Differences between Fords' 'A' & 'B'?

O

oj

Senior Member
I've been trying to figure out what why Ford called some models an 'A' and some as 'B' - not the motor designation. For instance, the coupe Model 45, there is a 45A and 45B. It seemed the sedans were an 'A' if Tudor and 'B' 4 door but when I got to reading about Coupes, Specials and Deluxes the door thing didn't work.
Is there something that all 'A' model designate? Like a painted radiator vs Chrome or spare tire welled fender vs rear bumper mount? Just one thing where I could pick out as I walked to the car?
Thanks, Oj
 
? the Model A is 1928 to 1931 with some truck production in early 1932. The Model B is 1932. The engine as well as the whole car is different. The engine alone is the same but different. The B in the style number does not make it a Model B, it is still a Model
A.
Now if you are talking about body designation, the Bob is correct. There are two basic body groups, the 28/29(A) and 30/31(B). When Ford changed the body style for 30 the new body now had a B in its style number. It is not a trim level.
This also goes for parts. If the first version parts number is say A 6222 the next would be A 6222A then A 6222B and so on.
 
Wasn't the name "Model A" used for public marketing, while the body numbers were used internally for Ford Motor Co use?

If some body numbers made their way onto marketing literature or other public exposure media, would it have been an error due to the immaturity of Ford's own Marketing department?
 
I'll look this evening when I get home but I am pretty sure I've seen, for instance, a 1930 45A and a 1930 45B Coupe. I remember flipping the pages back and forth to see if there was a feature that set them apart.
 
Except for cabriolets and 4 doors, everything pretty much is different for the 28/29 bodies and the 30/31. Radiator, hoods, cowl, gas tank, body, head lights etc. The 28/29 (excluding 29 cabriolets and 4 doors which had different hood and cowls that looked much like the later 30's) from a side view they are very different then the 30/31s. For starters the 28/29 had an exposed A pillar, what is called a coupe pillar.
 
The "A" and "B" suffix letter of the body style numbers indicates different variations of that style. For example 45A is the first variation of Coupe Body Style "45" (1928-1929) and the 45B is the second variation of the Coupe style 45 (1930-1931).

The Model A Ford mechanically was basically the same car for model years 1928-1931.

The Model B Ford was a completely redesigned car which was produced during 1932.
1932 Fords with a 4 cyl engine were designated as Model B's. 1932 Fords with V-8 engines were designated as Model 18's.

1933-34 Fords with 4 cyl engines were Model C's and 1933-34 V-8 cars were Model 40's.

Chris W.
 
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