1932 Cabriolet Center Top Bow

[JimOH]

Is there anyone that makes the '32 cabriolet center top bow, B-70239? One that duplicates the original and not the flat steel that I have seen. A friend has been looking for one for years and from what I have heard a lot of other people have also. I thought maybe by chance some outfit may have taken on the challenge. Thanks for any help you may be able to give. JimOH

[tiger.1000]

Jim, what's the bow made of out of interest ?

[JimOH]

Tiger,
If my memory serves me right it is a sheet metal formed bow with a hollow center. It gets covered with cloth. In the V8 Times Vol. 25, May/Jun, 1988, page 54 you can see a little bit of it. Since it gets covered in cloth I don't see why the solid repop can't make do. But as I would, my friend wants an original. Maybe Dave or someone else can give a better description of this bow.

[Bill Underwood]

I think I have the ford drawing somewhere
It does not cover with cloth but is painted steel.
I is like the 33-34 .....sort of. Flat on bottom and rounded top.
Not half round but close

[JimOH]

Thanks Bill,
I also see it in the Ford Body Parts Price List, Oct. 15, 1932 on page 61 but it doesn't describe it. It is an artist rendition drawing. The drawing you have would be the best thing to look at. I have had two 1932 cabriolets years back but don't remember every detail.

[Bored&Stroked]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If you need me to look at mine and/or take pictures - mine is 100% stock and in the car. Let me know.

B&S

[JimOH]

B&S,
Thanks, we would like to see an original in the car. My friend doesn't even have one with his car and would appreciate knowing what he is looking for.
Jim

[DavidG]

Jim,

The one on my cabriolet is original and its construction is basically the same as the like bows on later cabriolets and phaetons. It's cross section is something of a flattened oval and based on its weight, it is solid, not hollow. At a minimum, the outer six to eight inches are solid. The steel straps that attach the top pads to it on each side are retained by a steel drive screw on each end of the strap driven into small holes in the outside of those solid sections.

[tiger.1000]

Jim, later this morning I'll take a photo of the inside of my "hood" (roof covering) not to confuse with the bonnet ! (English )..... hope it helps?

An hour or so away.....

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by JimOH

B&S,
Thanks, we would like to see an original in the car. My friend doesn't even have one with his car and would appreciate knowing what he is looking for.
Jim

Okay - will shoot some pictures later today.

[tiger.1000]

Jim,

Hope this helps.???

[tiger.1000]

Jim, I am unable to tell you what's under the fabric but what you can see in the photos is rectangular in section....about 1.5 x 1.0" ???

[JimOH]

Tiger, I hope I am wrong but from what I can see of the metal on your center bow it looks like the repop I saw at Hershey. Somebody tell me I'm wrong. Maybe we can get a comment from Dave again. He knows more about 32's than any of us. I may have to eat crow on my comment.

[DavidG]

Jim,

My desktop computer down here died the other day and only now am I beginning to rescue some of the photos therein. In any event, the photo below shows an original steel bow running from B pillar to B pillar.

The only unfortunate aspect of the photo is that the straps on this are attached below the bow rather than running above the bow as they should. Otherwise the bow in this photo is what you are after.

With respect David, it would appear that yours has been replaced with a wooden bow (or perhaps as a long shot that's the way it was made, but that's unlikely as the bodies were imported from North America).

[DavidG]

I should have added the illustration below from the '32 body parts catalogue. Note that the bow in my photo above conforms to the illustration.

[Pat/Ohio]

DavidG....Boy that '32 Roadster, next to the cabriolet in your picture, sure looks familiar! Pat

[tiger.1000]

David and Jim; regrettably, without removing the fabric, I am unable to tell you what my bow is actually made of. I took another look this morning and it appears that there is a metal support above the rectangular section. That's how it was when I acquired the car back in 1983....sorry.

[Bored&Stroked]

Okay Gang: Attached are two pictures from my Cabriolet - this top has been on the car for at least 60 years, no idea if it is original (car came out of a garage - had been up on blocks and there was very little information about it). It is the 'dirty' one!

Also, three other pictures that I acquired so that I knew what it was supposed to look like.

Note: Both of these have the straps below the bar - is that a coincidence, or is that the way it was supposed to be?

Hope this helps.

2015-02-10 09.32.30 copy.jpg

2015-02-10 09.32.39 copy.jpg

StockHeadliner.jpg

StockHeadliner2.jpg

StockHeadliner3.jpg

[Terry,OH]

If the straps were above the bow, would they show as humps in the upper fabric, as viewed from outside the car?? It would appear as so, from the photos posted.

[Bill Underwood]

The metal one agrees to the parts drawing from The Benson......If I could just find it!


BU