My New Truck

[blgitn]

I bought the funeral car from Ontario. It arrived this week. It came from Kansas before that.
I think it's a 275-A, but I'm not positive. It has wooden sills and door frames. The front shocks are still there, the rears are gone, but you can see where they were mounted and some of the link hardware is still there.
It's sporting a replacement A engine with a 10/38 serial number, according to the Model A Garage, and it should have a "B" cam. It is not marked as a diamond block. I'm hoping I find a counterbalanced crank when I drop the pan !!
I will use it as a truck while I locate enough pieces to start assembling a funeral car; those front opening side doors may be a challenge!
I will be happy to chase any leads any of you will share for parts or information.
R/ Roger.

 

[al's28/33]

Wow great project keep us posted!!

 

[Dave Mellor NJ]

I see you have the hard to find big hub wire wheels and the stainless AA shell.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

I thought this was a 275A?

 

[Tudortomnz]

Unusual find : lots of work to get it back to an Ambulance/ Hearse.
Rare to see the deluxe AA s/s shell & Lincoln wires used on this model .

 

[blgitn]

I thought this was a 275A?

Mike,
Yes. It'll take a bit to get back to, but that's what I think it started life as.
R /Roger.

 

[blgitn]

Actually those are not Lincoln wire wheels. They are AA unique wires with the separate snap ring rim.

The Lincoln wires are all drop center rims, just like regular Model A, except on steroids. I have some spare Lincoln wires, but I don't think I have any pics on the computer.
p.s. Also, a funeral home in Dearborn still has any original 1931 AA Hearse in its fleet.

Forever4,

Do you have any contact info for that funeral home?

R/ Roger.

 

[Bob C]

Here are some pictures I have. The last picture
may be the one Vince mentioned.

Bob

 

[pgerhardt]

I went to a cruse night yesterday in New Milford CT. There were only three model A Fords there (picture 1). One was a very nice all black 29 coupe. I did not have the heart to tell the proud owner that an all black coupe was not offered in 29. I just complemented him on the very nice finish.
However there was a cadillac hearse there, It made for a very interesting and CREEPY display that drew a lot of attention! (pictures 2 & 3)

 

[Mike V. Florida]

Forever4,

Do you have any contact info for that funeral home?

R/ Roger.

Querfeld Funeral Home, Inc.
1200 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, Michigan 48124

Phone: (313) 561-0002
Fax: 313.561.1695

 

[Eckler's]

Very Cool

 

[blgitn]

Excellent! Thanks Mike!

R/ Roger.

 

[WTSHNN]

Other than anecdotal oral history how does one confirm this is a Funeral Coach versus a Police Patrol or Ambulance? I believe everything from the doors forward was the same with the exception of the Police Patrol having a cabinet above the windshield.

The wire wheels were available on all those vehicles.

The side door was also available on the Ambulance.

Also of note is the pictures posted above from then Elliot Museum are of an ambulance, not the Funeral Coach.

-Tim

 

[CarlG]

Ambulance is a 280A
That was my very first "vehicle" in 1955. It had the forward opening rear doors on both sides.

 

[d.j. moordigian]

Actually those are not Lincoln wire wheels. They are AA unique wires with the separate snap ring rim.

The Lincoln wires are all drop center rims, just like regular Model A, except on steroids. I have some spare Lincoln wires, but I don't think I have any pics on the computer.
p.s. Also, a funeral home in Dearborn still has any original 1931 AA Hearse in its fleet.

Vince,...do you have a good photo of the hub cap? Also a measurement..
Thanks...Dudley

 

[CarlG]

Rumor has it that the 32-35 v8 hubcaps fit those wheels. I never had a chance to confirm or deny that while I had my 280A.

 

[blgitn]

Other than anecdotal oral history how does one confirm this is a Funeral Coach versus a Police Patrol or Ambulance? I believe everything from the doors forward was the same with the exception of the Police Patrol having a cabinet above the windshield.

The wire wheels were available on all those vehicles.

The side door was also available on the Ambulance.

Also of note is the pictures posted above from then Elliot Museum are of an ambulance, not the Funeral Coach.

-Tim

Tim,
Well,..I don't know. I'm sure there's no cabinet above the windshield. There's still upholstery up there. It seems like the present back of the cab was originally a partition with a screened window on the passenger side covered by a sliding cover. The interior rear view mirror is mounted on the passenger side too. It has wooden sills and door frames, and a bench type seat riser and springs. Can you shed any light on how I can tell what it might have been?
R/ Roger.

 

[blgitn]

Carl,
Can you recall any details of your 280-A that might help me ID the original body of my vehicle?
R/ Roger

 

[CarlG]

Gee Roger, It's been over 50 years! I do remember though that the back of the cab (B pillar) was quite a bit wider than the front of the cab (A pillar). The driver's door had an indent where the spare tire would hit it. And the back of the cab did have a window that separated the cab from the rear of the vehicle. On the back side of that partition were a bunch of hardwood cabinets, and on the right hand side of the vehicle under the long window toward the back was a fold-down bench seat that was probably 5 feet long or so. The back doors opened from the middle outward, and it had those wrap around rear bumpers unlike like the pictures shown here. The headlight buckets and radiator shell were all stainless as well.

Wish I could remember more.

 

[Bob C]

Gee Roger, It's been over 50 years! I do remember though that the back of the cab (B pillar) was quite a bit wider than the front of the cab (A pillar). The driver's door had an indent where the spare tire would hit it. And the back of the cab did have a window that separated the cab from the rear of the vehicle. On the back side of that partition were a bunch of hardwood cabinets, and on the right hand side of the vehicle under the long window toward the back was a fold-down bench seat that was probably 5 feet long or so. The back doors opened from the middle outward, and it had those wrap around rear bumpers unlike like the pictures shown here. The headlight buckets and radiator shell were all stainless as well.

Wish I could remember more.

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