What do I really have

[whitetm]

I just purchase my first model A. I just had a vin check prior to registering it. I noticed the frame number starts with 393XXXX, which I believe was Sept of 1930 (the engine has a different number sense the engine was changed in 1998). It also has the 2 piece splash aprons, which I believe are from 1930. But it has the 1931 radiator shield and the round speedometer which tells me a late 30 or 31 speedo. From what previous registration show it to be a '31. So, I question what do I really have?

[Big hammer]

You may have a 50-51-52-53 the Johnny Cash song :-)
It maybe easier to keep what the registration says, everything could have been changed in the last 80 something years, one piece at a time. Back to that song it's stuck in my head!

[CarlG]

My pickup has a steel top which says: Late 31
It has the indented firewall, which says: Late 31
It has the narrow bed which says: not Late 31
It had a 28-29 headlight bar (I have since changed it out for a 30-31)
It has a 30 "car" radiator shell

But the title says it's a 1931, so that's what I'm leaving it.

[1930artdeco]

My car is the late 30 with split splash aprons and fenders like yours. And like yours my father switched out radiator shells because he liked the 31 over the 30. Or, someone swapped fenders at some point. Which body style do you have? Where are you located and we love pictures. By the way, welcome to the club!

Mike

[whitetm]

Thank you for the welcome and mine is a Tudor Sedan. I'll have to take some pictures to post. It is about 80% together. I need to put the interior back in. I offered a price to a guy that was going to flip it, thought if I offered him a decent price before he completed the car I could get a better deal. Plus, I love playing with cars. I also have a '27 Tudor Coupe to restore and I have a '71 fiat 124 spider that I fully restored, which my wife loves driving it. It's like driving a go-cart it corners great.

[SeaSlugs]

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Originally Posted by CarlG

My pickup has a steel top which says: Late 31
It has the indented firewall, which says: Late 31
It has the narrow bed which says: not Late 31
It had a 28-29 headlight bar (I have since changed it out for a 30-31)
It has a 30 "car" radiator shell

But the title says it's a 1931, so that's what I'm leaving it.

Yea, if it looks kinda like a bear and someone tells you its a bear best to believe them it is a bear...

But there are people out there who must enjoy going to the DMV so they can get their bear 100% certified as a bear

[redmodelt]

Re; "71 fiat 124 spider", yes they are a fun car to drive. I had one too.

[Mike V. Florida]

OK if you really want to know what you have you will need a copy of the Guidelines. This will give you the small details on the parts in the car to help zero it in. The majority year month wins.

There is also Steve Plucker that has numerous studies that show specific parts and years such as this one for the front crank bearing,

Starting_Crank_Bearing.pdf