The Ford Barn

mcgarrett · 11-16-2023, 09:44 AM

Did Ford ever offer a chrome headlight crossbar as factory installed for '30 or '31 cars? I can't seem to find any evidence that they did. All of the photos I've seen show only a black painted crossbar. Just curious...

AzBob · 11-16-2023, 10:44 AM

My 1930 Sport Coupe came to me with a chrome headlight crossbar. Like you, have seen no period photographic evidence of this. Maybe some previous restorer thought it would be a nice touch for additional bling.

Y-Blockhead · 11-16-2023, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzBob

My 1930 Sport Coupe came to me with a chrome headlight crossbar. Like you, have seen no period photographic evidence of this. Maybe some previous restorer thought it would be a nice touch for additional bling.

My '30 Town Sedan had a chrome headlight crossbar when I bought it also. I have never seen another so I assumed sometime in the Ol' Girls history someone had it chromed.

katy · 11-16-2023, 11:56 AM

Chrome or nickle?

Gary WA · 11-16-2023, 12:29 PM

No!

California Travieso · 11-16-2023, 01:11 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary WA

No!

Gary,
Is that the original owner? Some guys can’t let go of their cars!

David Serrano

Gary WA · 11-16-2023, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California Travieso

Gary,
Is that the original owner? Some guys can’t let go of their cars!

David Serrano

yes, Jerry a good friend of mine I told him he could travel with me always. RIP Jerry.

Bob-A · 11-17-2023, 03:43 PM

I picked up a chrome 29-29 cross bar some years ago, but never put it on any of my 29 cars. Many years ago when the FordBarn was young. Somebody showed a photo of a '31 Victoria that had a chrome headlight bar, chrome horn and chrome plated wire wheels! The photo was reportedly from the early 30's and looked it too.

I saved the pic, but lost it while replacing my PC at the time.

Bob-A

"Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

gdmn852 · 11-17-2023, 06:36 PM

Not documented original equipment, the first Ford having a bright work crossbar would be the 1932 , both Model B and V8 , that was between the head lights, center of the bar.

mcgarrett · 11-17-2023, 06:55 PM

I thought as much since I could find NO supporting documentation or factory photos showing a chrome bar. I knew about the '32s having them. A guy can wish can't he?

w.michael · 11-17-2023, 08:51 PM

My '29 60-B Fordor came from the previous owner with a very nice chromed headlight bar. I usually keep my cars as close to original as I can, but I like the looks of this bar, and I don't think I will change it. I'm almost certain there were no chromed headlight bars from the factory on any Model A's.

W. Michael

Marshall V. Daut · 11-17-2023, 09:10 PM

In the late 1960's a local collector had two 1930-31 Deluxe Roadsters, which was extremely rare for our part of the country where open Model A's were not good sellers back in the day due to the harsh weather. Anyway, this guy decided he liked chrome, so he had just about anything that was bolted to the body chrome plated, including all three SPLASH APRONS! Gaudiest-looking Model A I have ever seen. Barnum & Bailey would have been proud to put those circus cars in their parade through downtown. I think if it had been possible, the guy would have chrome plated the bodies, too! Chrome plating must have been more affordable back then, relatively speaking, long before the EPA stepped in and made plating an expensive proposition for us today. Using my Super 8mm camera, I recorded these cars being assembled with the newly-delivered chrome parts in 1968. Unfortunately, my projector bit the dust years ago, so I can't watch them anymore. Maybe that's a good thing. My stomach isn't as cast iron as it was 50 years ago. I think I might get sick now seeing what he did to those poor roadsters. YUCH!!!
Marshall

11-16-2023, 09:44 AM	#1
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Waxahachie, Texas Posts: 949	Chrome headlight crossbar? Did Ford ever offer a chrome headlight crossbar as factory installed for '30 or '31 cars? I can't seem to find any evidence that they did. All of the photos I've seen show only a black painted crossbar. Just curious...

11-16-2023, 10:44 AM	#2
AzBob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 130	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? My 1930 Sport Coupe came to me with a chrome headlight crossbar. Like you, have seen no period photographic evidence of this. Maybe some previous restorer thought it would be a nice touch for additional bling.

11-16-2023, 11:56 AM	#4
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? Chrome or nickle? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

11-16-2023, 12:29 PM	#5
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,105	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? No! __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com Last edited by Gary WA; 12-30-2023 at 02:35 PM.

11-17-2023, 03:43 PM	#8
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,138	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? I picked up a chrome 29-29 cross bar some years ago, but never put it on any of my 29 cars. Many years ago when the FordBarn was young. Somebody showed a photo of a '31 Victoria that had a chrome headlight bar, chrome horn and chrome plated wire wheels! The photo was reportedly from the early 30's and looked it too. I saved the pic, but lost it while replacing my PC at the time. Bob-A "Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

11-17-2023, 06:36 PM	#9
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 689	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? Not documented original equipment, the first Ford having a bright work crossbar would be the 1932 , both Model B and V8 , that was between the head lights, center of the bar.

11-17-2023, 06:55 PM	#10
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Waxahachie, Texas Posts: 949	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? I thought as much since I could find NO supporting documentation or factory photos showing a chrome bar. I knew about the '32s having them. A guy can wish can't he?

11-17-2023, 08:51 PM	#11
w.michael Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 418	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? My '29 60-B Fordor came from the previous owner with a very nice chromed headlight bar. I usually keep my cars as close to original as I can, but I like the looks of this bar, and I don't think I will change it. I'm almost certain there were no chromed headlight bars from the factory on any Model A's. W. Michael

11-17-2023, 09:10 PM	#12
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: Chrome headlight crossbar? In the late 1960's a local collector had two 1930-31 Deluxe Roadsters, which was extremely rare for our part of the country where open Model A's were not good sellers back in the day due to the harsh weather. Anyway, this guy decided he liked chrome, so he had just about anything that was bolted to the body chrome plated, including all three SPLASH APRONS! Gaudiest-looking Model A I have ever seen. Barnum & Bailey would have been proud to put those circus cars in their parade through downtown. I think if it had been possible, the guy would have chrome plated the bodies, too! Chrome plating must have been more affordable back then, relatively speaking, long before the EPA stepped in and made plating an expensive proposition for us today. Using my Super 8mm camera, I recorded these cars being assembled with the newly-delivered chrome parts in 1968. Unfortunately, my projector bit the dust years ago, so I can't watch them anymore. Maybe that's a good thing. My stomach isn't as cast iron as it was 50 years ago. I think I might get sick now seeing what he did to those poor roadsters. YUCH!!! Marshall Last edited by Marshall V. Daut; 11-17-2023 at 09:15 PM.