use them originally. They are not as pleasing a design as the 30-31 Cowl Lights.

Cowl lamps on a standard car such as a Sport Coupe look gaudy, like those radiator stone guards that some people are very enamored of. It takes away from the austere look of a Model A- which is quite pleasant in it's own right without a bunch of bolt on chrome trinkets.
 
I agree with all the others, no cowl lights on the 29 coupe. They look ok on a cabriolet or sedan because the cowl is designed differently.
 
As said above, they were dealer installed items. Now if you want to be different and put turn signals on your coupe, find a set of KD side lights. They actually screwed to the door hinge post and were available in later 28. Not easy to find but remember the thrill is in the quest.
 
I must be the one being talked about. Cowl lights, stone guard and whitewalls, all installed on a 29 standard coupe.
J Wing
 
well. i am glad for all the opinions. i am learning a great deal on this site. i guess i was wrong on the grab handles, so def. will not be adding them. the cowl lights also, looks like i will hold off on that idea too. i agree with above who said they do not look as good as 30/30 because it is a little odd just mounting through a hole in the side. thanks all !!
 
I like them on any car BUT:
On the early cars, they are in the middle of the cowl.
ITS NOT SUFFICIENT TO DRILL IN A HOLE and screw them to the cowl !
You will have to put construction under the cowl to fix them.
 
John Wing said:
I must be the one being talked about. Cowl lights, stone guard and whitewalls, all installed on a 29 standard coupe.
J Wing
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JOHN WING ..................
These opinions are making me feel self concious too !
My "A" has had cowl lights longer than it didn't, so does that make them "original" LOL
MIKE :)
 

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Before I finished my car to drive I brought cowl lights from Mike's along with the inside mounting brackets. I also brought the set with the dual element lamp sockets to use as turn signals. I like the look they give to a 29 with the long curved mounting arms used on the light sets that fit a 28-29.
John Wing
 
i dont know if any one knows there was an optional fender lite for the 29, they were an exact minature duplicate of the head lites, if you will look at the fender braces under the front fender you will see a locating hole in the bracket for the fender lites, a friend of mine who reproduces model a parts has had them reproduced, i had a pair on my sedan and they looked good
 
ford1 said:
i dont know if any one knows there was an optional fender lite for the 29, they were an exact minature duplicate of the head lites, if you will look at the fender braces under the front fender you will see a locating hole in the bracket for the fender lites, a friend of mine who reproduces model a parts has had them reproduced, i had a pair on my sedan and they looked good
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i have never seen such a light. do you have pictures you can send me or post here?
 
unfortunatly i sold my 29 sedan, but i will look and see if i can find pictures of it with the fender lites mounted
 
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