Is it a 31', 30' or 29' model A truck

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by pookie55

Just an update. After speaking with the owner today at the auction house it is a bill of sale and he will title it with whatever #s I choose (is the way he put it) send me what information you have and I'll have a title for you in 6 weeks.
He assured me there will be no issue titling it a 30 or 31

My dilemma is if I use 1931 what numbers would I choose?
Can I use the stamped numbers that is on the cross member? Obviously this number dictates the assembly plant and rotation number it was built. If so I believe I can order a firewall tag to match. would that be legal? I think I do need to contact the DMV I just thought I would ask all the other model a guys there advice on what to do.

The firewall tag was only the body number for bodies built for Ford on a subcontract. These numbers were not tracked nor were they used for registration. Of course some DMV's don't know what they are doing on the old vehicles. The numbers should approximate those in this table: http://mafca.com/data_eng_production.html Let the DMV assign their own number.

Charlie Stephens

[Tom Wesenberg]

Is the engine the factory number in rough cast?
If it's been ground or machined and restamped, then I'd restamp it with a 31 number to go with your later 31 cab. Remember during the depression there was considerable lag time and your engine could have been made at least 4 months before the truck was assembled.

If it was mine, the frame and engine would have a 31 number to go with a 31 title. Restamping to repair a damaged vehicle isn't illegal, but restamping to steal or deceive is.

[pookie55]

the cab shows no sign of ever having a tag on firewall which tells me it was built by ford and not a subcontractor.I have yet to contact the DMV for there advice..
i have looked at the engine code #s that indicate mid. yr. dating.
As for the engine # on left side of block, they look clear and untouched.
I do believe frame stamping is of a later dated frame and is a 31..

[JDupuis]

Good morning Pookie, quite a dilema you have. As the cab is a 1931; I've veiwed your photo album a couple times (check it out guys). The first thing I see about the truck is the 1930 rad shell, then the 1930 splash aprons. My first impressions seeing your truck at a cruise night would be "cool Model A": oh look it's a 1930!! As per reasons I stated above. It would not occur to me about the all steel roof, till I've really spent a couple minutes studying all the details. As you have numbers that claim it to be a 1930 chassis. I would be inclined to follow a path of least resistance with your DMV and register it as a 1930.
You always tell folks a folklore story that it was a proto type for the later 1931's. Lol
Just my insight. Jeff

[pookie55]

Hi jDupuis, i recall reading somewhere that the new style rad shells were only used on the vicky's until later in the year. hmmm. And yes the front portion of the splash aprons are made on the front fenders..Also the chassis #s indicate mid to late 30's i'm wondering if this chassis was sitting around with others chassis's waiting to be mated up at a later date when needed. with parts being shipped on rail and ships some times parts were delayed for weeks.
Ford always made (and still do today)change-over to new models at mid year.
We all know parts were stock pilled and used until depleted.
maybe wishful thinking or I've misread old articles.
P.S. i will be out and about this year at car shows to show off the truck..

[Charlie Stephens]

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Originally Posted by pookie55

the cab shows no sign of ever having a tag on firewall which tells me it was built by ford and not a subcontractor.I have yet to contact the DMV for there advice..
i have looked at the engine code #s that indicate mid. yr. dating.
As for the engine # on left side of block, they look clear and untouched.
I do believe frame stamping is of a later dated frame and is a 31..

If the frame # is later '31 it matches the steel roof so I would go with that. The DMV likes to use the frame numbers. Can you read it and what is it? Use XXX for the last 3 digits. Photos?

Charlie Stephens

[Bob C]

With cowl lights and stainless radiator shell,cowl band and headlights who knows
what has been changed. I would not seek advice from the DMV, use AAA if possible.

Bob

[pookie55]

I've never heard of using AAA

[JDupuis]

My Canadian guess would be American Auto Association? If not that...my next guess is it's a battery size? Eh? Jeff

[pookie55]

I've heard of AAA but thought they were insurance co. not vin. locators..

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by pookie55

the cab shows no sign of ever having a tag on firewall which tells me it was built by ford and not a subcontractor.I have yet to contact the DMV for there advice..
i have looked at the engine code #s that indicate mid. yr. dating.
As for the engine # on left side of block, they look clear and untouched.
I do believe frame stamping is of a later dated frame and is a 31..

You have to think of it this way, if the DMV were to inspect the truck where would they go to look for the vin? In my opinion that is the number location you will have to use.

Remember the title is just a piece of paper no one will know and most won't care even when you sell it, that what you say it is, (as proven by documentation) and what the paperwork says don't match.

[Mike V. Florida]

Here is some info on the radiator cover;

RADIATOR SHELL
For January through June 1930 AA's with the 76-A Open Cab,
82-A Closed Cab or 85-A Panel Delivery used the A commercial
radiator shell which was dipped, gloss black enamel. Refer to
Area 15.
1931 AA body types 270-A, 275-A, 280-A, 285-A, and 300-A
used an AA stainless steel radiator shell. Other AA' s, with 1930-
1931 body types, used an AA dipped, gloss black enamel, steel r---..
radiator shell as shown in figure 4. Both AA radiator shells were
of the same design.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by pookie55

I've heard of AAA but thought they were insurance co. not vin. locators..

Check this link for services, see #2. http://www.calif.aaa.com/home/member.../why-join.html

Bob

[pookie55]

The only number that's visible is the engine vin. number.(April 29')(trucks Definitely not a 29.) truck has no tag on the firewall as it was not built by a subcontractor. I never believed that people would be okay with purchasing a vehicle labeled one thing and it's actually something different. Obviously that's my situation with proving truck as being 30 or 31.
Thanks Mike for the radiator shell break down on A/AA commercial trucks.

[5window]

AAA offers lots of services including registration and title work -but it varies by state. Yours is here: https://www.hoosier.aaa.com/.

The AAA was founded in 1902 but long before Pennsylvania joined, there was the Pennsylvania Motor Federation (1906) . If you look at some old AAA badges, it will have PMF stamped on them, too.

[pookie55]

thanks i'll look into the AAA

[jm29henry]

Pooky55 I believe the truck body was made by Budd co. ,if the truck has an indented fire wall it would definitely be a 31 especially if it has a steel roof like this truck

[jm29henry]

Hopefully this will help!

[pookie55]

Thanks jm29henry the truck does have the indented firewall and the steel roof

[pookie55]

And yes it was built by budd