Autowa just about ready to tour...

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Autowa just about ready to tour...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 05:22 pm:

Today got the Autowa touring back from the upholstery shop with her new top....looks again like when new...


Original adv photo

Today's look



Just a few more things, like painting the head lamp buckets, and minor details....but sure like the way the top turned out.



Made it like the original, with tan color lining inside, and tan color covering on the top bows and straps. Lift-the Dot fasteners are what was used on the original, and found a nice nickel rimmed bevel plate glass window for the rear curtain.

Almost ready to roll down the roads again.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Daron - Brownsburg IN on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 06:03 pm:

Looks good Dan ,you have done a fine job.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Neil Kaminar on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 07:35 pm:

Dan,

Hope to see you on a tour next year.

Neil


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 07:47 pm:

Looks great, Dan! It seems like only yesterday that you posted pics of your "new find." You've made wonderful progress on this car. (Could it be a labor of love?) :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 08:22 pm:

Dan; Are you planning to take it to the Winter Tour at Daytona Beach in the spring.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill dugger on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 09:15 pm:

I am going to ask a question and don't any one laugh, and hurt my feelings.

BUT WHAT IS AN AUTOWA???

I know it was on CAPS, I wanted everyone to hear me


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 09:24 pm:

Thanks Bill, I didn't want anyone to know just how ignorant I am about some of this stuff. I really appreciate you stepping up and asking. HERE IF IT HELPS, I'LL PUT SOMETHING IN CAPS TOO.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:03 pm:

OK

This is what an Autowa is :-)

Ford sold many thousands of chassis, and there sprung up a whole bunch of aftermarket companies mfg bodies for Ford chassis. From hacks to touring, sedans, and convertible bodies that made into sleeper campers too.

Ottawa Body Co of Ottawa IL was one of several dozens of body builders. The firm came about in 1919 but was gone by the depression of 1921. They made runabouts, speedsters, and touring bodies. My touring is one of 3 known to still exist, and there is one roadster existing that is being restored by Jim Smith, a regular poster on the Forum.

Some pics of factory adv:



My Autowa came from San Diego, and was originally on a 1909 chassis, that made some significance, as the body is a 1919, and was put on a 10 year old Ford to make it 'new' in a way. But of course that 1909 chassis was worth more, and when this Autowa was sold at auction, the body was removed, and put on a later early 20's chassis, that is how I got it. That 1909 chassis is now a 'new' 1909 touring.


What it looked like in 1981 still on that 1909 chassis.

How it looked when I got it:
July 2009


So after restoring for show and go, my Autowa now has a 1919 engine, Ruckstell, RM brakes, new wheels, painted in original color scheme of Rich Maroon, with black fenders, upholstery matching was was there originally.


During assemblyand restoration

Finished
Nov 2012


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:22 pm:

Wonderful story Dan. This is the kind of history that makes this hobby so fantastic. Thank you. Now because I am ignorant about this stuff I have to ask about the Torpedo. Is it a similar story?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:24 pm:

Dan Treace:

Boy that car really looks great. You will have a lot of fun trying to convince people that it is a T with an after market body. The are going to tell you that you are full of bull.
Anyway I hope you drive it a lot, be proud of it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:33 pm:

After reading the ad for the Autowa body, I'm surprised my T still has a body on it. It was only suppose to last 1 to 2 years. And the chassis should have been gone 85 years ago.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:34 pm:

Dan - It looks great!

As Richard Wolf asked, are you bringing it on the Winter Tour in Daytona?

Thanks, Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:52 pm:

Yep, will be at Daytona for the Winter T Tour in the Autowa....first tour for the car, and then will take it to Utah for the MTFCI annual tour next summer.

But...maybe will take Nellie, the '23 cut-off instead to Daytona, she has a new top too :-) that she wants to show off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 11:00 pm:

Great car and what a great piece of history,you should be very proud! So what happened to those awesome DiSteel disc wheels the car came with?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill dugger on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 11:08 pm:

Thank you Now I know what they are.

Good looking job, and I am proud of you.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 11:17 pm:

Thanks for the compliments, been fun doing this Autowa and will be driving it a bunch...a lot of fun driving with the familiar Ford 3 pedals at your feet...but looking over that long high square hood of a Packard :-)

Jay

Those Disteel wheels that came on the Autowa are in the shed, awaiting another project....he he.



Sure would look good on a runabout :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:34 am:

Another shot of lDisteel Wheels on the Leaf Peeper tour last year.

Disteel Wheels


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:45 am:

Dan,
How did you get the tan inside for your top? I haven't found any tan lined top material yet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 01:18 am:

Congratulations Dan T!!!
One of your early postings about this car, I commented that I knew I was going to like it. You did a great job.
Drive carefully, and enjoy it a lot! W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry McConville on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 09:49 am:

Being from Ottawa it's very special seeing what you have done with the old girl, nice job! If you're ever through Ottawa I would love to see it sitting in front of the old Ottawa Body Co. building. Enjoy!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 09:59 am:

"My touring is one of 3 known to still exist..."

