1929 Model A Deluxe

[johndduvall]

Did any 1929 Deluxe Roadsters have a black top and trunk? Always thought the Deluxe Roadster had the tan interior, fabric top and tan trunk.

Thanks in advance!

[Keith True]

John,there was actually no such thing as a 29 DeLuxe roadster.The DeLuxe wasn't introduced until August of 30.When you see a 30 DeLuxe with an oval speedometer that means either somebody deluxified it,or somebody changed the gas tank and instrument panel

[johndduvall]

Originally Posted by Keith True

John,there was actually no such thing as a 29 DeLuxe roadster.The DeLuxe wasn't introduced until August of 30.When you see a 30 DeLuxe with an oval speedometer that means either somebody deluxified it,or somebody changed the gas tank and instrument panel

So, do I have a 1929 Sports Roadster with optional rumble seat and fender spares?

Thanks again,

John D.

[d.]

no such thing as a "sports roadster" either...the sidemounts were a dealer option as was the covered rear trunk as well.
You might want to buy a copy of the Restoration Guide from either of the national clubs; it will answer a lot of your questions.

[Keith True]

You have a deluxified 29.Something an owner did in the past.Nothing wrong with it,some people like a lot of bling.The 30 DeLuxe only came with a drivers side spare,the right sides were added by dealers or by owners later in life.Look at the spare mount brackets on the frame,you will see they are bolted,not riveted as the factory would have been.I'm not sure just what cars came with rumbles in 28-29.For factual information get the restoration guidelines,and another good book is,The Model A Ford as Henry Built it.Books like,Henry's Lady are pretty coffee table books,but not accurate as to originality.

[Marshall V. Daut]

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"...no such thing as a "sports roadster" either...the sidemounts were a dealer option as was the covered rear trunk as well."

Actually, there was a "Sport Roadster" (not "Sports") in Canada, introduced in the summer of 1929. It featured folding windshield posts and a left-mounted spare tire, among other small "upgrades" from the ordinary Model A body styles. But since we are generally concerned with USA Model A production on this website, technically there was no USA "Sport Roadster" available in 1929 and certainly no "Deluxe" until 1930. I believe the only "Deluxe" 1929 body style was the Deluxe Delivery, which was basically a modified Tudor Sedan body with a rear-opening door. "Deluxe???" A door in the back - big deal!
Although Floyd Clymer was a pioneer in publishing early Model A books and manuals, he did take a few liberties with his terminology and "factual" statements. His famous "one size fits all" chart that lists the differences between the years of production is WOEFULLY inaccurate and incomplete. Yet, it was picked up and published as gospel in subsequent Model A books. Clymer also tacked names onto body styles that official Ford nomenclature did not use, such as calling a 1928-29 Roadster with a trunk a "Business Roadster" and one with a rumble seat a "Sport Roadster". No such animals in USA production. His books and odd use of terminology have confused generations of newcomers to the Model A hobby, who have had to UN-learn later what they read in his books. I did. 20 years ago I went through his two most commonly-owned Model A booklets page by page and pointed out false or misleading statements, which abounded on almost every page. That didn't sit too well with the well-entrenched, conservative Model community of the time, who didn't appreciate their sacred cow being figuratively attacked. So, that article hasn't seen the light of day since 1999. Probably just as well. At any rate, my point is to be careful what you read in those older Model books from the 1950's and 1960's, especially Floyd Clymer's. The word "Deluxe" seems to be added to any Model A that now has cowl lights, a radiator stone guard, dual side-mounts and white sidewall tires. That's why I suggest being careful with your terminology. Only a fraction of the 5,000,000 Model A's produced were actually "Deluxe"
Marshall

[johndduvall]

Okay, great info from everyone. Thanks!

John D.

[Marshall V. Daut]

By the way, John D. - that's a sharp buggy you have there, no matter what its designation is. Enjoy!
Marshall