The Ford Barn

Ed in Maine · 09-04-2018, 05:52 PM

I have been looking at a 1929 Phaeton to purchase and took a ride in it last week end. I had a heck of time getting into it. There was only about 4 inches between the seat and the cowl. The seat was on a base with no adjustments. Is it possible to increase this clearance for your feet by removing the seat bottom and re-mounting the seat base? Thanks for your input. Ed

Tom Wesenberg · 09-04-2018, 06:00 PM

No. I own a 1928 Phaeton, and getting in and out is a learning experience. Once you figure out how to contort yourself, you will be comfortable and really enjoy the car. At least once you are in the seat, you are comfortable. Model A and AA trucks are tight getting in and even tighter when you're seated.

Mike Peters · 09-04-2018, 07:14 PM

There's no way to move the front seat backwards without butchering the divider between the front and rear seats. Don't go there. Either take some yoga lessons or look for a 30-31 Phaeton. The 30-31's are more forgiving. I've got a 28 Phaeton and have developed my own personal technique for getting in and out of the driver's seat.

woofa.express · 09-04-2018, 07:31 PM

Hi Ed.
Yes, I find the same problem. I have 3 A Models and another vintage, a GM. One for each of my kids. I have the ute and my Roadster is lent to a bloke who will use it. I offered the Tourer to another friend who declined it for the reason you mentioned .
My ute I replaced the rear of seat with a thin biscuit of soft rubber and shortened the base. Just as comfortable to drive and much easier to step in and out. My tourer I had the seat modified too. cut one row of springs off. I went to put it back and then figured the back needed to be done as well. In the process of doing that now. It should give an extra six inches.
yes the difficulty in climbing in and out does detract from the car.
I'm away from home now but if you send me your email address I will photograph the entry and send it to you. cheers, gary

ericr · 09-05-2018, 08:18 AM

if you look at old movies, it seems that people usually entered cars from the passenger side, including the driver who slid over. at one time, cities had laws against entering a parked car from the driver's side since it exposed you to traffic. that said, it is easy to understand why the doors were wider on the '30-'31 models.

Tom Wesenberg · 09-05-2018, 11:21 AM

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I've been in my friend's 31 Phaeton several times, and I can't say it's easier to enter and exit than my 28. At least I didn't notice it. Once you get used to it, they aren't so bad because getting in and out is only a few seconds out of your lifetime. Once seated, enjoy the ride.

ronn · 09-05-2018, 04:10 PM

have the same problem with my 28 phaeton. I am 6 1" and 230 ibs

but when I am in, it is very comfortable.

Jim/GA · 09-05-2018, 04:20 PM

Snyders can make you up a set of seat springs that are thinner than stock. Once in the car, you can't tell that they are thinner. That moves you a couple of inches back from the wheel and lower.

Everyone has their own way of getting in and out of a Model A. I find stepping straight into my '29 phaeton with my right foot/leg is best for me. Then sit down, then bring left leg/foot up and in. I seldom use the running board in or out.

Yes, yoga helps.

.

J Franklin · 09-05-2018, 06:20 PM

I sold my early '28 because it was too tight. If I got in it was ok but getting in and out was the trouble. In the old movies they just jumped over the doors and slid in.

Synchro909 · 09-05-2018, 06:38 PM

I'm over 1.8 metres and about 89 Kg (6' and 196 lb) and have absolutely no trouble getting into or out of my '29 Phaeton. I suppose after about 50,000 miles, I have worked it out but I don't remember ever having trouble.

J Franklin · 09-05-2018, 11:11 PM

I am about the same size but certainly not as limber.

Mike Peters · 09-06-2018, 12:18 PM

The approximate door openings of a 28 Phaeton, and a 30 roadster at the level of the door handles:
28 Phaeton- 21 1/2"
30 roadster- 23"
So there is a little more wiggle room with 30-31 open cars. For some folks, that may or may not make a difference. In my case, it does, but still love my 28 Phaeton.

