Accessory hood sides

[LakeGuitars]

I bought these accessory hood sides a while ago, later on I found them in a model a accessories book and understood that they are an original option. Do any of you guys have any more info about them and/or might know anything about how the knobs and handles are supposed to look? The holes for the handles are wider apart than standard model a.

Thank you for your help!

Simon

[DougVieyra]

RootLieb makes a very exacting reproduction of the very scarce originals. 95% of what you see out there are reproductions. Reproductions began showing up about 1970 (Casio). Several of today's suppliers still carry the Rootlieb reproductions, so they are readily available today. Bert's has them listed in their 2014 catalog, page 82, $775 for '28-'29 and $810 for '30-'31. Sacramento Vintage Ford has been carrying the 3-door hood since Rootlieb began reproducing them 30 years ago (they continue to produce them today).

On a side note, it should be noted that when the hoods that had doors rather than louvers on their factory cars (up-scale marques) they were always painted, not chromed. The doors were either body color or trim color. The 1932 Chevrolet was the only exception I am aware of. Even the accessory Ford 3-door hood had it's doors painted, not chromed. Many in the early days did like to chrome their doors, so as to emulate the 'dazzle' of the '32 Chevrolet. Today's Model A's users seemed to have elected to follow that idea as it better 'high lights' their uniqueness.

The door's knobs vary depending on manufacturer. On my hood they are a round 'button' with serrated edging, chrome. On my '32 Pontiac, the opening 'knob' was a finger which allowed better grasping and control of the door. As your hood is 95% likely to be a later (after 1970) reproduction of the original, there really is no 'correct' knob. Anything that looks fairly decent and vintage will do; although all that I have seen have been chrome plated.

[Bob C]

Here is a Rootlieb hood. http://www.rootlieb.com/ford-1928-31-hoods.html

Bob

[LakeGuitars]

Thank you for your help DougVieyra!

I talked to the previous owner, a friend of my father, and he says he bought them on a market in the late 50's, so they are most likely originals, the condition of them confirms that to.

Was it Ford who produced them or was it another manufacturer even back then?

Finding original knobs and handles seems impossible, so I will follow your advice and look for something that just looks good.

Thanks again!

[DougVieyra]

Post # 4: "Was it Ford who produced them. . . ?"

No, the Ford Motor Company never produced anything other than the well known and standard louvered sides to their Model A hoods. The accessory book you mentioned in post # 1 has the ads of the original 'after-market' makers of these hood sides.

You might want to contact RoodLieb to see if you can purchase the door knobs from them.

[Bob-A]

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Packard and I'm sure other high end makers, espcially Cadillac, offered to chrome plate anything you wanted on their (your) car. I've seen period pics of early 30's Cadillacs, in particular the V-16's, with chrome hood doors. It was not common back in the day. And I think a lot of the classic car owners of today. "Over" plate their cars with the chrome hood doors and chrome wire wheels. I would love to have a 3-door hood for either of my "A's", but the cost for the repop hoods is just to much for me.

Bob-A

[daveymc29]

Is there a mechanical advantage to the three door or is it just a better "look?" That is do they run cooler, cleaner or better airflow direction? Just curious. I might look into it for my coupe as the original hood had a lot of work needed to pass muster. But then so does the whole body.

[Mike V. Florida]

No advantage, just looks better.

[DougVieyra]

The hood doors have the advantage of being able to be closed, thereby allowing the engine compartment to stay warmer during extremely cold driving conditions.

[DougVieyra]

The reproductions made in 1970 would be 45 years old now. So I guess they could be considered "not the new ones."

[Benson]

Originally Posted by DougVieyra

The reproductions made in 1970 would be 45 years old now. So I guess they could be considered "not the new ones."

OK I missed post #2 ... or I read it before it was edited!

[LakeGuitars]

Thank you very much for your help, all of you!

[JohnLaVoy]

Back in the early 60s when I got my Model A there was a couple who had owned their 1931 roadster from the middle 30s. He had that hood on it and said he put it on, using the sides off of a Chevy hood at the time.

[DougVieyra]

John LaVoy : " . . . . using the sides off of a Chevy hood at the time."
___________________________

Yes, that was done on occasion. In the early 60's I had done the same thing. The challenge however, is that the '32 (and only the '32) Chevrolet had a longer 6 cylinder engine and hence a longer hood (and hood sides). So a bit of metal work was needed to make it fit the shorter requirements of the 4-cylinder Ford Model A. The '32 Chevrolet was the only 'Low Priced' car that had the doors on the hood-sides. Other 'upscale' cars of the period that had the doors on the hood sides had much larger (longer) engines and hence had 4 and sometimes 5 doors on the sides - way too much to be useful in chopping down for the small length required by the lowly Model A.

[Dale G.]

I have a mint original 32 chevrolet hood complete I would sell if anyone is looking for one.

[LakeGuitars]

Originally Posted by Dale G.

I have a mint original 32 chevrolet hood complete I would sell if anyone is looking for one.

Is it still for sale?

[Dale G.]

Yes it is. $350.

[LakeGuitars]

Originally Posted by Dale G.

Yes it is. $350.

I sent you a PM.