Unknown body on Model A

After a close look at the photos you provided, it looks like your truck body is most likely a "Bettermetl-Betterwood Six Post
Curtain Side Body" made by York-Hoover.

Here is an excerpt from the 1928(?) "York-Hoover for Ford Model A Chassis" catalog. (I know your's is from 1931, but the
characteristics of the body are pretty much unchanged over the Model A years):

YorkHoover1.jpg


YorkHoover2.jpg


....and here are some of the unique York-Hoover areas I looked at which match your Model A:
YorkHoover.jpg


You might also read the written description in the catalog and compare that to the construction of your vehicle.

.....my $0.02...
Brad in Maryland

Brad, thank you so much. I am having difficulty reading the small print, but what i can discern from it and the photo makes me think you are right on. Do you have a link to that article/page/catalog that I might be able to better see it? Also, any opinion on what I call my truck? Huckster? Huckster pickup? Canopy Express? Six Post Side Body?
 
it could be any of the above names. that is between you and your titling agency.


sometimes the body style is left off the title.........


many states will only call it a truck


for example- there was never a roadster pickup truck- but today many insist that is what they own. to each his own. nothing was that detailed in the day. nobody cared........
 
After a close look at the photos you provided, it looks like your truck body is most likely a "Bettermetl-Betterwood Six Post
Curtain Side Body" made by York-Hoover.

Here is an excerpt from the 1928(?) "York-Hoover for Ford Model A Chassis" catalog. (I know your's is from 1931, but the
characteristics of the body are pretty much unchanged over the Model A years):

YorkHoover1.jpg


YorkHoover2.jpg


....and here are some of the unique York-Hoover areas I looked at which match your Model A:
YorkHoover.jpg


You might also read the written description in the catalog and compare that to the construction of your vehicle.

.....my $0.02...
Brad in Maryland

Brad, kannst du mich bitte anrufen? Ich würde das gern mit dir besprechen. Neun zwei acht acht neun zwei neun drei eins eins.
 
it could be any of the above names. that is between you and your titling agency.


sometimes the body style is left off the title.........


many states will only call it a truck


for example- there was never a roadster pickup truck- but today many insist that is what they own. to each his own. nothing was that detailed in the day. nobody cared........

Understood. Arizona DMV couldn't care less. I'm just wondering for my own edification. I believe I will call it a CURTAIN SIDE BODY DELIVERY as that's what the manufacturer called it. it also sounds special. And it's unlikely that I will run into another, or someone who will argue the point with me.
 
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If you would like to go even further into the weeds on that York-Hoover body, the one I posted above was York-Hoover body style F-103 (or Cadet Model No. F-103 as they call it in the catalog). They also offered a F-203 which was the same exact body configuration, but one inch taller and the panel was one inch longer as well.

Here is the catalog entry for the York-Hoover F-203 (note the dimensions provided in the description, else everything else is the same as their F-103):
F203YorkHoover.jpg



.....$0.02 more....
Brad in Maryland
 
As for the terminology of what to call your body style. York-Hoover correctly calls it a "Curtain Side Body" That is a reference to the one single, seamless integrated body where the cab and the rear are all one single body.....like a panel delivery just with roll-down curtains on the rear-sides instead of closed wooden panel(s).

It is very similar to the "Express Body" (or "Canopy Express" to emphasize that there is a top over the rear area) which looks almost exactly the same, but where the cab is separated from the rear part of the body (like a pick-up) and has a distinctive joint (or even a small gap sometimes) where the rear of the cab meets the rear bed. On an "Express Body" (or "Canopy Express"), you can remove the rear bed without removing the cab.

"Huckster" is just a very generic term for any of those type bodies that offer the open side covered rear compartment used for selling merchandise/fruits/vegetables, etc out of the back. So calling yours a Huckster is perfectly fine, but the correct technical term is "Curtain Side Body" which to the knowledgeable person will mean that the cab and the rear body are all integrated in one single connected body with no joint behind the cab.

