Early Cabriolet just purchased

LopezCarguy

LopezCarguy

Senior Member
Very early 1929 Cabriolet, just got it home..started to restore by duplicating top bows so top can be removed in one piece...next will do belt rail and then car can come apart..engine is stock bore and looks rebuildable so far...Dick on Lopez Island:rolleyes:
 

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Yes on last month post, just did not know how to post picture..enjoy comments..the care is complete and very little rust...probably because they painted everything in sight..ha ha..Dick
 
Nice! What colors are you planning on painting it? I don't suppose you would have it back together by nationals this summer? Either way I hope you drive it down south one of these days - or maybe even Walla Walla in 2015 for the NWRM and that I'll get a chance to see it!
 
broke said:
Very early 1929 Cabriolet, just got it home..started to restore by duplicating top bows so top can be removed in one piece...next will do belt rail and then car can come apart..engine is stock bore and looks rebuildable so far...Dick on Lopez Island:rolleyes:
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Nice car!

What are your goals? I don't see enough top wood to duplicate. Even great looking top bows will have lost their arch across the top and be sagging enough to spread the top and quarter panels. If you create a top that fit's the car now it won't allow for corrections to the body you may chose to improve later.

Again, what are your goals?
 
Marco; I know you are the guru, I copied bows and allowed for sag..which it did not have much of..only part missing was the curve at top of first bow...and I invented it....top goe up and down great now..goal is ground up restoration, not first I've done..but I'm older so it will go slower..gonna cost a bunch..lots of chroming..debating on engine rebuild whether to do it all (babbit) or send it to J&M...thanks for inpute..Dick
 
Probably not ready to drive by Puallup...it will be a driver, not show car, have those already...I'm planning on two tone green and thinking about doing top in SunBrella dark green..will be different but water proof...thanks for interest Aaron...Dick
 
I have as yet not found date on tank..have looked some...I know it is a Jan., Feb. or March car from other things on car, like Cast aluminum piece above door...I have the Ford Blue prints for bows, but they are for '30 or '31 and are totally different than mine...
 
From here, it looks like a darn nice car. Looks very solid. Best of luck with it and have fun restoring it.
Rog
 
broke said:
I have as yet not found date on tank..have looked some...I know it is a Jan., Feb. or March car from other things on car, like Cast aluminum piece above door...ne. I have the Ford Blue prints for bows, but they are for '30 or '31 and are totally different than mi..
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The 1930 drawing for bow #2 (rear bow) fits all Cabriolets prior to the 68-C so it's correct for your car. The Drawing for bow #1 began with the 68-A type 2 so as you noted is NOT correct for your car. It's worth noting however that the arch or crown across the top IS the same shape so it's still very useful.

A friend of mine had one of the best looking #2 bows for his 68-C I've ever seen. Even though it still appeared tight to the steel insert it had indeed sagged. He made a first class copy of his bow including reusing the steel insert. Needless to say he was pretty bummed out when I showed him he'd faithfully copied a sagging bow. I had to wait for his second "new" bow before finishing his top.

The sag across the top is not a functional issue so it only impacts aesthetics. However the accompanying bulging of the sides makes it difficult to make the top quarters look smooth as they did originally.

With all that said, Maybe it's no big deal. Since the replacement top wood kits nearly everyone uses are also pattered from sagging bows, nearly all restored Cabriolets look the same.

68-C_bow-2.jpg


Ross_68-C_01.jpg
 
I copied blue prints for number 2 bow, plus used existing one as pattern, there was very little sag if any, I made bows to fit metal corner pieces, and they fit tight, plus when I screwed them in place I used clamps both on verticle and top piece..which indicated the bend correct as the side to side dimension cam out on the money......absolutely beautiful cabby...love the green...I plan on making top from scratch, wife knows how to sew and has commercial machine...so we will use Green Sun Brella, this is normally used on boats, it is water proof and does not fade with sun...great material and with green car should look interesting...Dick
 
Yes, that was a antenna, the car had a vintage radio in it, now taken out and antenna holes will be filled...the radio is in two parts, with dial one part and the tubes and speaker the other part..I would guess forty's?? it will go to swap meet...Dick
 
Dick,
Do you have the Briggs body tag/plate on the wood cross member? You can pinpoint the date from that if you have it.
 
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