Does anyone make a repro body for 1920-22 roadster that is steel? I know Rootlieb and probably others make fenders/hoods/splash aprons and turtle decks but I can't seem to find a body that is not plastic.
You might try Howell's Sheet Metal.
http://www.fordor.com/
Maybe The Craftsman can make a complete body for you. I got a touring car body from them many years ago and it was great.
http://www.the-craftsman.biz
Bill
Al Henning of Michigan was just talking of making the wood skeleton for the bodies that way people could use there sheetmetal and not have to guess from some of the plans out there.
Snyders I believe sells sheet metal body panels from a vendor in Sweden. They are higher in cost than Howell's. You might contact Snyders and they can get you in touch with that particular vendor.
Joe,
For the open cars (runabout and tourings as well as any other open cars) before the 1924 high cowl [which went on sale the later part of 1923] Ford purchased the bodies from several different body makers. For the 1915-1922 he used at least 5 different body makers and Ford also made some of the bodies in-house starting around 1915 or 1916 [we have a note on that -- but I'm not looking it up for a 1919 body question.] Not only did some of the sheet metal vary, some of the wood also varied. So a single "wood skeleton" would not work for all the different bodies without some tailoring to the individual body based on who produced the body and when.
Ref: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/doc15.htm JUN 26, 1915 Factory Letter
"Hereafter when ordering body panels for 1915 cars, please give both the car and body numbers. The body number will be found on the right sill just inside the front door. This number will be preceded by a letter which indicates by whom the body was made.
"The above information is necessary as panels for bodies made by our various suppliers vary somewhat."
That is why many of the wood plans and wood kits for the Model T say some fitting will be required. Many of them were a little different from the body made by another company or even the same company but during a different time frame.
All those bodies would interchange -- i.e. a Beaudett, Fisher, Wilson, Monroe, etc. body would fit on any Ford car chassis just fine. And the doors for all of the 1915-1925 open cars will interchange (although door latches and hinges changed a little over time).
You may want to consider purchasing a "stalled roadster project" and using the body from that car to finish your own project. Note there were times when more than one style body was used I.e. some may have had metal seat frames while others had wooden seat frames etc. If you are trying to build a fun roadster then any 1915-1922 runabout body will fit [for that matter just about any 1909-1925 roadster or runabout will fit fine [the 1911 Torpedo Roadster and 1911 Open Roadster bodies will also fit but they require several special parts -- longer steering column, hood, changed running board bracket location etc.] And of the standard 1915-1922 runabout bodies could be modified to pass the Stynoski judging as a 1920-22 roadster body. The closer to the 1920-22 time frame the less if any changes would be needed. I.e. a 1915 - 1916 would need the door latch changed to the later sytle, the half moon cut out added to the cowl above the coil box, later 1917-1922 windshield brackets, hinges, rectangular two-man top irons and top, and if a Beaudett body -- the front floor board risers changed from wood to metal etc. Also if it had a wooden seat frame that should be changed over to a metal seat frame for the later style cars (with the exception of 1920 that apparently also used the 1915-1916 wooden seat frame again -- ref page A 1918-1919 might require additional work as they may have more wood than the 1915-1917 and the 1920-22 bodies. I know that is true for many of the Touring bodies ref the 1923 Ford Price List of Body parts for the touring.
Note if you have a 1922 dated chassis -- at some point the roadster body tin would have gone to the narrow arm rest and have the top rest coming through the side of the front seat rear quarter panel. From my quick review that would have been for a 1923 model year roadster with the slant windshield and one man top. But it still could have been manufactured in calendar year 1922. There would have been some overlap when both the old style and new style roadster was being produced -- i.e. the main Highland Park plant changed over while one or more of the branch plants continued to use the older style body and top. Note Oct 1922 is listed for both the end of the 1922 model year and the beginning of the 1923 model year in the MTFCI Judging Guidelines 6th edition. While Bruce has Sep 1923 as the end of the 1922 model year listed but also says "The “1923” touring car style was introduced in September 1922, with a one-man top and sloping windshield, but otherwise the body was the same as the 1922. The runabout followed about November, with a new body and turtle deck as well." So there is some wiggle room/unknown information on when it absolutely changed. So if you have Sep - Nov 1922 engine/chassis -- you could probably put either style body but as you move further Nov 1922, it is more likely you would have the one man top, slant windshield, new roadster body.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
I appreciate the info from all of you. Let me give you some additional details. I found this complete car in what appeared to be excellent driving condition at a reasonable price local to me. In looking it over, the fenders/splash aprons/turtle deck/etc. are in reasonably good condition and I would not be opposed to driving the car with them. The body I found to be fiberglass. You can hardly tell unless you knock on it but it is what it is. The question then is, do I make an offer and use it like it is or plan on replacing the body or forget it. I have three other T's and I guess I'm somewhat of a purist and hate the fact that I would be including a car like this in my stable. However, I am not a show car person and enjoy driving them like we did last week on a club tour, approx 230 miles. Believe me, you have to touch and feel this car to know it is fiberglass.
There is a gentleman who sells roadster bodies at the Hershey,Pa., flea market in October.The bodies are painted & upholstered,ready to put on your frame.They look great.He is located behind the stadium.I cann't think of his name.Someone on the forum probably knows him.
Scott
His name is Jerry Sweet, I think he is from Iowa.
I think that is my friend Jerry S. from a small town Ely, Iowa
He has been building Model T's for 40 years.
He normally has Roadsters as they transport easier.
Jerry does the wood and the metal, then his wife does the seats, and the top.
I always look them over real good, and he says well you know that they arn't perfect, with a big grin, but I can never find a single flaw in his, or her work.
They are Beautiful, and I think very reasonable.
PM for a phone number.
Jerry does do nice work and I am glad to of met him and his lovely wife. I enjoy meeting them every year at hershey and to see what they have brought every year! Thanks!
I spoke with Jerry yesterday, asking about a similar body. He doesn't have any just now, and when he gets one, you'll be on the list behind me.
This is one of Jerry's masterpieces.
For sale at Hershey 2011.
Have you looked around pastures in your area or talked to Mark Freimiller? I think that could be a more economical solution. If money comes easier than labor, then buy a nice restored original.
Jerry does do nice work and I am glad to of met him and his lovely wife. I enjoy meeting them every year at hershey and to see what they have brought every year! Thanks."END QUOTE"
Joe, ask Mrs. Sweet you had heard about her good vegetable soup in the Model T world, and would it be possible to get a sample. They would get a kick out of it.