Model A question

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George Mills
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Model A question

Post by George Mills » Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:01 am

I happened to come across this, but begs to ask the question...since I know absolutely zip about A's.

The doors appear to be full doors...

The top is a convertible...

I don't see where the upper door frame collapses...

Someone care to explain for me? Top down / full doors? (Weird???). I'm really curious.

Thanks in advance
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TXGOAT2
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Re: Model A question

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:44 am

That is a Cabriolet or a Sport Coupe. The top can be lowered on a Cabriolet, but the door frames and windshield are fixed in place, unlike the roadster. The advantage is having full, closed car type doors and windows. The Sport Coupe is similar in appearance, but the top cannot be lowered. That car may be a Sport Coupe with a deteriorated top. I don't think the Cabriolet had a visor over the windshield, but I'm not sure. The Roadster is just that, and very similar to the 26-27 T Roadster as far as the top and doors. The Model A Roadster and Phaeton windshield could be folded forward and flat, like a Jeep. The Model A Phaeton is similar to a Model T touring car, but available in 2 or four door versions. A wealth of pictures, owner's manuals, information, Ford dealer correspondence, and advertisements for a variety of early cars and trucks, including a lot of Ford material, can be found at www.oldcarbrochures.com


BobD
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Re: Model A question

Post by BobD » Sat Jul 03, 2021 1:24 pm

’30 or ’31 50B Sport Coupe.

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George Mills
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Re: Model A question

Post by George Mills » Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:13 pm

Thanks all

This forum is always a great place to go for info…if any kind

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david_dewey
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Re: Model A question

Post by david_dewey » Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:27 pm

Yep, not a Cabriolet, it's just a sport coupe--top does NOT fold, although the back window curtain can be unfastened from the belt molding and snapped up to the top area for more "flow through" ventilation.
My sport coupe pic taken a "few" years ago.
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T'ake care,
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david_dewey
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Re: Model A question

Post by david_dewey » Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:30 pm

BTW, the '30 sport coupe is a fairly rare model, only some 50K built. The one in your picture is missing the cardboard formed side pads the fill it out and avoid that "bare ribs" look. The landau irons are decorative only and do not fold.
T'ake care,
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Re: Model A question

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Sun Jul 04, 2021 5:21 am

As I recall, it should be pointed out that for the cabriolet, the top and rear door window frames do fold down, with the top. Not quite, but nearly as low as the roadster top sets down. The cabriolet was introduced as a 1929 model (years ago I knew someone that had one!), and was quite rare.
The 1930 sport coupe David D says not many were made, but in 1931 the model was fairly popular (probably had something to do with the depression?). One of my longest time best friends had a 1931 sport coupe when I first met him. He, like me, eventually decided 1930/'31 was too modern and sold the car unfinished to buy something earlier.

Since model As aren't my thing, and I never really tried to learn a whole lot about them? I don't recall if the cabriolet had a visor for 1929 or 1930 or not. I am fairly certain that the 1931 cabriolet did not have a visor, and did in fact have the slant windshield like many of the fordor sedans did.


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Re: Model A question

Post by 26TRoadster » Sun Jul 04, 2021 6:02 pm

Tops cant be lowered but I like the sport coupes. I like a fresh restored or well kept sport coupe, I think they look great. I ended up keep to standard coupes a 29 and 30.

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david_dewey
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Re: Model A question

Post by david_dewey » Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:18 pm

Wayne,
Correct, Cabriolets did not have visors. 30-31 models were both straight windshields and slanted models (late in '31 production). They are easy to spot compared to sport coupes as the door have no upper frames, and the glass sits in a chromed frame. The Cabriolets were wood-framed bodies, the sport coupes were mostly metal, except for the top bows, which were wood.
Sport coupes came with rumble seats, cabriolets usually had a trunk.
T'ake care,
David Dewey


Wayne Sheldon
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Re: Model A question

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Mon Jul 05, 2021 5:31 am

Thank you for the additional details David D! I am a bit surprised that many cabriolets had trunks instead of rumble seats. It just seems to me the more expensive folding top cabriolet would lend itself to having a rumble seat. The sport coupe is easier to understand. I believe it was a lower price model enclosed car often bought by people squeezing into the most car they could get for the money. The rumble seat gave them the ability to carry four people when needed, with the comfort of an enclosed car for themselves and maybe one other for most of the time.
For model As, the sport coupe has long been one of my favorite body styles!
I only ever rode in a rumble seat a few times. Ironically only in my own 1929 Reo semi-sport coupe when my dad drove it a few times!

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George Mills
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MTFCA Number: 29497
MTFCI Number: 10032
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Re: Model A question

Post by George Mills » Mon Jul 05, 2021 10:19 am

Thanks for the continued other info.

I've gone back through other pictures and yup...the wood frame top does not seem to have the ability to fold down, and yes...the inside is presently bare without coverings.

Now it all makes sense...never knew they made one like that

Thanks again!
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Re: Model A question

Post by BobD » Mon Jul 05, 2021 2:34 pm

The Sport Coupe was a hit with a few celebrities as well. Shown below are 1928 models owned by Ernest Hemingway, Dolores Del Rio.

Ernest Hemmingway 28 Sport Coupe-2.jpeg
Del Rio.jpg
Dolores Del Rio.

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