1931 Ford Deluxe Victoria Convertible Gläser. Need Opinions...

[HDA]

1931 Ford Victoria Deluxe Cabriolet by Gläser Karosserie, Dresden.

The badge on the passenger side says \"Gläser Karosserie, Dresden\" and the VIN on the AZ title is A3957780.

I don't have a lot of history on the car, because I bought it from the late owner's son, and he had to get his grandson to find him a You-Tube video just to start it. The paint looks to be the original lacquer (it shows very well from a distance and has a great shine, but it has the cracks typical of that paint) and where it is chipped or worn, there is only metal (or wood) underneath. We went over the car with magnets and there is NO glass on the car, it is steel- so that's good. Drove it around my lot and the engine seems fine, it shifts well, but needs a tune-up and that's not a big deal. The car has been sitting for years. The 82 year old owner bought it from a \"museum in Ohio in 1999\" and his son didn't know where, just that it was in \"Amish Country\". I am going to try to get some history on the car, the previous title was in 1970, so if I can get the lady at the MVD to let me look at archives, maybe I'll get lucky and get a name. I have no real comps on this car because it is very rare, but the craftsmanship is amazing.

I would love to hear from anyone who may be of help with any information about this car's past, opinions on value, etc. I have learned quite a lot from searching online and found that most of these cars are in museums, and in Germany- a lot of them were destroyed in the war and there weren't many to begin with. I appreciate your time and hope to hear from you. I am in Arizona, 520-404-1975 (Heather Anderson)

[Roadster62]

Welcome to the Ford Barn. Nice car, is there a gas tank in the cowl or did that get mounted somewere else? I've seen photos of many different takes on that body style. Wonder how yours looks with the top folded down? Bob

[ronn]

I believe your car is so rare, that it is going to be difficult for most of us on this board to comment. The slim chance that someone here has one that is similar, would give you a starting point. The few that are left, most likely reside in Europe.

Good luck!

[Bruce Adams]

There is one like it that I have seen a couple of times in the Palm Beach Florida area. Perhaps one of the Palm Beach members can put you to it. It has a German eagle bumper plate and such, together with a 1931 ad of it from a German magazine promoting it as a Victoria Cabriolet. The finishing touches on it appeared to me to be far superior to the finishing touches and assembly on Model A's I have seen otherwise.

[ronn]

just found this on CL in AZ-only a month old.............. is this your ad?

1. aterhouse Convertible ...
   
   
2. 1931 Ford Model A Convertible Victoria - Craigslist
   
   phoenix.craigslist.org › ... › cars & trucks - by ownerCraigslist Inc.
   
   
   Jan 16, 2014 - 1931 Ford Model A Convertible Victoria Deluxe Rare wood Body by Glaser of Berlin Runs and Drives A rare find for 26,500.00 OBO.
   
   

[HDA]

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Roadster 62- The tank is in the cowl. I have been afraid to try to fold the top down, it has been stored in the "Up" position for so long, it makes "crunching" noises when you push on it and I am afraid that it may be brittle and rip- I have only just lifted it off without folding it.

Ronn- the ad on Craigslist was my little cousin's idea of "helping" me. He posted a few ads around with different prices just to see what the response was, and honestly there wasn't a lot from Craigslist. He posted it from 25k to 85k and I only had strange or scam type emails. I am thinking that maybe Ebay is a good place to start?

Thanks for the replies

[neds29]

HDA- I saw your ad on Craigslist but didn't respond for a number of reasons. I suspect the car is what was once a fairly typical thing: custom body on a stock chassis. It is very good looking. I've seen several similar type ones long ago (but not on Model A chassis but on Auburn or whatever chassis) when I was stationed in Europe. Obviously it's probably extraordinarily rare. I wonder if Hemmings Motor News might be a better place to advertise it? Better yet it might be helpful to get in touch with a museum such as Lars Anderson in Boston?? I'm guessing.
I'm in Ahwatukee and I'd love to see the car but am not interested in buying it- for one can't afford it. But if I can help you with it (for free I'm retired and my social calendar isn't full) let me know.
Ned Harris

[ronn]

yes HDA-ebay is the way to go-great exposure and you can set a reserve.

[joergr]

Very interesting car! Gläser was one of the top German coachbuilders before the war. Gläser cars are sought after here in Germany. Thought it might not bring as much as this Horch: http://www.sachsen-veteran.de/de/old...r-glaeser.html

Good luck with this one.
Joerg

[Tudortomnz]

I would be interested to see what Brad in Germany /Maryland thinks of this, or an enthusiast in Europe.
It does not look like any era German convert.s I have photos of.
But I could be wrong. Good luck with it.

[Tudortomnz]

My apologies as I have found reference to this car & it is genuine.
Came from Denmark to the US in 1965. Looks to have been re restored since then with maybe different wheels, but it is a Glaser.
There was a thread some time back on these European converts with many photos from Germany & Denmark.
Very interesting car.

[Thomas-Th]

Photos of German Convertibles


Unfortunately, there are not really that many people who know much about these German open models.

[23hack]

What is the wheelbase of the car ? Is the chassis US or Cologne Germany ? There should or must be data plates on the firewall to further identify the car. Germans identified everything they did . I want this !

[HDA]

I will try to upload a scanned copy of the magazine that the car was featured in (on the cover and a 6-page article) in 1965. It's the "Antique Automobile" AACA November-December 1965 edition. If they don't enlarge enough to read, I can email them directly. The wheelbase is 103.5", and the chassis is US made, and was sent to Ford of Cologne in 1930, and then sold to Glaser.

[23hack]

Thank you, HAD. The article answers about all my questions. Such an interesting automobile. I'll be watching for developments.