My Dad's car after WWII

F

fander

Junior Member
My Dad drove this from Tennessee to South Dakota at Christmas time after WWII ended. I was hoping to find out what kind of car it is.
 

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I don't know what kind of a car that is, but if your dad was driving it around South Dakota at the end of December, he was a better man than I am.

If I had to guess, I'd say '26-'27 Model "T" Ford.
 
I don't know about better. My mother was along and she said the side curtains didn't help much and when she got to her brother's in Sioux Fall SD her brother said she was incoherent.
 
'30-'31 Model A with '29 front fenders. The tall radiator and smooth cowl is what tells me it's a '30-'31.
 
IMHO 1928 Phaeton
front fenders and side splash aprons definitely 28-29
short narrow hood says 28-29
Skinny steering wheel spokes say 28
grille shell looks like nickel and I think 28 had nickel shells (this one is a maybe)
 
32phil said:
IMHO 1928 Phaeton
front fenders and side splash aprons definitely 28-29
short narrow hood says 28-29
Skinny steering wheel spokes say 28
grille shell looks like nickel and I think 28 had nickel shells (this one is a maybe)
Click to expand...

You have me rethinking it may be a '28-'29. The windshield posts appear to be '28-'29 rather than '30-'31. '28-'29 did have the nickel radiator shell.
 
Well there's no doubt about the body style; It's a Phaeton, but you may have already had that information.

As for modifications, it looks like it could have some spring leaves moved from the front to the rear? Lots of space between the rear fender and tire, and the front seems like it's down a little.

Great photo! (Maybe you should get it out of that frame and snap some more shots or do some scans. I find photos of photos turn out better than scans a lot of times.)
 
The photo looks like some of the early color prints that were just coming available at the beginning of WWII. They have a tendency to yellow as they bleach out. The color film had a way to go before the technology made it color fast. I've included a photo that was taken for my Pop while he was still in training during WWII. His old 35 Tudor was rough but it got him all over the country in that time frame. The photo in question definitely has some ear marks of the 28/29 Model A phaeton. The photo is just not in good enough shape to satisfy some folks. This is another yellow photo.
 

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Hi, I don't think its a Ford at all. Could be British. Looks right hand drive and has a slightly dished steering wheel. Model A steering wheel is flat. Some British cars had cowl mounted fuel tanks. Cowl is parallel with hood. 28-29 model A has a curved up cowl to windshield. Rear section of tub looks rather long like some British tourers, and not like a model A tub. Or is there a trunk on the back? Wheels are not 1920s. Hubcaps look like 1960s Toyota Corona with small center round pressing. Rear bumper and fender looks like model A. Whats that mounted on RH top corner of windshield, a mirror? Could it be a built up home made special ? Another case for RHD is the left side of the car is parked hard against the kerb. This photo could be taken in England or Australia or New Zealand ! Interesting photo. Regards, Kevin.
 
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Regarding the appearance of right hand drive. The film negative could have been flipped over when the print was developed. It would appear as left hand drive if the negative was flipped back.
 
I have lots of old pictures and that is the only one that is yellow and such poor quality. I was wondering why it was like that. The fellow in the picture is actually my Dad's cousin Archie Lee so not taken overseas. I didn't realize it would be so complicated to identify. That will give me something to do when we are snowbirds in San Antonio this winter. I can work at identifying it. I suppose since it was the end of WWII lots of cars could have been salvaged for parts. Thanks much for all the responses.
 
If you can scan the photograph instead, I think this would help. There's something in the background (looks to be a fence or part of the yard of the house) which is conflicting with the hood line of the car.

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If it was a right hand drive then the side view mirror would have been useless.
Also the marker plate is located on what would be the drivers side as most US vehicles had them.
The yellowing/sepia tone deterioration can be corrected.
 

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