New guy... new project...

[682bear]

Hello... new user here... I've just acquired a Model A, but I'm not sure it was advertised correctly. I bought it as a 1929 Model A, but instead of having the seam on the cowl sides where the top of the fuel tank meets the sides, there is a raised style line... the cowl top and sides appear to be one piece.

Looking at Google images, it looks more like the pics of a 1930 or '31...

What exactly do I have here?

I know the rear wheels are from a later model...

-Bear

[TMarsh]

Single piece splash shiel, it appears, I would bet late 30 or 31. Thats my opinion for what is worth.

[mercman from oz]

Welcome to Ford Barn 682bear - Your new Ford is very nice.
What you have just bought is a 1929 Ford Briggs Body Model A Sedan

[mercman from oz]

1929 Ford Model A Sedan Advertisement

[jb-ob]

Mr. Bear,

Your new toy a 1929 Briggs bodied 'Steel Back' Fordor Sedan.

Briggs made at least two different varieties in 1929, second being longer in the rear body tub.

Your car has a soft roof 'insert' as opposed to roof material extending down to the rain gutters on both sides.

Check the front body cross sill for a body tag, first three digits will help determine exactly which Briggs body you have.

Most of all, Enjoy, jb

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

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Originally Posted by TMarsh

Single piece splash shiel, it appears, I would bet late 30 or 31. Thats my opinion for what is worth.

Looks like a mid-year 1929 Fordor 60C Briggs-made bodystyle to me.

[682bear]

There is a 'body number' tag tacked to the floor just inside the passenger front door... it has CL197-2862 stamped on it...

I received two titles... one from 1968 and one from 2006... the first was titled in the previous owners name, the second in both the PO and his son's names. I bought it from the son... the PO has passed away. Both titles have the engine serial number as the ID number.

-Bear

[Keith True]

Looks like you have things in order.The engine serial number WAS the car serial number back then.Nothing like a modern VIN.It is just a sequential number stamped on as the engines were completed.All it can tell you is the day the engine was completed and stamped.,you will have to look at a chart to narrow it down.The body number is just that,a number Briggs put on the body before being shipped to Ford.Nothing to do with vehicle ID.

[jb-ob]

Briggs had two body assembly plants, Detroit & Cleveland (CL)

Briggs was a very successful independent body builder for many auto companies including Ford.

My guess what you have is a later, longer Fordor body which was later used into 1930 with a cowl change. (Adjustable front seat ?)

This is the easy part, Enjoy, jb

[Mulletwagon]

Just curious - is the ID number on the title the same as the number stamped on the driver's side of the engine block ? Looks like a great core to fully restore. Good Luck.

[682bear]

Originally Posted by Mulletwagon

Just curious - is the ID number on the title the same as the number stamped on the driver's side of the engine block ? Looks like a great core to fully restore. Good Luck.

Yes... the same number... but the title doesn't have the 'A' prefix.

-Bear

[1930artdeco]

Welcome to the club! Great looking sedan you have there-but then again I am partial to sedans. Make sure you check the wood very carefully, do the doors close easily and with a solid 'thunk'? Are the rain gutters solid attached to the body along with the roof material? If you didn't already know, the whole body is wood and will ride great! Also, I didn't see any engine pics but if there is an original (2 or 4 blade) fan pull it first thing and replace it with a modern aluminum one. the originals have a tendency to come apart and take out hoods, radiators or heads. So do your normal safety checks and then drive the heck out of her and enjoy.

Mike

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by TMarsh

Single piece splash shiel, it appears, I would bet late 30 or 31. Thats my opinion for what is worth.

Welcome to the barn, Bear.

Definitely a '29. Look at the radiator shell, headlight bar, shape of front fenders and bumpers.

Only in '30 had two piece splash guards.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by 682bear

There is a 'body number' tag tacked to the floor just inside the passenger front door... it has CL197-2862 stamped on it...

I received two titles... one from 1968 and one from 2006... the first was titled in the previous owners name, the second in both the PO and his son's names. I bought it from the son... the PO has passed away. Both titles have the engine serial number as the ID number.

-Bear

Briggs Body #CL197-2862. CL = Cleveland, 197 = 1929 170A Standard 2 Window Fordor Sedan.

Your body was the 2,862nd 170A Briggs body made.

[682bear]

Thanks for all the help and information...

The car will be stored in the corner of my shop while I finish a couple of other projects... I'll get started on it once I can dedicate some time to it...

My plan is to keep it as original as possible... get it running and driveable, and just enjoy it.

I'm sure I'll have enough questions to thoroughly annoy everyone.

Thanks again!
-Bear

[burner31]

Welcome and congratulations on your Model A
The sedans are wonderful cars, and if you have Family and friends that you want to take for rides...you're all set, lots of room is these

[WHN]

What are your plans for the car?

Looks Great!

I know you will enjoy her. I

[Chuck Dempsey]

Welcome to the 'Barn! Enjoy....

[682bear]

I performed some 'explorive surgery' on the Model A this morning...

When I bought the car, there were 3 areas that I couldn't check for rust that concerned me. The first area was under the piece of trim that goes from side to side at the front of the roof. Someone had applied a thick layer of what appeared to be roofing tar to the area around both ends of the trim. I chipped most of the tar off and very carefully removed the trim. There is surface rust under the trim... but the metal seems to still be in pretty good condition.

The second area was between the windshield frame and body... but I couldn't figure out how to tip the windshield out. After playing with it for a while, I discovered someone had run a screw through the top of the dash into the horizontal part of the lower frame, locking it closed... I don't know why. I removed the screw and opened the windshield and found some rust behind it on the back edge of the cowl, and also on the windsheild frame. I didn't find any holes rusted through... but I may when I get the frame out and start cleaning it all up. We'll see...

The third area was inside the gas tank. Before I bought the car, I tried to get the metal basket out of the tank so I could see inside, but it wouldn't budge. I gambled and bought the car anyway. As soon as I got it home, I sprayed the top of the basket down with Kroil and let it soak all weekend. This morning I was able to remove the basket and look in the tank. Aside from a small amount of white powder (dried gasoline?), the tank is very clean inside with no signs of rust at all, as far as I could see.

I'll attach some pics of the roof and windshield frame... I know you can't tell much from them, but give me an honest opinion as to how it looks...

-Bear

[Y-Blockhead]

Looks like someone had a leak at the front header and applied the roofing tar to stop it. Makes me wonder what condition the wood header is. They have been known to dry rot after being soaked.

Lots of wood in these cars.

One of my favorite pictures of a Town Sedan. Thanks Brent