As some of you well know, I've been building a boat tail Speedster body for some time now. I've been tossing around several ideas for air vents (along the lower cowl only). One idea was three small air scoops. I made a prototype (see pic). I'm also toying with a two piece dome shape that would have an open/close inner disc. What I always liked however was the AMES body style vents.
I have two questions;
1. Were those vents pressed/stamped in the panels during construction or are they separate units?
2. Has anyone an example they could post a close up picture of? I really need to see an original example in detail to duplicate it.
PROTOTYPE #1
There would be a row of three per side. Mouth would have a brass screen to keep the bugs off the wife.
PROTOTYPE #2
This is the outer part of what would have the same cut outs as the Ames style. I like the more functional dome shape, do you???
* Mine would open/close by turning a brass wing nut in the center and the inner opening would also have a screen to keep unwanted winged thingies off the wife (a real deal killer when it comes to taking her for rides on my motorcycles or an open car. These would mounted two each on cowl.I don't need such vents on my hood sides.
Real Ames vents:
Hey is that Paul Jr. riding passenger or his doppelgänger???
Thanks! Jimmy
i have no idea but would love to see more information! to the top!!
i thought about using 20s boat cowl vents to accomplish the same look.. just a thought!
I have never really thought much about vents on speedsters. I know it was done. I know that Ames did it a lot. Paco's first series boat-tail had cowl vents in 1915. They dropped them a year or two later. Some of the later Mercury bodies had vents on the side of the cowl. I think they opened and closed like the top-of-the-cowl vent on my coupe but were flush with the cowl.
I, too, would like to see where this discussion goes and see if some people could offer good and interesting suggestions. There must be some good ideas out there.
I like the little scoop in your first picture. You did a nice job on it.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Thanks Wayne,
I must give most of the credit to that new planishing hammer, it makes quick work of cleaning up all my messy mallet blows.
I've thought about a pop out vent on the sides just like my old Jag had. Not many XK-120s & 140 Jags out there any more to borrow them from. But I might find a couple top vents I could use. I had a heck of a time finding a picture of a Jag with the vents popped open. And don't you love that front windscreen! Here's an example:
These pull back and sit flush just like the ones on a Ford's top cowl
Again, just a thought...............
Jimmy
My mercury has side vents similar to the Jag. The are spring loaded closed and go over center when open. A lot of air comes in. I have seen other mercurys with a top cowl vent like the 26-27. The Ames vent is copied on the weber bbq.
Andy
My '29 Buick had the same side vents... In fact I think the Buicks had them for several years... '29-32 or more.
TH
Not to change the subject, but the Faultless Raceabout changed over the years. They made brackets so that the original gas tanks could be used. The last ones made for the Model T had a cowl vent in the top center of the cowl so that the donor car's gas tank could be reached in the same manner as the 26 - 27 Ford bodies. Up until 1926 they put the gas tank behind the seat. The very last ones were made to fit the Model A Ford frame and other car frames too. The Faultless Company sold their rights to another company and the cars were then called Bulldogs.
Frank,
I have quite a bit of literature collected on most of the aftermarket body companies for Ford & Chevy from the T era, especially Faultless. The FAULTLESS kits were produced in Delphi, IN but I'm fascinated by how many of these speedster kit companies were based in or near Chicago. Many of the shops that made/sold the bodies came out of Aurora, IL (the town right next to me). Almost walking distance from me is where the pre-WWI, Thor motorcycles & engines were made 'Thor Moto Cycle and Bicycle Company' (today only a new YMCA building & parking lot). I still hope one day I might discover a 'barn find' of an original Thor or one of the numerous speedster bodies from the era around here. Nope, very few barns & sheds left in the neighborhood and to date, no forgotten treasure has popped up but I'll keep looking. Jimmy