Two new 1931 Model A's?

[Tudortomnz]

This old photo from Peter Winnewissers book is interesting & was taken outside an Indiana dealership. It appears to be two new Model A's, going by delivery stickers still on glass. It is certainly possible that early '31 cars, especially a standard Coupe, would still have a '30 'shell, but this might be May or June if Tudor is the new 'Deluxe ' model .[ or it may also be a standard Tudor with cowl lamps fitted.] Could it be the first 'deluxe 'Tudor they sold?
Does anyone have any further information on this photo or 1931 cars that were sold new with old 'shell?
Thanks

[Tom Wesenberg]

I see the car with cowl lights has the front license plate hung incorrectly.

[Bick in New Zealand]

My guess after a good look is that it is a Tudor. The telling point for me is the roof topping goes right to the guttering. You can also just see the right rear by the gentleman's neck.

[Tudortomnz]

Looking at the photo on dust cover, I still believe '31 is a Tudor; longer roof line & top material down to the guttering.
It is actually captioned as '30 Tudor & '31 Coupe & nothing of them being new.
The '30 has the stamped type headlight bar with provision for mounting plate. You can see the painted steel above door , short roofline of a Coupe & bit of the rear deck between the owners arm.

[John Butts in CT]

I've always assumed that the car on the left was a tudor, because of the top treatment and the window placement I can convince myself that I see. It has been "deluxed," either at the factory or by the deaker. The cowl lamps are self-evident, and I think is has colored wheels, too.

[TinCup]

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Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I see the car with cowl lights has the front license plate hung incorrectly.

Ok I bite I have blown the picture up and can't get enough detail to see the license plate details. What is the clue that it is hung incorrectly?

[John Butts in CT]

The clamps should be mounted with bolts ABOVE the bar, as on the RH Coupe. The LH Tudor (at least, most of us THINK it's a Tudor) has the clamps mounted with the the bolts BELOW the bar. In other word, upside down, per factory specs.

Don't worry about your eyes; I have the book!

[HoarseWhisperer]

I have this book also, but cannot find the photo.

What page does it appear on?

[John Butts in CT]

I have the 1999 imprint. The image is on my dust jacket, i.d.'d (on the Contents page) as "Indiana dealership with 1930 Tudor and 1931 Coupe - Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village photo". The years are clearly reversed, either at the HFM or as a result of sloppy editing.

[HoarseWhisperer]

Thanks, John.

Copyright on mine is 2005 (2nd edition), which apparently does not have this photo on the dustcover or the contents page.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Don Turley

If the car on the left is a Coupe, it will be the first 1931 Coupe that I have seen with the roof material all the way to the drip moldings.

I'll have to see if I can find that picture on my book cover. My first thought was it was a Tudor also, but I might change my mind after seeing it again.

By looking at the vertical sides of the rear window as viewed through the driver's side door glass and through the windshield, and seeing the size of the rear window would lead me too think it's a Coupe, but I'm not sure. From the viewing angle if the rear window was farther back as on a Tudor, it doesn't seem like the passenger side vertical edge would be seen to our left of the steering wheel, and I was thinking it might appear a bit smaller if it was farther back as in a Tudor.

I'm just not as familure with 30-1 details and can't tell, but I thought the roof material looks like it ends before it wraps over the curved edge.

[Tudortomnz]

Lots of different 'perspectives' on this old photo. I have often looked over this one with a printers 'glass & there are many details for the Ford enthusiast.
Coupe [ on right] with tall Gent. has a clean ,shiney fender well bottom piece, so must be newish. The '31 Tudor has its number plate mounted like many other era photos taken by Ford .The '30 Coupe, having centre 'u' type headlamp bar, has plate higher on built in slots. You can just see the back of the Tudor body faintly right of the older Gents head. Also, I do not really know, but Indiana is maybe somewhat cold in winter & autumn, but these Gents are dressed lightly as for summer, hence the '31 Tudor may well be a June '31 Tudor?