I’m looking for some info and pictures on 31 deluxe phaetons. From what I read the front door is around a foot longer than a regular roadster door on a 4dr phaeton? Is the overall length of the body the same from 2dr to 4dr? What does the interior look like - does it still have the sheet metal back between the front and rear seats? I’ve found some pictures of exterior but little to none of the interior. this is the closest pic to an interior I’ve found. Seems like there is no rounded metal tub back between the front seats and rear seats like in the 4dr? Possibly because of the lack of a B pillar on this style?
All the Model A passenger car body styles go on the same frame. The two door phaeton has a long door to ease access to the rear seat. The four door phaeton has front door similar to a Roadster, but I doubt they would interchange. Note the distance from rear fender to rear edge of front door. Hope this gets you started. I sure others will provide more detail.
Those bodies are hard to find!!!! Hang on to it and do it justice. You can google it and likely find a fair amount of info. Search for "Fabulous Phaeton" or Fancy Phaeton" Don't remember which name it went by but I've seen it on here before. Tim
The body I posted is not mine, just what I found on the internet. I’ve read the deluxe door is the same style as a regular 31 roadster door but 1ft longer. Looks like the front seat doesn’t have a metal tub back like the 4dr. I have a line on a 4dr body that’s kind of rough, could be neat to extend the front doors and weld solid the rear section. Seems like thats all that’s really different. With some door measurements it seems relatively straight forward from the pics
I thought the front seats were similar to the 2dr sedan, in that they tilt forward to allow the back seat passengers in. And the door construction is a wooden inner structure That had turnbuckles on a wire cross bracing to allow for twisting the door alignment , on the one original I saw once a long time ago.
Purported of 1931 Fords produced (5 million between 1928 and 1931) approximately only 2,229 of the top of the range De Luxe 2-Door Phaetons (Model 180A) were produced. The doors appear to be tudor length with front bucket seats and access for rear seat passengers. A rare car! https://www.volocars.com/vehicles/13984/1931-ford-model-a-deluxe-2dr-phaeton
The belt line around the back of the body is totally different on the deluxe. I looked at doing similar 30 odd years ago but decided it was too big a job that probably wouldn't look right.
The Deluxe phaeton's body was built by Briggs for Ford. The inner body structure is all wood with a sheet metal skin. I don't have any dimensions, but here's a few pics. It also has custom cross bracing for added strength.
Wow the responses already are amazing. I’d love a door width measurement. If I acquire the 4dr I’m looking at I’d highly consider lengthening the door. I wouldn’t be trying to pass it off as a real deluxe, just like the 2dr styling much better. I’d leave the rear bead alone, not trying to fake out anyone! I love these, haul around the whole family! On a deuce frame highboy or fendered, can’t go wrong
I couldn’t find a drawing for a 31 deluxe phaeton, but I found almost all others. The 4dr phaeton doors are 23” and change: The 31 convertible sedan looks proportionally almost identical in the doors/section after the door before the rear fender. It measures 33” and change and aligns with what I’ve read that the deluxe doors are around a foot longer than a 4dr front door. Also for anyone wondering, per the drawing the 2dr roadster doors are the same as the 4dr phaeton fronts. I’ve also read a few threads where guys used new brookeville doors on their phaeton builds so that aligns with that notion as well.
Were many of the Phaetons delivered 'car in a crate' IKEA style? I have seen some discussion on one found still in the crate packaging.
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