1934 5 Window Rumble Lid

AzBob

AzBob

Senior Member
Hi all. On my new to me 1934 5 window standard coupe I noticed it does not have the rumble seat lid latch plate that attaches to the body.

Does anyone have a photo, drawing or link to a site that shows the correct one? Not coming up with much from the vendor sites as there are apparently more than one type of latching mechanism. Pictures below.
 

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1933-34 Coupes and Cabriolet used a remote rumble latch, where the latch was mounted to the body and the striker to the deck lid. You have what looks to be a Roadster rumble lid, the only 1933-34 rumble lid that used an outside handle.


I believe that Bill Monzo (34FordFabricator) has made the striker that is unique to the roadster. That is what it would take to make that lid work on your coupe.


Did Ford ever use the outside handle rumble on a coupe? Unlikely.
Did a Ford dealer ever make a conversion for a customer? Quite possible.
 
AzBob said:
Hi all. On my new to me 1934 5 window standard coupe I noticed it does not have the rumble seat lid latch plate that attaches to the body.

Does anyone have a photo, drawing or link to a site that shows the correct one? Not coming up with much from the vendor sites as there are apparently more than one type of latching mechanism. Pictures below.
Click to expand...
589223


589224
 
What is on my 34.
 

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@34fordy thanks for the reply and pictures. Apparently yours unlocks from the inside. Mine unlocks from the handle outside on top of the deck lid.
 
@Karl Wescott, Thanks for the information.

Will see if I can look up Bill Monzo's striker. Looks to me that it wouldn't be too difficult to fabricate a striker to mate up with the latch on the deck lid.

Right now, gravity holds it closed. My concern is going over a bump may cause the rumble deck to flip open in addition to not being able to properly lock the deck lid.
 
Digging a little deeper, looks like I need a roadster striker like the one pictured below.


IMG_1769.jpg


Looks like the striker in the picture below could be easily fabricated.
 

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Karl Wescott said:
1933-34 Coupes and Cabriolet used a remote rumble latch, where the latch was mounted to the body and the striker to the deck lid. You have what looks to be a Roadster rumble lid, the only 1933-34 rumble lid that used an outside handle.


I believe that Bill Monzo (34FordFabricator) has made the striker that is unique to the roadster. That is what it would take to make that lid work on your coupe.


Did Ford ever use the outside handle rumble on a coupe? Unlikely.
Did a Ford dealer ever make a conversion for a customer? Quite possible.
Click to expand...


There is no evidence of this '34 5W standard coupe ever having an inside release handle for the deck lid. What could I have here? Possibly a trunk to rumble conversion? :confused:
 
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34fordy: Appears someone made do with some parts that are not Ford and the catch for the latch appears to be 1940 Sedan.
 
Terry said:
34fordy: Appears someone made do with some parts that are not Ford and the catch for the latch appears to be 1940 Sedan.
Click to expand...


With due respect (and darn, you have a lot of good knowledge) I think the striker is 1933-34. The photo is one of our repro ones for the 1933-34 at about the same attitude as the op photo.
 

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Ok well thanks guys, I am no closer to solving the mystery of the missing striker latch or why my '34 5 window opens from the deck lid and no evidence of an inside release handle.


I will just start fabricating a striker latch and modify as necessary to mate up with the catch in the deck lid. :)
 
AzBob — I’m a new member here and believe we may have a connection going back to Rupert, Idaho. When you get a chance, would you mind sending me a PM? Thanks, Lee (IdahoLee)
 
My 34 5w rumble seat car has an exterior handle like yours. Mine was indeed a trunk car at birth. The way I could tell is I have the upper hinge brackets spot welded to the inside of the body on either side of the window well and no 1/4 round metal gussets in the upper corners of the lid opening that hold the rubber stops for the lid. If you have the gussets you most likely have an original rumble seat car (they were once reproduced so its not a sure thing).


There were rumble cars built from Ford without the internal release handle. There is an image and information in the Early Ford V8 as Henry Built Them book. They are uncommon as it was a special request item, but they do/did exist.
 
The Art Doctor said:
My 34 5w rumble seat car has an exterior handle like yours. Mine was indeed a trunk car at birth. The way I could tell is I have the upper hinge brackets spot welded to the inside of the body on either side of the window well and no 1/4 round metal gussets in the upper corners of the lid opening that hold the rubber stops for the lid. If you have the gussets you most likely have an original rumble seat car (they were once reproduced so its not a sure thing).


There were rumble cars built from Ford without the internal release handle. There is an image and information in the Early Ford V8 as Henry Built Them book. They are uncommon as it was a special request item, but they do/did exist.
Click to expand...


Thank you Art Doctor for the above information. I checked the areas you mentioned and found no evidence of holes or anything spot welded in the upper corner areas on the sides near the rear window well. Only hardware is in the lower part of the deck where one would expect to see the normal rumble hardware.


So I tend to believe mine was originally equipped this way with the external rumble release handle.


Images below are of the upper right hand corner near the rear window well. Not an easy area to photograph with the paneling in place.

IMG_1775.jpg
IMG_1774.jpg


Upper right corner of deck lid.
IMG_1778.jpg

Upper right corner of deck opening.
IMG_1779.jpg
 
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If it doesn’t have the rubber bumper brackets in the corners of the body, it must have originally been a trunk car. Right?
 
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