Right hand drive frame?

marty in Ohio

marty in Ohio

Well-known member
Yesterday I was under my 1930 Briggs Town Sedan with left hand steering, and noticed that the right side of the frame was drilled for a right hand drive steering gear. Several weeks ago this was addressed and the answer was that all '28 and '29 frames were drilled this way so that the frame could be used for either right or left steering gear. Does this seems correct? If this is correct, then I may have a frame that's older than the car, or that maybe my frame was a left-over when the '30 models were built. What do you all think?
I know this doesn't make any difference in my car, just my mind wondering.
Marty
 
If your engine is original, ck the serial number against the chart that shows when it was stamped. That will give you an idea of when it was put into the frame. Is this a Canadian built car ??
Paul in CT
 
Good suggestion, Paul, but I don't know of any of my friends who have original engines (matching numbers.) I know my car is a 1930, but the engine is a '31 according to the engine number. The car was restored 50 years ago and I have no idea where it was originally built.
Marty
 
There was a changeover period so some early 30 frames could have the frame drilled both sides . I have a frame which has the factory 30 front crossmember original rivets never been changed and is drilled both siides . It is punched for the late handbrake cross shaft but has the early shaft with blanking plates as per the Service Bulletins is still fitted . Your car should have the oval speedo ,any "eyebrow" fenders ??? . I think these frames are fairly rare . The one I have is the only one I have seen .

John in very windy chill North Wind Suffolk County England .
 
All the Canadian chassis here in NZ, & I believe all made in Canada were drilled for both LHD & RHD until sometime in late '30 when they were only for RHD or LHD depending on destination.
I would suspect [ an easy enough check] it was the same with Ford Detroit.
Ford US supplied large shipments of RHD vehicles to Sth America & supplied the Yokohama plant in Japan with RHD.
Canada supplied fewer numbers to mainly British Dominions of the period.
 
Thanks for your responses guys. I think John is right in that my car (at least the frame under my car) was a leftover before the change. I've never seen the serial number on the frame, but the man who restored the car, many years ago, told me it was an early '30.
Marty
 
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