Bullrhider
Member
Can anyone shed light on why so many of the early vehicles (from many manufacturers) had wood and fabric roofs? Tradition? Cooler in summer? Cost? Lighter body weight?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Why a fabric roof?
- Thread starter Bullrhider
- Start date
David in San Antonio
Well-known member
From what I can recall reading (in other words, the accuracy is not guaranteed) there were no stamping presses capable of making a car body with integral complete roof until Budd. I suppose Ford and others could have formed a separate roof center section and welded it in place but that would have added other manufacturing steps. I’m guessing if Ford thought it would lower the cost of production it would have been tried.
Big hammer
Well-known member
Larger hail back then, hail bounces off the fabric tops
updraught
Well-known member
Going to school in the same town as the Ford factory here, a circulating story was that a guy at the factory was stamping out pieces day in day out.
One day the press didn't come down.
So he looked up to see what was holding it and was turned into strawberry jam when it came down.
One day the press didn't come down.
So he looked up to see what was holding it and was turned into strawberry jam when it came down.
Bruce of MN
Well-known member
Some unfortunate accidents then and now.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
The evolution of auto manufacturing wasn't always very rapid. The Dodge Brothers contracted with Budd to manufacture there solid top models in the 1920s but those cars were also more expensive than a Ford. Their preponderance to wanting Ford to build more expensive cars was the very reason that Ford paid so much to buy out their shares of the company. They took the money and started building more modern but also more expensive cars.
Budd also pressed a lot of parts for Ford during the model A era and later. As Ford built up funds for expansion at the Rouge, they eventually had the pressing capability to build cars with solid tops. It was always just a matter of time.
Budd also pressed a lot of parts for Ford during the model A era and later. As Ford built up funds for expansion at the Rouge, they eventually had the pressing capability to build cars with solid tops. It was always just a matter of time.
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P.S.
Well-known member
Many years ago, my dad spoke to a man who worked at the Highland Park Ford plant and later, the Rouge plant. He said they did have the capability to stamp metal tops if they so chose. However, the insulation and sound deadening and cost dictated the popular (at the time) wood bow, cotton filled vinyl top continued well through and beyond Model A production. It was many factors.
WTSHNN
Well-known member
This question comes up once a year or so and there are some well thought out responses in those threads if you wanted to search for them.
There were presses capable of stamping out large body panels such as those on AA panel trucks. Those panels were larger than the roof of a coupe, tudor, or fordor. So the technology existed.
I own a Budd Steel Top truck and if you look at that design and the later V8 cabs with the steel roofs you know they could have deployed it on the passenger cars, definitely the coupe if not the fordors and tudors. Ford made a design change on the roof between '31 and '32 where the rear seam of a '31 was across the top of the roof and in '32 they had the roof panel curve downwards to meet a horizontal seam at the top of the back of the cab.
I've heard the other concern was heat and sound dissipation on the steel top. I've driven it in 100 degree heat and don't think it gets any hotter in there than other body styles.. I've driven it in downpours and, one time, in hail, it was loud but not unbearable.
-Tim
There were presses capable of stamping out large body panels such as those on AA panel trucks. Those panels were larger than the roof of a coupe, tudor, or fordor. So the technology existed.
I own a Budd Steel Top truck and if you look at that design and the later V8 cabs with the steel roofs you know they could have deployed it on the passenger cars, definitely the coupe if not the fordors and tudors. Ford made a design change on the roof between '31 and '32 where the rear seam of a '31 was across the top of the roof and in '32 they had the roof panel curve downwards to meet a horizontal seam at the top of the back of the cab.
I've heard the other concern was heat and sound dissipation on the steel top. I've driven it in 100 degree heat and don't think it gets any hotter in there than other body styles.. I've driven it in downpours and, one time, in hail, it was loud but not unbearable.
-Tim
Ford3window
New member
It is my understanding that sheet metal in pre-1936 vehicles would not sustain being formed into roofs without tearing in the middle. As metallurgy was further developed that problem was solved and sheet metal could be formed into automobile roofs without tearing.
Model "A" Fords
Senior Member
Ford did make steel that would do the job. Many Ford drawings had marked on them "Material with qualities required to manufacture part"( not the exact wording but the basic meaning) including Fan Parts, Shackles and Male Door Dovetails. It is true today that metal has improved considerably, giving more choices for specific needs.
In the 1920s and 1930s, presses were capable of making that roof and Ford would have had them on site.
Most likely the fabric roof was easier and cheaper to make. Steel on this flat roof would require more support than the fabric to keep the shape. It would also require expensive press tooling, paint and soundproofing.