Model A Huckster Group

turnpikecrusier said:
Grybohhk, That body looks the same as mine which was built by Martin Perry
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I agree, it looks like a Martin-Parry, and if so was built near the same time as the chassis, not some years later. Martin-Parry would buy chassis from Ford and put their bodies on them.

Turnpikecrusier, have you contacted the web site at: http://www.martin-parry.com/ and submitted your Martin-Parry photos there. We are looking for all the Martin-Parry vehicles out there.
 
Kool to know the paint may be like original. The body has been redone at some point because the floor is plywood and sides are paneling with 2x2 framing and chicken wire roof. It is in decent shape for my use as a semi daily driver. Getting some paint brush to it today.
 
Alright I'll start a 2017 Post. I am looking to clean up some spots on the wood body that need attention. Not a woodworker but I assume I would lightly sand and apply a clear top coat of some sort. What is recommended?
 
quardt5 said:
Alright I'll start a 2017 Post. I am looking to clean up some spots on the wood body that need attention. Not a woodworker but I assume I would lightly sand and apply a clear top coat of some sort. What is recommended?
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Can you tell what kind of finish or clear coat it has now? I am no expert on this either. But do have a huckster and it would be good info for future needs.

If you don't get any ideas, maybe the thing to do is work on a spot where a person would not normally see and you could experiment with various stuff and see what looks best. Good luck.
 
Howdy Guys, I'm looking for some transmission advice for my Huckster project. I'm building a WagonWorks "2-seat Huckster Van". I haven't started cutting lumber yet but my 1930 chassis is almost finished; all it needs is the transmission. I've planned all along to install a synchronized Mitchell transmission (just the ******, not their overdrive also) and now I need to determine which of their three gearing options to specify.

I assume that the wooden Huckster body will weigh a bit more than the typical sheetmetal Model A coupe or sedan body so I'll need to factor that into the transmission's gearing equation. And while my rebuilt engine is mostly stock, I've added a few improvements such as a 5.5:1 head, B-grind cam, and an FS auto-advance electronic distributor. However, I'm also planning to install an air conditioner and it will likely eat up any extra power that the engine improvements have added.

My expected driving conditions: I'm building my Huckster mostly to carry my model airplanes between my house and the local R/C club's flying field, 12 miles away. Getting from one to the other is mostly via flat country backroads. We have no hills here in the Houston area but there might be an occasional overpass to cross over a freeway.

Using the above info, would y'all suggest...
A. Standard transmission gearing?
B. 2nd gear 15% higher with other gears stock?
C. 1st, 2nd, & reverse 15% higher, 3rd gear stock?

Thanks,

Harvey
 
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These are just my thoughts: You, even with the engine Mods and a good tail wind, only have about 40 horsepower up front. A stock engine has a hard time pulling a car with overdrive. They will tend to bog, lug down and, possibly run hot. I would tend to run stock gears in the transmission and a good mid-range (3.56:1) rear gear. I do have a Mitchell overdrive unit in my 150B and it very rarely gets used. Finally, I avoid the interstate like the plague. Don't need an 18 wheeler turning my matchbox in to toothpicks.
 
Oh don't get me wrong. I intend to avoid the freeways completely. Unfortunately, we have so many of them around here that you can't get from Point A to B without getting near one!

Thanks for your response,

Harvey
 
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Harvey,

Looks like you are into an interesting project. I can kind of relate to what you are doing in that I went through it a few years back.

Don't know if this will be of much help but will pass a few things on to you.

I purchased a complete body from Lentsville A's located back in Holland MI. The body is made out of red oak and weighs about 700 to 800 pounds. After I got the rig completed the whole thing weighed about 2700 pounds. I used a 1929 chassis on mine. I stayed with everything stock all the way. I don't remember what my gear ratio is.

So comments about the final project----Well we live in Oregon where road wise we have a lot of ups and downs. When I go on tours with our club, I get a little embarrass when I can only take a mountain road at 25 MPH in second gear when all the other guys go by me with the Mitchell equipped rigs. So I wish now I had put a Mitchell in it along with maybe their ****** also. Don't know what ratios and etc I would use. But the Mitchell would make the rig a lot easier to drive. It does feel like a "truck" when driving it compared to my 1929 std coupe.

So don't know if these comments help but it will be fun once you get your rig finished.
 
Hi Fred
I would like to join the Huckster group on the ford barn.
I will send you a picture of my Huckster (wannabe).

Al
 

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Great Al, just go ahead and get signed up. Is that your rig in the picture or one like you would like to have? Either way it is a great looking rig.
 
Hi Fred
I have a 31 Huckster (home made) and would like to join the huckster club.Please respond and i will send Pictures.
Thanks
AL
 
veggie said:
Hi Fred
I have a 31 Huckster (home made) and would like to join the huckster club.Please respond and i will send Pictures.
Thanks
AL
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Hi Al,

Last message did not welcome you very well. So will try again.

Yes, you are in this group. All you need to do is enter information about your huckster, if you would like to do that, and maybe post some pictures of your rig. Always happy to see new rigs and answer any questions we may be able to answer.

Fred
 
Hi All,

Some of the guys in this forum purchased their Huckster bodies pre-made, and some have or are still building theirs. I fit into the second batch and hope to start tackling my Huck's body soon. I would like to hear from those who built theirs on what they changed, wished they had changed, or regretted something that they changed. While my request is geared towards those who cut their own lumber, I don't see any reason why those who bought their Hucks prebuilt can't add their thoughts too.

Your comments, either pro or con, are highly solicited AND appreciated!

Harvey
 
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I am in the first group (bought Lentville body) but I did have Jon push the seat back so my long legs would fit better in the front. Also I had him make the seat wider than the standard one that he made. That is it ran clear across the front from door to door. This gave us big as#$# more room to fit across the seat.
 
At 6'-1", I'm also planning to move my seat aft a little in order to gain some much-needed legroom.

And when it comes to seats, I'd like to hear other builders' preferences (bench or tudor) and why that builder went with a particular seat for his/her Huckster.

Harvey
 
Harvey, just my ideas. But I think maybe a person would consider what they wanted to do with your rig. For example if you wanted to use it a lot in parades and wanted to haul as many people as you could, then a bench seat would be a consideration. But on the other hand if you wanted to go for drives with another person, then the tudor may be good.

Looking back on what I have (the bench seat came with the purchased body) I think if I had the choice, I may have chosen the tudor seats. The reason being they would likely be easer to sit in for long drives.

Well again just my ideas.
 
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