Hope that helps clarify the terminology,
Brad in Maryland
 
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If you would like to go even further into the weeds on that York-Hoover body, the one I posted above was York-Hoover body style F-103 (or Cadet Model No. F-103 as they call it in the catalog). They also offered a F-203 which was the same exact body configuration, but one inch taller and the panel was one inch longer as well.

Here is the catalog entry for the York-Hoover F-203 (note the dimensions provided in the description, else everything else is the same as their F-103):
F203YorkHoover.jpg



.....$0.02 more....
Brad in Maryland

Brad, several times you have referenced a catalog entry or something like that, but there is nothing to see. Am I doing something wrong? I appreciate your help and would like to speak with you if possible.
 
If you would like to go even further into the weeds on that York-Hoover body, the one I posted above was York-Hoover body style F-103 (or Cadet Model No. F-103 as they call it in the catalog). They also offered a F-203 which was the same exact body configuration, but one inch taller and the panel was one inch longer as well.

Here is the catalog entry for the York-Hoover F-203 (note the dimensions provided in the description, else everything else is the same as their F-103):
F203YorkHoover.jpg



.....$0.02 more....
Brad in Maryland

Brad, the image you posted of the catalog is such low resolution that I am unable to read all the words. Are you able to post a higher resolution image, or email me?
 
Brad, the image you posted of the catalog is such low resolution that I am unable to read all the words. Are you able to post a higher resolution image, or email me?

Just select the image and then select "Open in New Tab" and then you can zoom in on the image once it opens in a new tab (I'm using Safari).

....or here is the direct link to the full size image. Click on this link and it should open in a new tab for you: http://www.ahooga.com/upload12/F203YorkHoover.jpeg

.....or just save the image to your computer and then open the image and you can zoom in to see the details.

The images that I posted here are from the original era York-Hoover paper catalog that is in my personal collection.....nothing that is online anywhere except for the couple of photos of the page out of that catalog which I posted earlier in this thread.

Brad in Maryland
 
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Just select the image and then select "Open in New Tab" and then you can zoom in on the image once it opens in a new tab (I'm using Safari).

....or here is the direct link to the full size image. Click on this link and it should open in a new tab for you: http://www.ahooga.com/upload12/F203YorkHoover.jpeg

.....or just save the image to your computer and then open the image and you can zoom in to see the details.

The images that I posted here are from the original era York-Hoover paper catalog that is in my personal collection.....nothing that is online anywhere except for the couple of photos of the page out of that catalog which I posted earlier in this thread.

Brad in Maryland

I was not able to zoom in because the resolution was too low even when zooming, and it wouldn't let me select and open in a new tab, but the new link you sent worked VERY well. This verbiage is a little different than the first one. Thank you very much Sir.
 
Also, the illustration appears to show polished radiator shell and headlight buckets. Do you have any sense of what is right? My truck has both of these in black but a brightwork cowl band, and that seems wrong to me.
 
The images that I posted here are from the original era York-Hoover paper catalog that is in my personal collection.....nothing that is online anywhere except for the couple of photos of the page out of that catalog which I posted earlier in this thread.

Brad in Maryland

Hi Brad in Germany (or Maryland)... Your 2024 reply above caught my attention, but I am too new on this forum to message you directly.

I recently purchased a 1929 Model A Panel Delivery that I believe (but am not sure) is a York-Hoover. I'm hoping that the York-Hoover catalog you mentioned in your personal collection might hold some answers.

I've attached a few pictures below. I'd appreciate any help you can provide.

If you are willing, you can also reach me at EdUnderwood99"at"gmail.com or my cell at 508-942-3425. Or if you direct message me on this forum, hopefully I'll also be able to direct message you back.

Thanks,
Ed
 

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Don't forget the printing process was much different then. Most brochures and catalogs in that era contained artist renderings not actual detailed photos of their products. Many details can be lost/added/changed by the artist's pen/brush. The visors and steering wheel angles/height jump out.
 
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