The Ford Barn - View Single Post - English 180A de luxe pheaton in "The Restorer"

john charlton · 10-02-2017, 12:22 PM

I can see the pheaton has been "Americanised" so it has lost some of its English built features . Cowl lamps were not legal in UK as they did not mark the end of the vehicle . Fender lamps had to be fitted by law . Sadly the car has been changed by some one thinking that as it is a 180 A it surely must have cowl lights . I would love to look at the car to see if the fender lamp holes have been welded shut and filled .USA service men could bring a car into the UK and take one out when their tour of duty was over . It did not need to be the same car they brought in so many MGs, Model A Fords and sundry other"collector" cars . So please anyone visiting Hickory Corners check out the car to see what has escaped being changed to USA spec. Thes details will also indicate if you have what was once an English car .
Starting from the front and working to the back .

On the backside of the bumpers is stamped "WB" along the length at intervals also bumper irons and clamp backs are stamped . "WB" stands for "Willmot Breedon" an English sub contractor .
The rad shell has a stainless front hood rod clip .
The rad shell badge for 28/29 stayed the same style for 30 mid 31 it kept the reveal around the edge . These were made in England by the Frachini copany in Birmingham (ENG not AL)this enamelling company is still in business today .
The headlamps had no script as they were not "twolite" as only single bulb reflectors as the vehicles had fender lamps . Late 31 headlamps had stainless buttons over the rivet heads also the hemispherical "ball" at the mount was stainless also door latch stalk and "T" bar and little spring all stainless .Only the threaded stalk was mild steel .we knew about rust in England !!!
The carb was made by "Kayce" similar to the Zenith and had a smaller dia. venturi for the 3" inch bore AF engine .
Junction boxes and distributor caps etc etc. dark red/brown not black .
Round speedos made by "Cooper Stewart" and marked "Made in England" on the backside . Some late round speedos have the manufacturers mark on the dial .
Body rivets are not "waffle" but plain round finished .
Tailights had "Ford" not "Stop" in the lens .
There are many more differences, some bodies came in "Body in white" with no upholstery English interiors were different from USA with a lot of leather used especially in Briggs fordor bodies .
This pheaton would not have had a Briggs data plate on the cowl and the rivet holes would not have been drilled to take the plate . A oil can carrier would have been bolted to the cowl on the left side this to carry a round one pint oil can with threaded cap .

Hope this is of some interest ,I will try to get my son "Juggler" to post some English specific pictures .

John in windy ex "Maria" Suffolk County England .

10-02-2017, 12:22 PM	#1
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,373	English 180A de luxe pheaton in "The Restorer" I can see the pheaton has been "Americanised" so it has lost some of its English built features . Cowl lamps were not legal in UK as they did not mark the end of the vehicle . Fender lamps had to be fitted by law . Sadly the car has been changed by some one thinking that as it is a 180 A it surely must have cowl lights . I would love to look at the car to see if the fender lamp holes have been welded shut and filled .USA service men could bring a car into the UK and take one out when their tour of duty was over . It did not need to be the same car they brought in so many MGs, Model A Fords and sundry other"collector" cars . So please anyone visiting Hickory Corners check out the car to see what has escaped being changed to USA spec. Thes details will also indicate if you have what was once an English car . Starting from the front and working to the back . On the backside of the bumpers is stamped "WB" along the length at intervals also bumper irons and clamp backs are stamped . "WB" stands for "Willmot Breedon" an English sub contractor . The rad shell has a stainless front hood rod clip . The rad shell badge for 28/29 stayed the same style for 30 mid 31 it kept the reveal around the edge . These were made in England by the Frachini copany in Birmingham (ENG not AL)this enamelling company is still in business today . The headlamps had no script as they were not "twolite" as only single bulb reflectors as the vehicles had fender lamps . Late 31 headlamps had stainless buttons over the rivet heads also the hemispherical "ball" at the mount was stainless also door latch stalk and "T" bar and little spring all stainless .Only the threaded stalk was mild steel .we knew about rust in England !!! The carb was made by "Kayce" similar to the Zenith and had a smaller dia. venturi for the 3" inch bore AF engine . Junction boxes and distributor caps etc etc. dark red/brown not black . Round speedos made by "Cooper Stewart" and marked "Made in England" on the backside . Some late round speedos have the manufacturers mark on the dial . Body rivets are not "waffle" but plain round finished . Tailights had "Ford" not "Stop" in the lens . There are many more differences, some bodies came in "Body in white" with no upholstery English interiors were different from USA with a lot of leather used especially in Briggs fordor bodies . This pheaton would not have had a Briggs data plate on the cowl and the rivet holes would not have been drilled to take the plate . A oil can carrier would have been bolted to the cowl on the left side this to carry a round one pint oil can with threaded cap . Hope this is of some interest ,I will try to get my son "Juggler" to post some English specific pictures . John in windy ex "Maria" Suffolk County England .