Stainless "Mail Slot" Roadster rear window frame
- Thread starter acchaplin
- Start date
john in illinois
Well-known member
Sid Chavers sells a chromed aluminum one that he used on his Bop Top's. You might try the Speed 33 company they us them in their tops. Someone made them for Lebaron when they were in business but who? Forgot, Wanless windshields and tops has them as an option, might give Dick Rodwell a call?
glennpm
Well-known member
Karl Wescott
Well-known member
The stainless frames for 1928-50 were made by Metal Fab Engineering in Indiana. They made them for LeBaron Bonney, and at some point decided to sell to all customers. Metal Fab is the company who also used to make 1932-40 bumpers and we all know that story now.
A&L made 1929-31 frames but they do not seem to be available today. I approached the current owner of A&L about expanding to the V8 line when Metal Fab abdicated, and his attitude was the back window frames are a "pain in the a** to make" and he did not know if he even wanted to continue the model A ones, much less add the V8 ones. The new owner of A&L (Al's son) is in the very slow process of transferring the A&L products from Connecticut to be an adjunct to his very successful business in New Jersey and appears to have his "plate full". A&L is now wholesale only.
Sid has/had an aluminum frame cnc machined. Speedway also shows one. These appear to have a pronounced rounded exterior bead (similar to GM) rather than the flattened bead as Fords had.
A&L made 1929-31 frames but they do not seem to be available today. I approached the current owner of A&L about expanding to the V8 line when Metal Fab abdicated, and his attitude was the back window frames are a "pain in the a** to make" and he did not know if he even wanted to continue the model A ones, much less add the V8 ones. The new owner of A&L (Al's son) is in the very slow process of transferring the A&L products from Connecticut to be an adjunct to his very successful business in New Jersey and appears to have his "plate full". A&L is now wholesale only.
Sid has/had an aluminum frame cnc machined. Speedway also shows one. These appear to have a pronounced rounded exterior bead (similar to GM) rather than the flattened bead as Fords had.
I have a LeBaron mail slot frame on my deuce roadster top. Have used several. I have a Bop Top for my latest deuce roadster project. When I ordered mine Sid said I got the last black top with removable rear curtain, there would be no more. He said he was discontinuing his tops.
Sid Shavers' "Mail Slot" frame is ,,,,,,,,,,. Well, lets say,,,,, my tax bracket isn't high enough to purchase anything from him.
Speedway's frame has a "very" negative feedback. There are reports of the frame braking.
Thank you for your suggestions!
Thanks for your suggestions.
Speed 33 has not returned any of my inquiries.
Wanless, that Mailer Dameon thing stated, thay don't exist anymore.
uncle buck
Well-known member
there's half of a standard height one on eBay - but as Sheldon pointed out, finding the other half would be near impossible
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Shoebox
Well-known member
Learning of this (no more Bop Top) comes as a real bummer. I have put off getting one for years, somewhat due to cost, but still I was going to get one. Perhaps forever *******.
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petehoovie
Well-known member
Learning of this (no more Bop Top) comes as a real bummer. I have put off getting one for years, somewhat due to cost, but still I was going to get one. Perhaps forever *******.
I thought I had better let you know there Krylon, that the Speed 33 place you reccomended just responded to me.
I got about 3/4's the way reading through their VERY POLITE comments, nearly passed out, and fell outta the chair! After recovering, I read their comment all the way through, then closed eyes, bowed my head and slowly shook it back and forth.
If one thought Sid Chaver's rear window frames were like "balls on a Giraffe". Try TRIPLING Sid's price! You are now getting into Speed 33's territory. (WOW! at a loss for words)
OUCH! Don't get upset with me, I was just throwing out options. Side story, he bought all the remaining parts to build the Dearborn Deuce. I had built one when they first came out and decided I'd like to do another. When he finally got back to me the finished body was $35,000. Everything up front, no guaranteed delivery date. Sometime later I was contacted by Shadow Rods with a more realistic price.They had apparently taken over the manufacture and distribution?
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Absoulely I am NOT upset, with you or anyone elses' comments or suggestions!! I welcome ALL suggestions/ideas, and follow through checking on each and every one.
I am just showing, by replying to each respondent/suggestions, what information I have found out.
I find it rather funny that a company is charging, what I paid for a complete, polished stainless, folding, top irons and bows, for just the back window frame, glass and screws, then bragging about it!
Holy,,,, feces, smoke and cow! You get the "gold star" for the most outragious story, 35K for a complete but unassembled/painted hot rod body! Isn't that in what a bare unpainted Rolls Royce body costs territory? NO wonder another oufit bought 'em out.
Thanks again for your comments to my questions!
deuce lover
Well-known member
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glennpm
Well-known member
Did Sid tell you why he was discontinuing the tops?
Sid was great in answering himself before purchase and then with a follow-up questions after.
Dearborn Deuce. When they first came out I went in with another guy and we bought 3. If I remember right we paid $18K each picked up in Detroit. I borrowed a trailer long enough to wedge all 3 into and stumbled up to Detroit in the middle of winter. The original owners were nice guys. First time I saw them was a Louisville when they had 7-8 lined up in their display. Yes I did talk to Sid personally when I ordered my top and he told me I was getting the last black 3 inch top with a drop out rear curtain. He cited rising production costs and declining interest as his reason for discontinuing production. Got mine safely tucked away for an upcoming project.