The Ford Barn

Bob Bidonde · 01-14-2025, 09:18 AM

These are some actual measurements of restored Model A's taken from the center of the large bumper clamps:
1929 Sport Coupe 18.5" Front & 19.5" Rear;
1929 Cabriolet 18.5" Front & 19.5" Rear;
1930 Sport Coupe 18.69" Front & 16.5" Rear;
1930 Cabriolet 18.69" Front & 16.5" Rear;
1931 Coupe 17” Front;
1931 Victoria 19.5” Front.

I realize that there will be a lot of scatter in actual measurements from Model A's because of tires & suspension differences.

Is there any factory literature that defines the bumper heights when the Model A was showroom new?

nkaminar · 01-14-2025, 09:35 AM

Like an old man's underwear, it depends.

Jim/GA · 01-14-2025, 05:30 PM

I have a bunch of original Salesman's Drawings with these dimensions. Here are 2 examples.

1928-29 Front: 18.5" Rear: 19.5"

1930-31 Front: 18-11/16" Rear: 16.5"

All the 1928-29 seem to be the same (in the drawings) and all the 1930-31 seem to be the same, as indicated above. YMMV.

Bob Bidonde · 01-15-2025, 08:35 AM

Thanks Jim!

Badpuppy · 01-15-2025, 09:13 AM

https://www.motormayhem.net/model-a-...pecifications/

Click a page to expand.

rotorwrench · 01-15-2025, 03:11 PM

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Any measurements would likely be on brand new springs. As springs fatigue in service they will sag and not necessarily in an even manner from side to side.

ModelA29 · 01-16-2025, 08:44 PM

The leaf count in the springs comes in to keep them all sitting at the spec height.

Does anyone know if these stampings were on all the frames? I think I'll crawl under our Coupe this weekend and see if it has a stamping to indicate it is a Coupe frame.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20109

01-14-2025, 09:18 AM	#1
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,110	Bumpers, How High Should They Be? These are some actual measurements of restored Model A's taken from the center of the large bumper clamps: 1929 Sport Coupe 18.5" Front & 19.5" Rear; 1929 Cabriolet 18.5" Front & 19.5" Rear; 1930 Sport Coupe 18.69" Front & 16.5" Rear; 1930 Cabriolet 18.69" Front & 16.5" Rear; 1931 Coupe 17” Front; 1931 Victoria 19.5” Front. I realize that there will be a lot of scatter in actual measurements from Model A's because of tires & suspension differences. Is there any factory literature that defines the bumper heights when the Model A was showroom new? __________________ Bob Bidonde

01-14-2025, 09:35 AM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,846	Re: Bumpers, How High Should They Be? Like an old man's underwear, it depends. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

01-15-2025, 08:35 AM	#4
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,110	Re: Bumpers, How High Should They Be? Thanks Jim! __________________ Bob Bidonde

01-15-2025, 09:13 AM	#5
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,247	Re: Bumpers, How High Should They Be? https://www.motormayhem.net/model-a-...pecifications/ Click a page to expand.

01-15-2025, 03:11 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,409	Re: Bumpers, How High Should They Be? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Any measurements would likely be on brand new springs. As springs fatigue in service they will sag and not necessarily in an even manner from side to side.

01-16-2025, 08:44 PM	#7
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,151	Re: Bumpers, How High Should They Be? The leaf count in the springs comes in to keep them all sitting at the spec height. Does anyone know if these stampings were on all the frames? I think I'll crawl under our Coupe this weekend and see if it has a stamping to indicate it is a Coupe frame. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20109 Last edited by ModelA29; 01-16-2025 at 09:05 PM.