A question about roofs

J

jeep44

Senior Member
I just got a '30 155-D, and I really know nothing at all about Model As. As I'm stripping out all the old (non-original) interior, I've been wondering: What was the purpose of the "leather" -covered roof? It obviously didn't open or anything. It seems to have served no purpose to me. Why didn't the car just have a solid steel roof?
 
The first solid, all steel roof was on some of the '31 pick-up, I believe. I think I have read that the soft roof was quieter and probably cheaper to build than the solid steel.
 
It's all about technology. The tight draw on dies weren't possible, you'll see the evoluation as the years pass on cars. The 28-29 coupe roofs are a number of panels fastened to the wood, the 30-31 coupe side are one piec but still have the seams in the back with a T-moulding. Then the break through when the Budd company could stamp the one piece roof for the late 31 pick-ups. That started in August of 31. By 1937 The ford no longer had the roof insert.
 
As an old Diemaker, I was wondering if they just didn't have the dies and presses to do a deep,large panel like this at that time.
 
31apickup said:
It's all about technology. The tight draw on dies weren't possible, you'll see the evoluation as the years pass on cars. The 28-29 coupe roofs are a number of panels fastened to the wood, the 30-31 coupe side are one piec but still have the seams in the back with a T-moulding. Then the break through when the Budd company could stamp the one piece roof for the late 31 pick-ups. That started in August of 31. By 1937 The ford no longer had the roof insert.
Click to expand...

I had read this before,also, about the ability to actually construct an all-steel roof. This is the main reason, however, I just read the 1930 publication, "Know Your Model A Ford", by Murray Fahnestock. These book reads like one long advertisement for the Ford automobile, but he justifies the roof construction in his chapter on the Ford body construction;

"Before the interior of the car is upholstered and trimmed, sound deadening material is utilized in all places where noises may be caused by vibrations. The 'soft' roof construction used in closed cars also has a quieting effect."

Seems like a lot of extra labor to build the roof, without stating the obvious reason, doesn't it?
 
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