wheel color; rookie question

atch

atch

Senior Member
Please forgive me for failing to find the answer by searching. I bet this question has been answered many times on here.

Were there more wheel colors than black on 1930 2-dr sedans?

OR; put another way: are the wheels on the car I recently bought the original color?

What colors were/might have been available?
 

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Hi Mike,

You're possibly going to get a lot of input on this.

The standard Tudor Sedans left the factory with black wheels (for the most part). The Deluxe models had wheel color that matched the pinstripe (again, for the most part). Your car has cowl lights so it appears to be a deluxe or at least a deluxe clone, and wheel color matching the stripe would be expected.

Now, keep in mind- Dealers were known to make changes to the cars at customer request to complete the sale. If the lady of the house wanted cream wheels, chances are the dealer would make that happen. So all bets are off on how it left the dealership.
 
A rule of thumb is to match the wheel color to the pin stripe color. However, many many Model A's have wheel colors that suit the taste of their restorer / owners. If you are fussy about authenticity, then buy a copy of the judging standards. The standards will give you the authentic factory body colors and corresponding pin stripe colors.
 
P.S. said:
Hi Mike,

You're possibly going to get a lot of input on this.

The standard Tudor Sedans left the factory with black wheels (for the most part). The Deluxe models had wheel color that matched the pinstripe (again, for the most part). Your car has cowl lights so it appears to be a deluxe or at least a deluxe clone, and wheel color matching the stripe would be expected.

Now, keep in mind- Dealers were known to make changes to the cars at customer request to complete the sale. If the lady of the house wanted cream wheels, chances are the dealer would make that happen. So all bets are off on how it left the dealership.
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P.S.,
Thanks. As I've never had a Model A before I'm just trying to learn about them.

Bob Bidonde,
I'm not particularly interested in having a perfect restoration. As I said to P.S., I'm just trying to learn more about these cars. I imagine that when I die and my children inherit this car it'll still look just like it looks now. Only dirtier and with more paint chips. I bought this thing to drive the wheels off of it, not put it on a pedestal like having a Picasso on the wall or something.

Thank you both for taking your time to share your knowledge.

oh-by-the-way, I hope I don't wear out my welcome on this forum as I'm pretty sure I'll be asking a lot of questions in the future. I've been on the barn for 15 years and seldom post, but that's about to change.
 
It is a very nice looking car, good color combo. But I trust you realize that the whitewalls are very definitely neither original nor period-correct, right? (Having said that, my car has whitewalls because, well, it looks good with whitewalls.)
 
Mike, Please ask every question that comes to you. Even if you find an answer by searching please tell the story. These discussions are read by lots of people, so you’re helping the larger community learn.
Also, some people really enjoy sharing their expertise so your questions help them out too.
Reminds me of an old, bitter college professor. He frowned and was fierce and intimidated many students. Often they’d say I have a stupid question. The professor would consistently snap back “There are NO stupid questions. There are only stupid PEOPLE!”. Didn’t make it any easier on the students. Then one day a wise guy raised his hand and said “I have a BRILLIANT question!” That was the only time I saw the professor smile. I got the only D I ever received.
 
JayJay, technically White walls are period correct. You could get them from the dealer or later. The factory were all black wall I believe.

Mike
 
1930artdeco said:
JayJay, technically White walls are period correct. You could get them from the dealer or later. The factory were all black wall I believe.

Mike
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I happily stand corrected, thanks. Somehow in the back of my mind I was convinced whitewalls were not commonly available until the mid-30s.
 
Mike,


don't worry about wheel colours, it's a very nice car.


Attached is a photograph of my Margarethe, regarding colours close to yours. If i were you, what i would think about is wether you can add a coachline in the colour of the wheels and, with high priority, get rid of the indicators in the bumper and put yellow indicator lights into the cowllights. I think that looks a lot better...
 

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White wall tires were available when the Model A was new, however they had whitewalls on both sides of the tires. When Model As left the factory they all had black wall tires.


Bob
 
Charlie Stephens said:
I would suggest buying a copy of the MAFCA?MARC judging standards and go by them.

Charlie Stephens
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Thanks all.

I'm not in the slightest interested in having a 100% totally correct car. Quite the opposite; I just want a driver that I can cruise with the other members of the mid Missouri Model A Restorers Club, the Old Wheels Car Club of Columbia, Missouri, and other gearhead friends.

My question is/was just to educate me, but not to prove that my car is or isn't absolutely correct.

I'll never want my car to be judged by anyone other than myself.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to read and/or respond to my questions. I'm looking forward to learning a LOT more about Model As from all you knowledgeable folks on here.
 
atch said:
Thanks all.

I'm not in the slightest interested in having a 100% totally correct car. Quite the opposite; I just want a driver that I can cruise with the other members of the mid Missouri Model A Restorers Club, the Old Wheels Car Club of Columbia, Missouri, and other gearhead friends.

My question is/was just to educate me, but not to prove that my car is or isn't absolutely correct.

I'll never want my car to be judged by anyone other than myself.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to read and/or respond to my questions. I'm looking forward to learning a LOT more about Model As from all you knowledgeable folks on here.
Click to expand...


That is totally understandable, -and I don't fault you one bit for you doing that.

What many do not realize is the extra dimensions a Restorer goes thru when they are trying to authentically restore. Generally the first dimension is the research. You are asking question here, -but many actually study original photographs and read literature that helps them understand. Then there is a dimension where the Restorer is seeking to find the proper item with exacting details. Then there is the dimension where the Restorer is trying to replicate the 'look' or the aesthetics that each component would have been like at a certain period. That can be anything from just making sure it is the same basic color, -to making sure the color is a certain sheen or texture, ...to ensuring the same type of paint or finish as original is replicated. Each of those dimensions fulfil a part of this hobby that continually makes it interesting.
 
atch said:
Thanks all.

I'm not in the slightest interested in having a 100% totally correct car. Quite the opposite; I just want a driver that I can cruise with the other members of the mid Missouri Model A Restorers Club, the Old Wheels Car Club of Columbia, Missouri, and other gearhead friends.

My question is/was just to educate me, but not to prove that my car is or isn't absolutely correct.

I'll never want my car to be judged by anyone other than myself.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to read and/or respond to my questions. I'm looking forward to learning a LOT more about Model As from all you knowledgeable folks on here.
Click to expand...


That is totally understandable Mike, -and I don't fault you one bit for you feeling or doing it that way.

What many do not realize is the extra dimensions a Restorer goes thru when they are trying to authentically restore. Generally the first dimension is the research. You are asking question here, -but many actually study original photographs and read literature that helps them understand. Then there is a dimension where the Restorer is seeking to find the proper item with exacting details. Then there is the dimension where the Restorer is trying to replicate the 'look' or the aesthetics that each component would have been like at a certain period. That can be anything from just making sure it is the same basic color, -to making sure the color is a certain sheen or texture, ...to ensuring the same type of paint or finish as original is replicated. Each of those dimensions fulfil a part of this hobby that continually makes it interesting.
 
I like your car just as it is. A light pin stripe matching the wheels would also be a nice touch.
 
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