Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

I decided to start a new group because we Leatherback owners have some unique restoration problems. Mine is a '29 - I think! It has a 2-6-29 firewall stamp and a motor number 1,08x,xxx which puts it in Feb 29 production, and my frame and motor number matchs. The interior was severely deteriorated but original. When I removed the tacks and nails there were no other holes. This will be its first restoration. It has rear seat arm rests at the side walls. This is supposed to be a '28 feature. The rest of the upholstery is 1929. The car has been painted all black in the past but there are several places where Andalusite Blue is evident. These are in places where only the factory would have painted like the windshield frame and overspray of wood frame parts.
Well - that's an introduction to my project. I hope others can contribute to this thread and we can all benifit from the exchange.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Your 60-B looks good Bill, I have a mostly disassembled 60-A that I am slowly working on and I know of at least 4 other '28-29s in my area. There is much not documented about these so hopefully we can fill in some blanks

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Bill great looking Leatherback. I just finished the final touches to mine and
really enjoy it. It was a major task requiring a complete restoration including all new wood. Many of the roof part were missing when I started, it sure was fun.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Bill - Glad to see this special group formed. I have a 1929 60-C blindback awaiting restoration. I imaging that, except for he top material, everything else would be the same as on a leatherback. I'm sure that lots of questions will emerge as I start to work on it. Right now, I'm tied up getting my '31 coupe roadworthy.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Bill - A good idea to pull the Leatherbacks together in a group. Mine is a New Hampshire car, bought by the previous owner from the original purchaser in 1953. The car chassis was restored in 1995 and painted Brewster Green. The top was changed in 1953, seat covers put on but the rest of the car is original inside. I've had the car four years. It's got 10-12-28 on the firewall.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

I have an unrestored 10/28 60-A with 14,000 original miles. I don't have any photos of it in the computer to post right right now. If anyone has any questions about particulars I would be happy to answer them.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Ray, That looks real nice compared to the parts we sent you. Glad to see you got it all together. We still have some sheetmetal left from the two we drug home. Sold some of it at Chichashae, but not all of it. Going to forward pic's of this one to Dad as he busted his butt on those parts, so some eye candy will be good. Rod

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

I'd be happy to bring my 1928 60A into the group but I don't know how much help I could be, it was already restored when I bought it. But from everything I've seen and read it appears to be an extremely accurate restoration of a very solid original. I bought it out of Oklahoma but there's some indication it had been in Nebraska before that.

It's a late 1928, motor number A7114XX, with no date on the firewall and no cowl vents.

There's an excellent article in the Nov/Dec 1978 issue of The Restorer with detailed pictures of the interior of an unrestored 60A.

Meanwhile, here's a contemporary snapshot from Wellington, Kansas which I bought off of eBay, found in an old album:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...no/kansas2.jpg

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Does this include leatherback coupes? I have a 29 Special. Just kidding guys, I know you probably mean Fordors.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

My Leatherback is a Briggs body and the cowl light reenforment brackets are in place, std from the factory. They are part of the gas tank support system. The raised bosses in the support bracks are obvious where the cowl lights should be mounted. I have seen only one other leatherback and the brackets are the same. From this I assume cowl lights were a possibility as a dealer installed option or aftermarket because the factory did not install them this early in the run. The problem is I have never seen this car with cowl lights. Has anyone else?

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

I did mean Fordors only because of the excessive amount of wood in the structure and the limited information out there - and I had forgotten about the coup. I also don't know if the body is done Briggs style - wood sheathed in steel - or if it is mostly a steel structure like the standard coup. You would be able to help me there. Your car had a shorter run and probably much lesser numbers made so it should be very valuable.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Rich, no cowl vent, the gas tank is 10/18/28, October engine w/multiple disc. No assembly plant code. I think when Briggs built the bodies, they may have not been stamped. I have a 1930 Briggs 5 window that also does not have a body code.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Can I jump in this group...? We own a '29 Briggs Leatherback (60B). It's a very amateur restoration...mostly cobbled up. But, Jippy runs well and drives nicely. One day - probably when I retire - we'll do a complete restoration; at least that's my plan. Until then, Jippy Car is a family favorite!

I've done some work to her...12v conversion, new wiring harness, rebuilt the carb, FS ignition. I have new drums and hubs, need to rebuild the brakes this year. She needs a new top....interior...paint...you name it...but, we love her as she is. She seems happiest when full of family rolling down the road...."making haste, slowly"...

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Would you like me to initiate a new group on Ford Barn? There's a section for creating new groups, and it's fairly easy to do and maintain.

If you're interested...drop a line here and let me know. I'll be glad to get it started for us...

Thanks... :)

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Freddie,
There is already a steelback 60C group I discovered a few minutes ago. That should work for the whole family of 60A, 60B and 60C. I am not sure how we know there has been a new post to the group when we log in to the forum.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Bill...I joined the 60-C group just now and posted a message over in their section to see what responses I may get. Looks like a small group...let's see how we grow.

Nice day here in the Memphis area...might take Jippy Car for a spin to pick up the kids at school this afternoon. They love riding in the ol' girl, and they REALLY like me to pick them up at school. Seems it differentiates them from the rest of the herd...

