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Old 06-24-2012, 05:19 PM   #1
Aok
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Question Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

Just wondering why the Model A closed cars had the insert roof and not solid steel.
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Old 06-24-2012, 05:27 PM   #2
Jim Mason
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

I believe the tech needed to make the compound curves and welding weren't developed until few years after the A
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Old 06-24-2012, 05:44 PM   #3
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

I believe Henry was just trying to save a buck. He was good at that!
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Old 06-24-2012, 05:47 PM   #4
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

Henry was cheap !
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Old 06-24-2012, 05:51 PM   #5
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

it helped fuel mileage
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Old 06-24-2012, 06:11 PM   #6
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

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Depression they need the steel!
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Old 06-24-2012, 06:27 PM   #7
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

Thanks Jim I do remember reading that now that I see it again, the humor is also good
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Old 06-24-2012, 07:38 PM   #8
Jim Parker Toronto
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

Also, with the rough roads, and the frames ability to twist, no flat piece of steel of that size and position, would remain straight and flat for very long!
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Old 06-24-2012, 07:50 PM   #9
Marco Tahtaras
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

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Originally Posted by Aok View Post
Just wondering why the Model A closed cars had the insert roof and not solid steel.
Besides the steel stamping issues already noted, it was the standard in the industry for the time period. If you spent 17k on a new Springfield built Rolls Royce you would get the same thing except the roof covering was long grain GENUINE leather.
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Old 06-24-2012, 09:57 PM   #10
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

Ford was a few years behind in the full steel roof. Chevrolet and others had it before Ford.
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Old 06-24-2012, 10:07 PM   #11
Marco Tahtaras
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

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Ford was a few years behind in the full steel roof. Chevrolet and others had it before Ford.
MIKE
And what year would that be?
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Old 06-24-2012, 11:07 PM   #12
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

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Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras View Post
And what year would that be?

Of the "Big-3" passenger cars, Chevrolet introduced the "Turret Top" in 1936. Although competitors claimed the all-steel roof would "drum" and damage passengers' hearing, Ford and Plymouth followed suit in 1937. There probably are other makes with steel tops that preceded Ford and possibly Chevrolet.

Interestingly, despite the steel roof, Chevrolet continued wood-framed bodies through 1936, years after competitors had pretty much abandoned them.

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Old 06-24-2012, 11:53 PM   #13
Greg out west
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Question Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel




Hi AOK,,,



Jim & Marco had it right. Wasn't Ford first with the "Steel top" late 31 pick-up ? Wasn't it built by Bud ?....


Greg out West,
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Old 06-25-2012, 03:12 AM   #14
Terry, NJ
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

I always heard it was the fact that they hadn't figured out how to stamp a full steel top.
Yet, they didn't want to weld the the tops in and they were very good at body welding. consider the welds in the rear of the body. They could have simply extended this bead up and over the full body with out too much trouble. The hand work needed for the manufacture of the fabric top was time consuming and expensive. It wasn't the depression, it didn't happen for another two years (1929) with the worst or low point at July, 1932. So why didn't Henry give them steel tops? I dunno! Probably it was just another example of being stuck in time. They had always done it that way it worked pretty well. I believe the tops outlasted the engines in most cases, so maybe that was the deciding factor.
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Old 06-25-2012, 08:16 AM   #15
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

I have heard that it was considered cooler. Air conditioning being a ways off yet, the common thinking was that a steel top would be like sitting in a tuna can and would bake the passengers. After testing, it was determined that it was indeed cooler with a cloth top but only by a minor amount. Also keep in mind that we were only a few decades removed from carriages and buggies. Engineers, stylists and workers were just doing what had always been done. No one questioned it because it was just the way it was done.
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Old 06-25-2012, 09:07 AM   #16
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

The Budd steel-top pickup was introduced in late '31 (I believe August/September?). I have heard that it was the first production steel-top vehicle; just anecdotal information, never anything official. The Ford pickups in '32 and up were steel-tops as well.
-Tim
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Old 06-25-2012, 10:56 AM   #17
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

The Late 31 pick-up was the first Ford will an all steel roof. Alot of it had to do with the roads and the flexability of the bodies. If you went all steel something would have to give. Cars such as the Model A were originally design to move and twist.
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Old 06-25-2012, 11:55 AM   #18
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

I read somewhere that until the mid-thirties U.S. steel rolling mills could not roll sheet wide enough to span the top. Can't lay my hands on the source now though ....

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Old 06-25-2012, 04:19 PM   #19
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

a friend of mine is building a 35 fordor chevy master delux, and it has a steel turret top, it fooled me i didnt think the steel tops were offered till 37, i seems nothing is certain
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Old 06-25-2012, 04:31 PM   #20
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Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

Quote:
Originally Posted by krswen View Post
I read somewhere that until the mid-thirties U.S. steel rolling mills could not roll sheet wide enough to span the top. Can't lay my hands on the source now though ....

krswen
I am pretty sure you have it right! My company at one time maintained much of the equipment at a rolling mill and I was well acqainted with the engineering staff. The inability to roll wide sheets was the reason related to me at the time.
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