Canadian cars to OZ

[pooch]

What exactly was in the CKD crate to Geelong ?

Was it all in a single crate with the whole running chassis and all the body for one single whole car , (except for the subframe and seat risers ?

Oz used a wood subframe and risers .

Were the body and fenders finish painted or just in primer and painted here ?

I would think just in primer, as I could not see finish paint surviving from the packaged kit to out the door at Geelong.

As the fenders were dipped in USA, were they dipped as well in OZ, I would think they would be sprayed here, as the Geelong plant was only established for 2 years before the A was made.

And finally, as our lower cowl pillar hole is square for a coach bolt to go through the wood stringer, (and not a rivet through a steel subframe ), was this hole stamped when made, or did some guy have to file it square over here ?

[Wagga A'er]

Anyone have any ideas?

[dave in australia]

It's only a guess, but as Australia had our own unique colours, we would of painted the bodies here. This would be for roadsters and phaetons. Ford Australia hired three artists, George Lambert, Ure Smith and Thea Proctor, to make the new Ford 'not only a thing of speed, but of beauty as well'.
Whilst USA had only black for wheels and guards, Australia got black plus colours as an option.

[JohninKuranda]

From the National Library of Australia

Advertising campaigns using celebrities to push products have a long history. In 1929, the Ford Motor Company commissioned three of Australia’s leading artists—George Lambert, Sydney Ure Smith and Thea Proctor—to produce colour harmonies, suitable for Australian conditions, for a range of fourteen Ford cars.

‘The day of the drab, inartistic car is over’ stated this brochure to launch the range. The idea was to go back to the eighteenth century, before the age of mass production, when artists were involved in industrial design. ‘Under the guidance of a fine artist, the most utilitarian articles, made by mass production methods, may become things of beauty through the application of colour.’

It was a huge success, with the new colours ‘killing the demand for all the old ugly standard colours’.

A couple of cars show in the background of graphic - very colourful for sure!

[Wagga A'er]

Any information on the early 1928 cars?
What was included in the creaat?
Wher any component made here? If so what ones? Where they the same size? For example seats and top for Tourer?
What was the size of the head on the coach bolt for the lower cowl?

[updraught]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"with the new colours ‘killing the demand for all the old ugly standard colours’."

Thank goodness we didn't get the old ugly standard colours!!

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/29fo/bilder/1.jpg

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/21466955

George Lambert paintings sell for a motza.

If I remember right the ute bodies were outsouced. Maybe due to the amount of woodwork.

[Tinbasher]

I'll check my 28 Sport Coupe (CDN.) . If I'm right the coachbolts are 5/16 NC. I'll get back to you by thursday on that.

John Poole

[Tudortomnz]

The best information on Aussie [Model A] Ford production has been published by Ian Irwin [ still active ] & Dave Slater who had an article in Restorer a few years back on the subject. You guys in Aussie are lucky to have this plus era photos; here in NZ the Model A era is the Dark Ages with no photos or info, but I believe I know what went on.
Anyway, the Canadian export records show ''chassis'' imported to Australia, [either Roadster or Tourer etc].
The Tudors [ '28 '29 0nly] Briggs type Fordors [fabric backed] & Sport Coupes were imported as bodies & assembled on chassis in the various plants. The whole new Geelong plant established in 1925 was set up for full production & they were painted in Australia.
A few of the very early Roadsters & Phaetons were Canadian [all steel] but the idea was to have Australian body building & because of low production, wood was used for framing. Australian production of the Roadster did not really get underway until early 1929.
For 1930 [ also thru to 1932] body panels were done at Geelong [ probably not all panels, but door skins, etc] & they actually fully built the Murray type Fordor which replaced the earlier imported Tudor & Briggs Fordor as the base sedan in Australia.
Most production was of the Tourer [ about 40%] plus various commercial jobs. The ''Improved'' Model A Tourer[mid '30 -'32] actually had another 2" added to the rear compartment, hence the odd looking roof bows on these cars. Hence all the modern era import of Nth American Coupes, Tudors, Vic.s etc from US, NZ & Sth Africa to make up the numbers for modern enthusiasts who want a particular type that was mostly never sold new in Aust.
The 1930 -32 Sport Coupe is an interesting one in Australia as well. There appear to have been a number of all Canadian bodies imported , but later they must have been built up locally as they have the Fordor Sedan door fitted which looks odd, nothing like a Coupe door.
Australia was a unique market, & produced cars suited to local & govt. requirements. It was not a large market but was a manufacturing set up , just as the US, Canada & Britain were, but on a much smaller & specialised sphere, mainly concerned with body building in the Model A era but later getting into component manufacturing as well.
The result was a complete car manufacturing industry which was the whole point in the 1925 Ford Australia set up.

Great pic, of the early Roadster. This would be a 1929 Sports Roadster [ they were officially ''Sports'' there] which was the deluxe job but not as fancy as the Canadian '29 Sport Roadster. Australia also did the Sports Roadster & Tourer in 1930 -32 which was their Deluxe types with the Tourer having unusual double seat cushions but 4 doors, not a Briggs 2 dr body.

[Tudortomnz]

Hi Vince, I am just referring to the Aussie Sports Tourer not being based on the Nth American Deluxe Phaeton which was a Briggs built 2 door type Phaeton.
Sorry for any confusion.
Tom.

[Tinbasher]

HI Guys I checked the Coachbolts today. Yes, they are Coachbolts. the size is 3/8-24 X 2 1/4" with a lock washer, hex nut and a 13/32 i.d. X 3/4" O.D. and 1/6 thick flat washer

I Hope this helps. John Poole