who here can tell us more about the 3 window Model A coupes?

I can't find the thread I was looking for... here's the few things I was able to find quickly in reference to it...

Quote:
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I've never seen a factory model a 3 window............
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Here's the picture I refer to as the Holy Grail... of Model A's

 

looks wierd with no visor

 

There were NO-- 3 window Model A coupes produced from 1928-1931, somebody is stroking you!!!!!!!!! That photo is retouched!!-----------Don

 

what makes you so sure?? seriously. who to say they did'nt build at least one prototype if not several. they built a handfull of stainless steel 36 Fords as well as a limited number of aluminum bodied model Ts. hell i know a guy that has an early T sedan that is aluminum bodied. totaly unrestored, original condition. one of about 60 if i remember right.

so ask again with all seriousness (and i'm not saying your wrong). if you are so sure they did'nt make one then tell us WHY you are so sure of it.

 

The only real (as in production models) 3-window A Coupes are 28-31 Sport Coupes and the 28 Business Coupes.

All indications are one and only one prototype 3W Coupe was made, and I have never read of it being discovered, 'glass body moulds being made or anything else concrete about the car. If it were "real" there would certainly have been major write-ups on the car in either the MARC or MAFCA newsletters and other Ford-oriented publications. I have never seen one.

 

The aluminum bodied Ts were not so unusual. There are many of them out there. All are Fordor sedans. Production began in 1922 but I don't have a production total or date when they stopped using the aluminum body.

 

this one was a 22 i believe. it was an early one i know. it was either 60 or 80 that year but i think he said 60. it was the guy's first car and he is the second owner. i think he said it was the early 50s when he bought it for a daily driver. i've heard about a ton of old and very rare cars this guy owns (heard it from other people) but i have not seen many of them yet.

 

Probably not what you are looking for but there is a company in Kansas that makes them in fiberglass. http://www.aaltered.com/ My buddy cuzzindeke on the Hamb built a street rod from one of these bodies a few years ago. Here is his photo.

 

Indeed, a nice looking phantom body. One of then was on my short list until I decided on a pickup. I've seen a couple in the flesh, finished, and they look good. Too bad Old Henry didn't make them. Gary

 

There was one original A coupe that was built as a three-window. I believe it was late in the '31 year run. I think it was a prototype, a precursor to the changes made for the '32 model year.
I believe that is the B/W picture at the top of the tread.
r

 

Here's a 29 that one of our club members built .....



It's now living somewhere in CA.

(323)

 

The "real" pic above has a 30 grille, and 29 headlights. I'd guess it was an early prototype rather than late in the run. Maybe something they were trying out in late 29, but put off til 32.

Anybody notice there's no battery in the car?

 

I've read that Ford made at least two.

This one is noted as a phantom, but there are some who think it's the same car as the black factory three window shown below.


This pic was shot in front of the Ford factory.


Another pic of the one shown above.
The info at the bottom of the pic was on the photo.

 

'31 Victorias and Slant Winshield sedans (Fordors) had no visor, but the windshields had that '32 slant. That one's straight up; no coupes (45B coupes, anyway) had slant windshields. The Slant Windshield Cabriolet (68C I think) is sometimes mistaken for a '32.

Fearless

 

The two 3 windows shown above look to be different cars. Different windshield, diff. body molding, cowl lights, door hinge location...

 

Thats why he noted above the pic that there was atleast 2 made...

Looks kinda kool and makes sense esp if there were experimenting with new styles for 32..Prob the foundation and where it all started.

 

does the car in the top pic has a 63' california plate on it?

 

There were two, both shown above. I think at least one prototype is known to exist...look around on Ahooga and Fordbarn, there have been discussions involving people who have done a lot of research on these.

 

i just knew someone would do this...

-ditch the bumpers
-change to wide 5's
-bring it down another notch

 

that sounds like a lot of work... care to provide a few links

 

In the early 70s my brother in law would tell me about a model A 3-W coupe in san francisco he new his cars i thought he was B-S ing me he did show me a photo.

 

Ah - an "expert" People who make absolute public statements purporting to be authoritative and factual/gospel truth, without checking their facts or doing even a little basic research, tend to make fools of themselves when proven wrong.

As others have already identified, there were at least two prototypes made (in 1930 I believe - not 1931) and indeed one of them did escape captivity as has been reported by Bad Bob.

 

is very neat to see how they experimented back then.

 

C9. The top picture was Sam Bergman's 1931 prototype 3 window coupe reported to be one of the rarest factory Model A's in existence. Mr. Bergman's coupe is alleged to have been one of Edsel Ford's own personal cars. It had a C engine under it's hood, was maroon in color with of course black fenders. In addition, the car had 105,000 original miles when found. Seen at 1974 MAFCA National Queen Mary Meet and the 1990 San Diego National Meet. - From the September 2005 Newsletter, The Quips, of the Cuesta Crankers of San Luis Obispo County, California

 

I've had quite a few slant windows and the picture shown of the 3 window hinge placement coupe door is not a stock height of a 31 slant body. My Vicki, Town sedan & Cabroliet. all had the top hinge higher see the town sedan photo below.

Not to say the picture isn't right, because Ford GM and the Dodge Bro's all made one-off's. Think about all of the Mustang prototypes- Vette's Fiero's- Barracuda's---and on and on--- that were made. GM at thier Tech center has a warehouse. In highschool I was invited to the Chrysler developement center to view their Turbine cars because I was accepted to a local University as an engineer. How I fooled them...........

 

Here's the link:
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/protothreewindow.htm

 

Looks like the door handle is on backwards, maybe ol' Edsel preferred it that way?

 

Hey Vince !

You still in the land of chop sticks chop suey no chopped cars and exciting drivers ?

 

@Deuce Daddy Don -

You're only half right ... there were indeed never any 3 window Model A coupes produced from 1928-1931 ... but that photo is not retouched ... as already mentioned in this thread (and several other threads here on the HAMB), extensive research has been done to prove the existence of the early '30 and mid '31 prototype 3 window coupes.

@Weasel -

Aren't you being a little harsh on Don? (he's probably forgotten more about Hot Rods than you & I could ever claim to know) ... I'm just glad you have never made any inaccurate claims on a public message board!