Turning a touring into a roadster?

[Vanspeed]

So I have been looking for a 22-25 T roadster body for awhile and I just couldn't find anything, found one but the asking price was just too much. I found a 24 T touring body and bought it this past weekend. I have a turtle deck already and my plan is to cut the front of the body off behind the front doors and use the rear of the touring to form the back. Has anyone done anything like this before? Only spot I see that I am going to need is the bottom back under the turtle deck where it transitions into the body. Does anybody make this piece?

[yachtsmanbill]

Originally Posted by Vanspeed

So I have been looking for a 22-25 T roadster body for awhile and I just couldn't find anything, found one but the asking price was just too much. I found a 24 T touring body and bought it this past weekend. I have a turtle deck already and my plan is to cut the front of the body off behind the front doors and use the rear of the touring to form the back. Has anyone done anything like this before? Only spot I see that I am going to need is the bottom back under the turtle deck where it transitions into the body. Does anybody make this piece?

C'mon man... they make them at homo depot; 1/4 plywood and Rustoleum barbeque black. To be authentic, I think you need to change out the bun panels and the seat back may be different... it is on the 26-7s... This is my pals cut down touring body... its a put together car but youll get the idea... ws

[Derek Kiefer]

It would be difficult to use the rear seat, as it is taller and wider than a roadster seat. It would be easier to cut it off like the one pictured above.

It would be BEST to sell or trade it for a roadster body, or a Touring that's already cut off (they're pretty common, as Touring cars were often turned into pickup trucks in the 30s and 40s) It would be a shame to cut up the body now, when there are so many out there already cut.

[t42]

Offer to trade your touring body for a roadster body. There is always someone out there looking for bodies. Howell's catalog could almost build a complete roadster body.
Good luck.

[dumb person]

Everyone (well not everyone, but people with children &/or friends) want/wants tourers now, should be able to find someone to trade bodies with easily enough.

[Vanspeed]

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Well the body is already cut in half. I was only going to buy the front but the guy told me he also had the back laying around so I bought that too.

[Vanspeed]

well turns out I am going to have no problem turning this car into a roadster as it turned out to be rougher than the guy said. I will post pics of the transformation.

[Vanspeed]

This is what I came up with. I still have to mount the turtle deck and make the lower sills for the turtle deck but it is coming along nicely. Also removed all the wood and framed it with steel and added a model a subrail. This is going to be a early style gow job so sorry if I offend the die hard restorers.

[Vanspeed]

[Steve Jelf]

I'm deeply offended by the yellow firewall.

Looks like you're doing a good job.

[stevests]

Nice conversion - I see you've added a Model A instrument cluster to the dash !

[Vanspeed]

Yeah I did that because I am putting it on a 1930 A chassis, going to narrow the rails in the back to stay under the body. Mechanical brakes, 29 radiator cut down to fit the T shell. Basically I am building it as if Ford was still making the T in 1930. This pic is the first mock up. I have since removed the split front wishbone and put a stock A front end on.

[15max]

"sorry if I offend the die hard restorers." You are too late. Most of the "Die Hards" have been offended. Many time for many years. That is not how I would build a car either but you are doing a great job and enjoying it. I've always said, If you don't build it how you want to you shouldn't be doing it at all.
Nice work.

[32 chevy vett]

Nice work. Keep the photos coming. Looks a lot better then then the plain cutoff job.
With a turtle deck thrown on the back. That gives it class.

[Vanspeed]

Today I started on finishing the top of the back of the body where it didn't really exist. I cut the wood tac strip off and added 1 inch of flat with round stock capping off the end. I have the passenger side almost done and the rest just tacked in. This really strengthened the back of the body. I am still going to put some braces in the very back but it is really stiff already. After this I am going to focus on getting the turtle deck fitted.

[Willie in Houston]

Looks like a model A with a modified T body to hide it. I could be fun, but not welcomed in the T groups I drive on tours with.

[Vanspeed]

Yeah the local model a club likes it. Don't know if there are any T groups around here.

[modelAsteve]

Willie: go find another fun T club!

[bart78]

I picked one up this spring. The old lady wanted it out of her yard. Said if I could get it out I could have it. Now I just need to find a turtle for it.

[Steve Jelf]

Ran when parked.