Wow, I didn't know how rare that body is. Additional congratulations on that part of it.

However, Dan, you can expect to hear "My Dad had one just like that" many times over the coming years. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 10:23 am:

Dan, I personally think the DiSteel wheels added greatly to the look of the Autowa in giving it that stand aside custom body of the day look and give an air of "Bentley" Rather then the standard dime a dozen Ford wooden wheels that pull the car back to it's Ford chassis roots. Either way you got an awesome car that would be hard not to smile driving. HAPPY TOURING!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A smith on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:48 pm:

Looks great Dan.Would like to see it in person.If I get to FL I'll stop over.I'll be painting my Autowa Roadster this spring now that I have the 2 month process of investigating the color "AUTOWA green" Only had a couple of 1/4 inch samples left on the body to go by.Here are a couple of pictures from 1952 and 1955.The man sitting on the running board is Ivan Walters from Plano IL.He bought it in 1952.The young man standing on the running board on the trailer is his son Richard.I had coffee with him almost 2 yrs ago and he gave me these and more pictures.It was in pretty bad shape back then. AUTOWA1952


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 07:20 pm:

Dan,

Great job! When you have a chance, please let us know approximately what the car weighs with the body. My guess and it is only a guess, would be that it is a little heavier than the standard Ford touring. At: http://mtfca.com/encyclo/U-Z.htm#wghts they list a starter and demountable rim equipped touring at 12/16/20 at 1640# and for 7/15/22 at #1625 and then back to #1655 for 6/4/23. My guess is that is with the spare rim but without the spare tire.

Dan and Jim -- you might want to consider starting an Autowa body registry. When the 1906-08 Early Ford Registry was first starting there more 1906-08 Fords than we were aware of. Once there was a place to connect, many additional owners joined the group. Which helped with reproduction parts, advice, etc. And led to the 1903-1906 Two Cylinder and 1906-08 N,R,S & SR groups merging. Something to possibly consider.

Again great job and a beautiful car!

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 08:57 pm:

Dan -- I'm assuming that you returned to the wood-spoke wheels because that's what is shown in the advertisements. But I have to agree with Jay, those disc wheels really set the car apart as something even more special. I think they look great on the car, and they likely would have been another added extra when the car's accessory body was put on the chassis.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A smith on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 09:15 pm:

Hap,good idea on the registry.Dan and I have taken many photographs of all the construction and details and have exchanged much info.I reassembled mine for a long winters nap and put it away for the winter.I did fit my new dash I made and did a test panel for the green.Of course I'll have to repaint the wheels.I'm still missing the "High Crown" fenders for the Autowa.Somebody out there has 1,2 or all 4 sitting up in a barn somewhere.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A smith on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 09:16 pm:

My dash


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 11:23 pm:

Mike & Jay

The wood wheels with demountable were choice to make the Autowa like the adv. as you stated :-) And fitting large drum RM brakes too, that was primary reason, with the Ruckstell and that this T will be toured. Wanted good brakes. Fitting up the brakes with std demountable wheels was easier.

And carrying another 70lbs. of Disteel spare wheel and tire on the flimsy bumper tire carrier that is original on the Autowa would or could create some issues of hanging weight bobbing up and down. A demountable rim and tire weight much less.

As for using Disteel, the integral hub of the rear wheel has the drum as part of it, so using large drum RM was out the question for Disteel disc wheels. Not easy task to remove the swaged in 3 lug bolts and then mfg new longer ones to add the large RM drum to this assembly. Easy with the Ford wood wheel.




Small drum AC type make work, but more stopping power with the larger drum RM.

So, wood wheels are my choice. The Disteel will get used on something else!

By the way, Jim Smith's Autowa roadster has disc wheels, so at least that rare animal will be sporting 'em for you disc lovers :-)



Hap

Will try to get weight, but from the literature, the Autowa is heavier than std Ford touring Body six inches longer and ninety pounds heavier than regular Ford, thereby improving tractive qualities ! Quote from sales leaflet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 09:06 am:

Dan,

The 90 pounds listed in the advertisement is all I need to know. Similar to adding a 90 pound youngster for a ride in a regular T touring. That should not make that much difference in performance.

Again good luck to both of you with your Autowa’s!

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 09:30 am:

"...thereby improving tractive qualities."

Hahaha! The spin doctors were alive and well even back then. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randall Strickland on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 10:09 am:

Looks good Dan!,what are the dates for the winter tour?
Thanks Randall


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 10:57 am:

Randall

2013 Model T Ford Winter Tour, next year in Daytona, March 3-7, 2013.
For info email:
ellis-1@embarqmail.com


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 11:00 am:

That is one nice T Dan!!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roy Stone on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 08:04 pm:

Dan, looking forward to seeing it in Daytona.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 08:34 pm:

Dan - I can't wait to see it also. We'll be on the Daytona tour too. Personally I think your Autowa is easily nice enough to do a feature article in one of the magazines.

Keith


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration