The Ford Barn

fomocoloco · 03-06-2012, 07:23 AM

Is anyone familiar w/ the theory that Henry Ford put a hole in the top of our closed cars because of the bad roads? That is, the hole served the same purpose as the soft spot in a head of a baby. The open hole worked as a shock absorber to let the body flex, cushioning the passingers. I've heard a dozen reasons for the hole. No others make sense. Don't forget, touring cars were open. Town cars were closed.

Mart · 03-06-2012, 07:27 AM

Henry didn't have heavy enough presses to punch out a whole sedan top in one piece. Budd did it for GM in 36. Henry caught up in 37.

Not gospel, just my understanding.

Mart.

(I say Budd, could have been Fisher.)

1931 flamingo · 03-06-2012, 09:49 AM

Like Mart said.
Paul in CT

Shadetree · 03-06-2012, 10:50 AM

Many years ago I saw a movie about the research and stamping out procedure of the turret top. It was not a documentary type movie as there was some romance in it as well as I can remember and was shown in the theater. Anyone recall this movie?

Shadetree

TomO · 03-06-2012, 11:21 AM

Fords rode rough, but not that rough.

DavidG · 03-06-2012, 11:36 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It's gospel; it was a matter of stamping and stamping die capacity. Once the capacity issues were resolved, the change to a solid roof panel represented a significant reduction in both parts count and costs.

TagMan · 03-06-2012, 05:07 PM

As an interesting side note, I recall reading that Ford salesmen claimed the Turret top Chevrolets were noisier than the Fords in the rain after Chevrolet went to the all steel roof.

A year or two later, when Ford had their own all steel roof, the selling point was a much stronger roof than the old Ford.

Salesmen.......ya gotta love 'em!

3340 · 03-07-2012, 04:42 PM

Yup! What Mart Said, Take It To The Bank.

barryfromvictoria · 03-08-2012, 03:44 AM

The average person sat about 4-6 inches below the headliner so i don`t think they had to worry about hitting the roof. Somebody made that up. This is why so many cars get chopped and you can still sit up straight.--- barry

Mart · 03-08-2012, 04:24 AM

Actually in those days people referred to "hat room" rather than "headroom".

Mart.

03-06-2012, 07:23 AM	#1
fomocoloco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 150	hole in the top Is anyone familiar w/ the theory that Henry Ford put a hole in the top of our closed cars because of the bad roads? That is, the hole served the same purpose as the soft spot in a head of a baby. The open hole worked as a shock absorber to let the body flex, cushioning the passingers. I've heard a dozen reasons for the hole. No others make sense. Don't forget, touring cars were open. Town cars were closed.

03-06-2012, 07:27 AM	#2
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: hole in the top Henry didn't have heavy enough presses to punch out a whole sedan top in one piece. Budd did it for GM in 36. Henry caught up in 37. Not gospel, just my understanding. Mart. (I say Budd, could have been Fisher.)

03-06-2012, 09:49 AM	#3
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: hole in the top Like Mart said. Paul in CT

03-06-2012, 10:50 AM	#4
Shadetree Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cottageville, WV Posts: 1,535	Re: hole in the top Many years ago I saw a movie about the research and stamping out procedure of the turret top. It was not a documentary type movie as there was some romance in it as well as I can remember and was shown in the theater. Anyone recall this movie? Shadetree __________________ Son, you will never blow an engine up in high gear.

03-06-2012, 11:21 AM	#5
TomO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 362	Re: hole in the top Fords rode rough, but not that rough. __________________ TomO

03-06-2012, 11:36 AM	#6
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: hole in the top Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It's gospel; it was a matter of stamping and stamping die capacity. Once the capacity issues were resolved, the change to a solid roof panel represented a significant reduction in both parts count and costs.

03-06-2012, 05:07 PM	#7
TagMan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Alvaton, Kentucky, USA Posts: 955	Re: hole in the top As an interesting side note, I recall reading that Ford salesmen claimed the Turret top Chevrolets were noisier than the Fords in the rain after Chevrolet went to the all steel roof. A year or two later, when Ford had their own all steel roof, the selling point was a much stronger roof than the old Ford. Salesmen.......ya gotta love 'em!

03-07-2012, 04:42 PM	#8
3340 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: toledo ohio Posts: 393	Re: hole in the top Yup! What Mart Said, Take It To The Bank.

03-08-2012, 03:44 AM	#9
barryfromvictoria Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 220	Re: hole in the top The average person sat about 4-6 inches below the headliner so i don`t think they had to worry about hitting the roof. Somebody made that up. This is why so many cars get chopped and you can still sit up straight.--- barry

03-08-2012, 04:24 AM	#10
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: hole in the top Actually in those days people referred to "hat room" rather than "headroom". Mart.