Features Who owns or is building a PRE-WAR style car?

I’m curious as to who all has a pre-WWII (ideally post-WWI, pre-WWII, but I don’t mind some real early stuff showing up) styled car, either on the road or in the works.

I’m building a full-fendered ’23 Ford touring car with a 1933-’34 style (Gabby Garrison and Pete Estes's roadsters being major influences) and hoping to use 90%+ period-correct pieces, with the balance being period-plausible: hopped-up Model T engine, planetary trans, Ruckstell rear axle; ’28-style brown-leatherette interior; chopped, hinged, and raked windshield; and ’31 Chevrolet 19-inch wheels.

So, let’s see/hear about your speedster, gow, hop up, or hot iron!


(Illustration by @MrModelT )

 

I have been collecting parts for a ‘27 T roadster in that style. ‘A’ chassis, 4 banger, 17 and 18” wires. Alas, only a parts collection at this point as three (four?) other projects have pushed their way in front!

 

I've got a cut-off 26 touring project that should have mostly pre-war parts on it. It will have a 1941 flathead in it, but I might have a few speed parts that are post-war. But when the hood is closed it will show only pre-war stuff. Early Chevy frame with parallel spring on the front, very early magnesium no-name B quickchange, and 18" 32 Ford wires.

 

I'm all about early stuff. My first gow inspired build. 26 Coupe, shortened A chassis, dual up draft, Thomas head.



My new project just getting underway. This one will be more Hot Iron with juice brakes and a synchro trans. Much easier to drive in my area.

 

@Austin kays sedan is shaping up to be pretty correct for a pre war build. A few things put it closer to the war than not. But I’d say less than 2% is post 1940 on it.

If you look at the don Montgomery books they show the same cars pre and post war and the changes that were made so to me it’s realistic that Austin’s car was built in 36-38 with a few updates when the new ford wheels came out in 40.

I guess Lincoln got them in 39 if you really wanted to push it

 

I've plan to build one but at this point it's just a plan. I haven't started collecting any parts and it's gonna be several years before I get to it. I'd like a '25 or older T touring car with later 5:1 steering box gears, repop Warford aux. transmission, counterbalanced 8:1 head T engine, E-timer, foot throttle pedal, balanced and aligned transmission. Gotta figure out better brakes than the Rocky Mountain band type, probably some later mechanical drums. Think that'd make for a great driving T I could put a lot of miles on.

 

Yeah at this point there's nothing past 1940 on it


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What I'm currently up too still need to channel the grill to match body and cowl

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How's this? HRP

 

I follow you on Instagram. I didn't realize you were from Michigan--I grew up there. What part of the state?

 

My 26 T roadster has pretty much all prewar parts but a doodad here or there makes me feel like it's a post war car.

 

Oh yeah.. I just followed you back not long ago. I'm just north of Detroit in Oakland County. Where did you grow up?

 

I've lived just about everywhere except Metro Detroit and the UP. Born in Alpena, grew up in Muskegon/Whitehall, college in Mount Pleasant, then Kalamazoo, Lansing, back to Muskegon, Caro, and finally Bay City. We moved to Vermont in 2015.

 

Damn. That's a lot of moving! If I left this state I would go somewhere warmer. I loathe winter.

 

Here is my 32 Cabriolet - built somewhere in the early 40's (originally). I built a heavily modified 42 Merc engine for it (the old flathead in it was stock). It is running mechanical brakes and the same 16" adjustable spoke wire wheels that I found the car with. I've tried to keep it as close to how it was originally built as possible - though the interior was replaced with an early 40's style of leather (thin pleats).

 

I bought this 34 five wind 10 years ago with the SBC in it and it came with a 50 8ba. This year a buddy gave me this blower so now working on getting the flathead into the car with the blower.looking for the elusive 1352-145 T5 to go behind it.

 

I have a 1927 Model T tudor nice body , new custom tube frame, new built hipo inliner, debating on what grille I want to use for a finished look .

 

19caf, I don't mean to be a spoil sport, but these guys are talking about a car built with ALL pre-war parts. A late model flathead with a Magnachager, and new American five-spokes don't quite fit.

 

Got it ,thanks

 

I'm really sorry to hear this. Not that you're from MI, or that you're now not, it's the fact you grew up...

I know, I know...

 

Sounds like a nice project, with two fine cars to use for research. I've always wondered if the Model A Ford killed T speedsters in the same way the 1965 Mustang killed Hot Rods (for a short time), cheaper to buy from Detroit than build yourself. Bob

 

I'm building a 1939 P8 Plymouth business coupe. Going early 392 2×4bbl carb

 

Here is mine, almost finished


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With the exception of mine and 1 street rod (did I say that?) my shop's full of depresson-era prewar stuff. Ok, both WW I and WW II, there's a '14 Woods in there too.

Is this thing from MI? Might have been ours a long time ago, mid 70s. There's exposed welds in the jambs if it is. 28 coupe with a 30-31 roof isn't a common thing. It came from Hartford, CT back then, and had no rust or rot.

 

Mine. Certainly not a copy of any particular style, but there's nothing about it that doesn't fit that between the wars era.