Town Car Deliveries

[jb-ob]

eystein,

Understand that all 197 1931 Town Car bodies where custom hand made by Briggs body company for Ford. Nearly none of the wood frame work or body aluminum skins would fit a different body. From a pile of original body skins, the height from the belt rail to the crown of the roof varied by as much as a full 1".

While unique for a Ford Company to offer a 'custom' built body, it was very common with higher end body builders of that era.
The 1929 Ford Town Car sold well up to the stock market crash of October 1929. The 1931 Town Car Delivery was a sales flop, most being sold, deeply discounted in 1932.

As for replacement body parts, they probably sold with the idea 'trim to fit'.

jb

[eystein]

Originally Posted by jb-ob

eystein,

Understand that all 197 1931 Town Car bodies where custom hand made by Briggs body company for Ford. Nearly none of the wood frame work or body aluminum skins would fit a different body. From a pile of original body skins, the height from the belt rail to the crown of the roof varied by as much as a full 1".

While unique for a Ford Company to offer a 'custom' built body, it was very common with higher end body builders of that era.
The 1929 Ford Town Car sold well up to the stock market crash of October 1929. The 1931 Town Car Delivery was a sales flop, most being sold, deeply discounted in 1932.

As for replacement body parts, they probably sold with the idea 'trim to fit'.

jb

JB,

Seems that you are in possession of detailed information on the production of these bodies at the Briggs plant.

Please post some of this material here for information.

While very few of us have or will ever have a TCD, that is exactly what makes educating oneself on the subject interesting. While Phaetons and Roadsters are nice cars, if I want to know any details about them, there is always a guy living a couple of miles from me who I can phone up and ask to come and see his car. Not so with the TCD.

[jb-ob]

Nope, I'm not old enough to have seen what took place under the roof at Briggs Body Company.

I have been very fortunate to have been involved with the restoration of four TCD's and possibly a fifth. Just being in the right place at the right time with some experience to lend.

jb

[WTSHNN]

I remember when Mr K was working to restore his TCD's there were discussions back and forth with the restoration company who was accustomed to doing high end cars for so-called "French Judging" whereas he wanted to preserve the vehicles as built; warts and all.

One area I remember was the opening between the driver's compartment and the rear cargo area. The radius on all four corners differed. The shop wanted to make them all the same. Tim, always the preservationist, said to leave it as it was.

[eystein]

Like the term "French Judging", that makes me laugh. Really, there is no more beauty than when you can see that something is brought back to exacly the way it was. There is an own beauty in the functionality of an original quality industrial product.

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

I remember when Mr K was working to restore his TCD's there were discussions back and forth with the restoration company who was accustomed to doing high end cars for so-called "French Judging" whereas he wanted to preserve the vehicles as built; warts and all.

One area I remember was the opening between the driver's compartment and the rear cargo area. The radius on all four corners differed. The shop wanted to make them all the same. Tim, always the preservationist, said to leave it as it was.

[eystein]

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Originally Posted by nikname

Bob,

The black 1930 TCD I brought to the Cider Mill in Shelton is not part of the Doug Clayton collection.

Cheers,

Jeff

Is the above quote a typo, or does there actually exist a 1930 (straight windshield ) town car delivery ?

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by eystein

Is the above quote a typo, or does there actually exist a 1930 (straight windshield ) town car delivery ?

Yes, a straight windshield '30 TCD exists.

It was exhibited at the 2018 Model A Day at the MAFFI Museum.

[eystein]

Originally Posted by WTSHNN

Yes, a straight windshield '30 TCD exists.

It was exhibited at the 2018 Model A Day at the MAFFI Museum.

Any photos from that event showing the car ?

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by eystein

Any photos from that event showing the car ?

Here is something that came up when I did a search on this forum.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ighlight=maffi

[Brad in Germany]

Originally Posted by eystein

Any photos from that event showing the car ?

Brad in Maryland

[eystein]

Originally Posted by Brad in Germany

Brad in Maryland

Thanks a lot Brad,

Somehow I always seem to have heard that no 1930 TCDs were known to have survived. Was this car discovered only in later years ?

[Oldbluoval]

They’ve been around Tim Kelley had one 25-30 years ago

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by eystein

Thanks a lot Brad,

Somehow I always seem to have heard that no 1930 TCDs were known to have survived. Was this car discovered only in later years ?

Cars of all makes and models that have long been thought extinct have turned up over the years.

[ModelA29]

Both of Doug Clayton's are shown here - 31 slant windshields.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_hNBCUKcP4