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

One of our local Joliet Region MARC members, Russ Knaack, has done a lot of research on the 60 series cars and has a data base of body and serial numbers. I'll advise him of this group posting.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

The Special coupe had a lot of wood from the door tops up. They were built by Ford from mid 28 through mid 29. Mine is an early June 29.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Hey, Aerocraft...is that a Pietenpol Air Camper in your avatar...? Nice...

We love old airplanes, too. Nothing prettier than a ragwing biplane rising up off a grass strip and climbing into the sunset...love it...! I like the sound of radial engines, too. I've even got my 10-year old twins, Will and Drew, to where they recognize the sound of a radial engine and rush outside to look up when they hear one. I've taken them to Oshkosh...air ahows...we regularly go down to Olive Branch airport and sit on the bench outside one of the FBO's and just watch general aviation aircraft come and go. They love it as much as I do...

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Aerocraft,
I'd like to see that database. See if he will let you post it.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

A few photos of my unrestored 60-A. 14,358 miles. Rose beige/Seal brown. If anyone has detail questions let me know. I'll be happy to help.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Unbelievable. If mine had looked thet good I'd be driving it today.I like the black wheels better than I thought I would with rose beige.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Steve, Could you post some pictures of the upper front corner of the windshield / front door post intersection showing the visor at the door post. And also the rear corner of the roof line showing the molding at the intersection of the roof and vertical back. All examples I have seen so far could have been "tampered with" over the years. Yours is the most likely to be as built from the factory. Thanks for showing a beautiful car.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

The Pietenpol is actually the prototye Model A powered "Scout" that I restored some 15 years ago. It is the single place version of the Pietenpol with a slightly shorter wingspan and a radiator mounted below the engine. It is now living somewhere in Australia. For more information on the Pietenpol Aircamper do a Google on "Brodhead Pietenpol Association." It is amazing how well the Model A engine powers the airplanes. I love 'em! Gar Williams

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

I have advised Russ Knnack of the qroup, it is his call if he responds, Gar

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Bill, I'll have to take some shots tomorrow. In the meantime I'll tease you with some pin stripe close-ups.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

I can't find the group.I want to join ..


mickeyb memphis

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Click on the Community button under the header, that will bring down the dropdown, click on Social Groups. All of the groups are listed there. Rod

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Hello Freddie. I also have a 60B. It was restored in the mid 80's with the exception of the interior & only driven 100 miles before put back into dry storage. It was a 60K mile very solid car to begin with. All the orig wood is like new. The doors close with a gentle thud. What caught my eye on your car is the seam in the top material that runs in the upper roof 1/4 over to the drip moulding above the doors. Mine has the same seam & I didn't think that was an original seam. I helped install a L-B top on a 60A (tan top) about 5yrs ago & it didn't have that seam. My car was done by a doctor who did most of the work himself. I think he may have had trouble getting the top smooth in that area & cut the top at that point & added the seam. I have several model A's & have always stayed away from fordors because of the wood. The problem was all my otherA's only hold two people except the Cabriolet which has the rumble seat & I wanted to take friends & grandkids. This is why I got the fordor & I'm really enjoying the room. So what have you found out regarding that seam??? Thanks Perry, Snohomish Wa.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Steve, Those are great. I needed to see those details. I am getting close to having to make some decisions about final fitting and finishing. Can you identify for me the type of molding around the edge of the top material. Looking forward to the others. Thanks again Bill G

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group Original 60-A Top
 

Some photos of the original top. The visor on this car has always been a point of discussion. My thinking is that the visor material failed and it was stripped and repainted black. If it was painted originally by Briggs, I would think it would have been upper body color.

The car was originally from Wyoming and it lived there until sometime in the 80's. The previous owner bought this car in Portland, OR in the early '90's.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group Original 60-A Top
 

Steve, Excellent pictures. Just what I wanted. Thanks Bill G

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

You're welcome Bill, anymore details let me know.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Steve,
looking through this old thread to see if you gave a firewall date. Found it. The body stamp on my leatherback ( 2-6-29) is nailed to the subfloor (heavy frame) on the passager side on the inside edge of the plank where it is beveled downward. Under the carpet. It is about 1/2" wide and 3" long. Raised letters about 1/4" high in thin sheet metal. Bill G

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

if this works heres some pics of minehttp://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff48/2960b/

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

We have two 60A's. One was built early in 1928 that has the cowl vent. (Restoration in progress). The other 60A was assembled 9-24-28.
One of the things we found interesting was that there was no pinstriping after August 28 according to the JS.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Rechecked the firewall stamping. It's 10/23/28 in lieu of the earlier posting.

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Steve
I still think that your car would look great in my garage
Scott

Re: Leatherback '28-'29 Group
 

Fellow Leatherback owners, New guy to this posting thing, but I need help. I recently purchased a 28 Leatherback and am refurbishing areas that need attention. The inside front windshield vertical garnish seems to be missing on the passenger side. I have driver's side garnish the windshield swing arm bracket mounts thru, but the passenger side has bracket only (no metal trim). Can someone post a picture of the proper detailing of this area and perhaps sources for this part. Thanks