28-29 Sport Coupe belt trim

[Tiny]

I haven't posted in a loong time and I'm not sure if this is allowed.

I have a 28-29 Sport coupe belt trim, Its missing the "ears" that fold over the door jams. Its's just the outer trim I do not have the the inner piece. It's in overall decent shape for a piece that I believe is nearly impossible to find

I know they are made of unobtanium

Here goes the question I'm not sure if it's allowed

What is the value for a piece like this? I've gone through the classifieds and not found one.

I'm taking it to the Turlock Swap meet is why I wonder about value

Thank you

[wrndln]

The two piece beltrail trim is also used on 28/29 special coupes and business coupes, as well as 28/29 sports coupes. The are almost impossible to find. I have two sets of them I have acquire over the years. I need one set for my 28 special coupe. I am saving the second set in case the first set is ruined trying to install it. Three of the four ends are missing, which is quite common. The outer piece, in decent condition, is the hardest to find. I haven't installed the trim on my car for fear of messing it up.
Rusty Nelson

[Bob from Northport]

Maybe a photo might help??

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Tiny

I haven't posted in a loong time and I'm not sure if this is allowed.

I have a 28-29 Sport coupe belt trim, Its missing the "ears" that fold over the door jams. Its's just the outer trim I do not have the the inner piece. It's in overall decent shape for a piece that I believe is nearly impossible to find

I know they are made of unobtanium

Here goes the question I'm not sure if it's allowed

What is the value for a piece like this? I've gone through the classifieds and not found one.

I'm taking it to the Turlock Swap meet is why I wonder about value

Thank you

Depending on condition of the ears, and the inner & outer pieces, a fair price will be in the $600-$800 range. If you do not have the inner piece, then I would think the value drops by at least 50%. If the tabs are missing, likely the value is $50-$100 lower.

On a separate note, I wonder what ever happened to the gentleman from Ohio that was making them about 15-20 years ago?

[Tiny]

Thank you Brent. That's the kind of info I was looking for

[wrndln]

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What I heard a number of years ago is his manufacture of the reproduction belt rail pieces went belly up and the manufacture got rid of the tooling the fellow had made, so he had no way to have another manufacture make any more of them - sad.

Rusty Nelson

[LAV]

I have used automotive side molding trim as a substitute for the original belt trim. Painted and attached it has stayed in place for years.

[jak]

I've had one for sale that has both the inner and outer pieces, but like yours is missing the ears and has some damage at one end. I've been asking $300 or best offer and everybody that says they need it dont make an offer. So i'm not sure what to tell you as far as price this is just my personal experience.

[wrndln]

The "ears" on the end that are bent inward into the latch pocket can easily be repaired. Mine had small metal pieces that were silver soldered to the inside of the outer piece.
Rusty Nelson

[rotorwrench]

The better the condition, the more a price it will bring. One that needs a lot of work may be good to use as a pattern for a capable metal man but most folks shy away from parts that may not be repairable or they may not have equipment and skill set to repair. One that is ready to install is a good value even if the price is a bit on the high side.

An old fellow used to reproduce these by hand and his price reflected the work that he put into it. A friend of mine purchased one from him and installed it on his Sport Coupe. The compound curve around the sides just wasn't quite right. It fit to the body wood OK but the downward curve on the sides just wasn't quite right. I noticed it the second I laid eyes on it and my friend was quick to mention that he wasn't all that satisfied with it. My friend once had and original set that he picked up at a swap met but some sleaze bag stole it out of his pickup truck.

It's too bad that Ford didn't have them fabricated from brass sheet stock. I think they would have lasted better. A lot of Fords top trim from that era just rusts away with too much time in the weather.

[Tinbasher]

A hard part to find. Try a Canadian one. It's one piece with the ears on the end. it screws on to wood work and then the holes are filled. As far as I know. It's made from mild steel.
I was lucky and found one hanging in the rafters of a bodyshop. It had been sitting there for 30 years. Painted and ready to go.
Like I said, Lucky. JP

[Chuck Kuntz]

I think I may have one. Can anyone give me some dimensions that will help identify this moulding?

[Dave in MD]

They were being reproduced by Tony Raffin and I think Snyders was selling them.
The company that made the dies for him went out of business and Tony never got his dies back. These reproductions had the two pieces however they did not have the slight contours and the sides and rear.
Dave

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by Tinbasher

A hard part to find. Try a Canadian one. It's one piece with the ears on the end. it screws on to wood work and then the holes are filled. As far as I know. It's made from mild steel.
I was lucky and found one hanging in the rafters of a bodyshop. It had been sitting there for 30 years. Painted and ready to go.
Like I said, Lucky. JP

This intrigues me as mine has evenly spaced holes in it.

Ultimately it's in OKish shape and I'm not trying to get wealthy on it I'd just rather see it in the right hands but that being said I'm not going to just give it away

[rotorwrench]

I've watched a lot of items like this on flea-pay over the years. I say like this because I've not seen a decent belt molding yet. Original Sport Coupe stuff like the landau bars and the back light frame & glass for the top are offered anywhere from $375 to $750 but they tend to stay on there for multiple months. Long enough that I don't know whether they sold or not. I've seen belt moldings in the Swap Meet section on here but most were kind of rough.

Folks that are low on funds will tend to fabricate stuff from the closest fit materials they can source. I don't blame them either. I have a tendency to do the same thing. When parts cost more than what we used to pay for a whole car then it makes it harder to part with those kind of funds. Several sources sell the brass firewall trim for the early model Ts that used them for around 1911 or 1912 models. They are about the right size but they have to be formed to fit the belt area. It's not as easy as it might seem but it is doable. Brass can be silver soldered to attach things like the tips that fit the door latch area. Finding a metal strip to hold it on is another challenge.

[Tiny]

Here's some not so good pictures. Is this the outer or inner piece? Or is it Canadian?

[wrndln]

It is the inner piece. The inner piece has holes for the nails.

Rusty Nelson

[DKnapp]

I sold one a few years ago, I think for $475. It was complete, both inner and outer pieces, but needed new tabs. It went to Australia and I did not have to ship it. He was traveling across America and he picked it up. He just happened to see it advertised at a convenient time.

[Tinbasher]

That's like mine. A Canadian one. Super hard to find. I've seen one in 50 years. JP

[Tinbasher]

Here's some pictures. Not having any luck uploading the pictures. I'll try again tomorrow night.