1929 Special Coupe top

[Ordsgt]

I have been asked by a friend to find some information in regards to the top of a 1929 Special coupe. He received a top kit and it has the grain running fore and aft on the top but the back which covers the window goes side to side. I found an old Lebron Bonny instruction that made reference to that. Most people tell me to look it up in the standards and judging manual Chapter 9. I have the manual and no where does it make reference to grain direction. Researching photos I am not able to get quality pictures that show the grain direction. If anyone could advise and provide a source for the information I would appreciate it.

Thanks
Des

[J Franklin]

I once owned a '28 Special Coupe and believe that is the way it was built. Others will know for sure. Labaron Bonny would have good instructions.

[kbinde2]

My top is grain fore and aft, 1/4 window to a little past rear corner runs horizontal, then a seam and material switches vertical to surround the rear window, repeating pattern for the other side.

[wrndln]

Des,
I believe your friends top kit is correct. My 28 special coupe, which is the same as a 29 Sp coupe, has the grain running side to side on the rear, the opposite from the top. I did the top about 14 years ago and the top kit was from Classtique. Hope this helps.
Rusty Nelson

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Pretty sure Marco told me once that you could tell every top that was made by L/B because they were sewn incorrectly. I wish he was around to verify that.

Below is a picture from the Late Davey Lopes' '29 49A, -and while it probably does not show well in this uploaded pic due to resolution, it appears the center section above & below the rear window has the grain going vertically.



.

[wrndln]

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I am posting a picture that clearly shows the horizontal grain on Hunter Fanney's Henry awarded 29 special coupe. I do not know where he bought the top kit he installed. There is a fellow, David Gillingham, that owns or did own an original 29 special coupe. Nearly everything on the car is original including the top. I have a number of pictures of his car, but unfortunately I have no pictures showing the grain direction on his car.
Rusty Nelson

[AKJurnee]

My special coupe has the grain running fore and aft on top and vertical on the sides matching the same directions. Just like post#5.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by wrndln

I am posting a picture that clearly shows the horizontal grain on Hunter Fanney's Henry awarded 29 special coupe. I do not know where he bought the top kit he installed. There is a fellow, David Gillingham, that owns or did own an original 29 special coupe. Nearly everything on the car is original including the top. I have a number of pictures of his car, but unfortunately I have no pictures showing the grain direction on his car.
Rusty Nelson

Rusty, I am pretty sure that Hunter used a modified LeBaron Bonney kit when he restored this car. Pretty sure Sturm coached him thru how to modify the L/B kit to be more authentic. Could someone reach out to Mr. Gillingham to see if some photos could be gathered so this could be better documented??

[Upholstery Mike]

The grain is supposed to go horizontally at the rear curtain. It was done like that originally, and it states it in the judging standards in the 3rd paragraph, last sentence of 9-1 - Top

Mike Francis
Classtique Upholstery

[Dave in MD]

I have a restored 1928 Special Coupe and three of us did the top. We did the rear section first and the kit came from Classtique on a hot day in August I also helped Hunter Fanney do his 1929 Special top. It is critical to line up the seams so they run straight from top to bottom and line up with the Tee shaped metal channels where the quarter channels attach to the rumble seat opening. The grain does run from side to side while the top material has the grain running front to back.
Dave

[wrndln]

Brent,
I contacted David Gillingham this morning. He said he would take some pictures of his rear section. It appears to me that the modern top material is not exactly like what Ford used - similar but not exact. I will post his pictures here when I get them.
Rusty


Dave, I am glad to see you posting on Fordbarn. You did the same as me. I had two friends help on a very hot July day to install the top. We nearly burned our finger tips off! The compound curved quarter top panels came out pucker free.

[rotorwrench]

Unfortunately the materials were fabricated in different ways on the OEM model As. The original materials for the Sport Coupes haven't been available for years. Haartz Stayfast or modern vinyl have been substituted for a very long time. With black cobra grain there was long and short grain but some replacements are close but not exact vinyl duplicates. For the authenticity, folks sometimes have to fabricate and sew it with an experienced trimmer. Classtique will work with customers but it may add to the expense.

[Ordsgt]

Thanks to all for responding and a special thanks to Mike for pointing out I can't read. I reread the manual and it was there all the time I just didn't see it. So much for my speedreading