09-04-2018, 05:52 PM	#1
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat I have been looking at a 1929 Phaeton to purchase and took a ride in it last week end. I had a heck of time getting into it. There was only about 4 inches between the seat and the cowl. The seat was on a base with no adjustments. Is it possible to increase this clearance for your feet by removing the seat bottom and re-mounting the seat base? Thanks for your input. Ed

09-04-2018, 06:00 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat No. I own a 1928 Phaeton, and getting in and out is a learning experience. Once you figure out how to contort yourself, you will be comfortable and really enjoy the car. At least once you are in the seat, you are comfortable. Model A and AA trucks are tight getting in and even tighter when you're seated.

09-04-2018, 07:14 PM	#3
Mike Peters Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: South East Wisconsin Posts: 1,279	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat There's no way to move the front seat backwards without butchering the divider between the front and rear seats. Don't go there. Either take some yoga lessons or look for a 30-31 Phaeton. The 30-31's are more forgiving. I've got a 28 Phaeton and have developed my own personal technique for getting in and out of the driver's seat.

09-04-2018, 07:31 PM	#4
woofa.express Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Tocumwal, NSW, Australia Posts: 1,747	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat Hi Ed. Yes, I find the same problem. I have 3 A Models and another vintage, a GM. One for each of my kids. I have the ute and my Roadster is lent to a bloke who will use it. I offered the Tourer to another friend who declined it for the reason you mentioned . My ute I replaced the rear of seat with a thin biscuit of soft rubber and shortened the base. Just as comfortable to drive and much easier to step in and out. My tourer I had the seat modified too. cut one row of springs off. I went to put it back and then figured the back needed to be done as well. In the process of doing that now. It should give an extra six inches. yes the difficulty in climbing in and out does detract from the car. I'm away from home now but if you send me your email address I will photograph the entry and send it to you. cheers, gary __________________ I know many things, But I don't know everything, Sometimes I forget things. And there are times when I have a long memory.

09-05-2018, 08:18 AM	#5
ericr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,542	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat if you look at old movies, it seems that people usually entered cars from the passenger side, including the driver who slid over. at one time, cities had laws against entering a parked car from the driver's side since it exposed you to traffic. that said, it is easy to understand why the doors were wider on the '30-'31 models.

09-05-2018, 11:21 AM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I've been in my friend's 31 Phaeton several times, and I can't say it's easier to enter and exit than my 28. At least I didn't notice it. Once you get used to it, they aren't so bad because getting in and out is only a few seconds out of your lifetime. Once seated, enjoy the ride.

09-05-2018, 04:10 PM	#7
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,782	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat have the same problem with my 28 phaeton. I am 6 1" and 230 ibs but when I am in, it is very comfortable.

09-05-2018, 04:20 PM	#8
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 1,815	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat Snyders can make you up a set of seat springs that are thinner than stock. Once in the car, you can't tell that they are thinner. That moves you a couple of inches back from the wheel and lower. Everyone has their own way of getting in and out of a Model A. I find stepping straight into my '29 phaeton with my right foot/leg is best for me. Then sit down, then bring left leg/foot up and in. I seldom use the running board in or out. Yes, yoga helps. . __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Have a Model A day!"

09-05-2018, 06:20 PM	#9
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat I sold my early '28 because it was too tight. If I got in it was ok but getting in and out was the trouble. In the old movies they just jumped over the doors and slid in.

09-05-2018, 06:38 PM	#10
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat I'm over 1.8 metres and about 89 Kg (6' and 196 lb) and have absolutely no trouble getting into or out of my '29 Phaeton. I suppose after about 50,000 miles, I have worked it out but I don't remember ever having trouble. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

09-05-2018, 11:11 PM	#11
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat I am about the same size but certainly not as limber.

09-06-2018, 12:18 PM	#12
Mike Peters Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: South East Wisconsin Posts: 1,279	Re: 1929 Standard Phaeton Front Seat The approximate door openings of a 28 Phaeton, and a 30 roadster at the level of the door handles: 28 Phaeton- 21 1/2" 30 roadster- 23" So there is a little more wiggle room with 30-31 open cars. For some folks, that may or may not make a difference. In my case, it does, but still love my 28 Phaeton.