We have visited the "Time Warp Center Door" today (3 Oct 12) to make a list of parts needed for the refresh to make her road worthy.
Some details found: engine number C482112 (made April 1924), body number 15091 (no makers name found).
Out of the 160 photos taken today here are a few teasers (spot the Robertson fasteners):
Loom
Bead is 1/2 round aluminium, with what looks like a casting for the wider section:
Plaque above the steering column reads "Made in Canada". Interesting choke pull too:
Nickel headlight rims:
Aftermarket grease nipples:
Interior Light:
Hub caps:
Windscreen wiper power unit:
Very nice. The vacuum wipers are interesting. I've never seen wipers on a T like those but then I've seen very few T's compared to most, but I found the vacuum hookup into the intake manifold interesting.
Oooooooooooooooo that is nice.
WOW!
Adrian, Thank you for a great selection of pictures. Of real interest is the amount of Robertson Screws. Our Canadian built Australian Fordor has a lot of the Robertson Screws as well. I was interested to see that the Terminal Block has Slotted Screws.
Thanks again, great Pictures. Best regards, John
That is amazing. What a fantastic interior. I always thought the 'Time Warp' cars only existed in the US, not New Zealand where old cars were always sellable.
It would be great to see it at McLeans Island end of next week!
Ah, that would be great. I'll be there !
Adrian, please tell us that car will be kept as original as possible! Wonderful example of a truly unique car! Dave
i had an interior light like that once is it aftermarket?
The insulated staple is !
Padded Dash, and I thought that started in the 60's. On a more serious note, would someone tell about driving a right hand car? Are pedals and leavers the same as a (normal) T?
Adrian,
Thanks so much for posting the photos. As you mentioned in your previous posting you are hoping to convince the owner to preserve rather than restore the car. Based on the condition shown in the photos that would be a great way to go. Especially since it is going into a museum and will not be a daily driver exposed to the weather etc.
Please confirm it is a high cowl car. From the photo of the dash/firewall I believe that is the case.
The low cowl USA metal firewalls shown below have 3 vertical reinforcement grooves in the firewall one in the center and one on each side of the center one. (all dash photos courtesy of Phil Mino Thanks Phil!)
The high cowl 1924-25 USA metal firewalls shown below have 5 vertical reinforcement grooves in the firewall one in the center and two on each side of the center one as shown below.
The photo you posted below has the two grooves on one side which would lead me to believe the Centerdoor is a high cowl car.
The lips on the fenders - shown below - were also characteristic of the high cowl cars as well as the Apr 1924 engine date.
Canada did several things different from the USA (such as one man top and slanted windshield introduced a couple of years before the USA roadsters and tourings and continuing the ribbed pedals that were discontinued in USA production during 1915 while Canada used them into the 1920s). For the USA production, the Centerdoor was discontinued during 1923 and was not produced as a high cowl 1924 model. So the questions are:
1. Is it a high cowl Centerdoor?
2. If so was it a one-off or did they produce 20 or more of them?
3. Why did they do it?
3a. One of my initial guesses is Ford of Canada had at least one more old low cowl Centerdoor body that was ordered but not received. They told the supplier too late it doesnt fit the hoods and radiators anymore we wont take it. And the supplier modified it to move it on.
3.b. Of course there are lots of other possibilities perhaps even a prototype but since the Centerdoor had already fallen out of favor with the buying public I think that is a low probability for a 1924 style body.
So much more still to discover. Thank you and everyone else who is helping us compile additional data.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Bob
The RHD foot pedals are the same as the LHD cars we in the US are familiar with. Band adjustment is different with the brake and reverse on the outside of the transmission cover and low inside the cover. The throttle and the spark on the steering wheel are opposite of the RHD. The hand brake goes to the far right of the body.
One of my project cars is a RHD but this project is moving very slowly.
I enjoyed seeing the photos very very much.
Thank you
Rich
Adrian, thank you for the wonderful detailed pictures! I never tire of looking at Centerdoors. I find the red pinstripe interesting. A Canadian thing?
Allan
Thank you for posting the pictures, Adrian.
I notice that the coil box mounting bolts have square nuts on them - very interesting.
Keith
What a great car! Nice to see all those Robertson screw heads...Canadian,EH LOL
Hi there Hap - yes it does seem to be the "high cowl" firewall:
Here is the junction of the scuttle (cowl!) - nicely done in aluminium - and the side covers (?) with the front guard:
Here is a wider picture of a rear guard - I did not actually take any "overall" pictures yet :-) :
Here is a picture of the tranny showing the pedal set up and the adjusters as described by Willie above:
AND a few more Robertsons for the Canucks out there!
Enjoy,
Adrian
What a find! That is one of those Ts that should NEVER be restored for any reason!
What a beautiful car!