1931 Roadster pickup

[26Tudor]

I just found one in this tiny little town, it's an indented firewall '31, the body is 99.99% rust free. The guy bought it in 1965, took it apart, and tagged and bagged everything, then never did anything else. He's 82 now, and has come to the realization that he won't ever be able to do anything with it. It has the fenderwell spare tire fenders on both sides, the (as far as he knew in 1963) original engine, original perfect chassis, splash aprons, rear fenders, even the original non-peaked radiator shell.
He wants 4,000 for it, but I know I could get it for 3,500.
The question is, is it worth it?

[Will Kimble]

Would be in my garage by now...

[wardkew]

What town did you say you lived in?? My trailer is already hitched up.

[HoarseWhisperer]

That's way too much money; don't do it!

You can tell the owner that I will remove that trash from his property for little or no fee.

For the environment's sake.

[peters180a/170b]

Why ? Why ? Why ? is it not in your hands? $4,000.00 [look what a brookville repro . body cost alone. A rare truck !!! One thing to check out and very hard to find!!! THE WINDSHIELD STANCHIONS ![Hens teeth] But that would not stop me from buying that truck. Good luck , when you get it..... let us know...

[Charlie Stephens]

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I have an early 1931 RDPU (small bed like the one you are looking at but no indented firewall). According to "The Ford Model A As Henry Built It" the truck went to the larger bed in May of 1931. If I was looking for another one I wouldn't even think twice about buying that one, he would have the money and I would have it in my garage. As far as the radiator shell goes the pickup needs the one with the peak. The straight across one was used on the AA with a thicker radiator. According to an old Ford Life Magazine article they made 2637 open cab trucks including pickups and the ones on the AA chassis. How is the paperwork on it?

Charlie Stephens

[marc hildebrant]

Great Buy !

Marc

[TinCup]

Talk about a no brainer.
As you can tell from the other posts If you have the space and the money you should have already towed it home.

Good Luck with a great find.

[Charlie Stephens]

It may just be a trick of the camera but the wheel wells look too wide. Does anyone else agree with me on this? I would still buy it and if the wells are too wide trade them to a street rodder. For reference my wheel wells are 6 1/4 inches wide in the center of the opening at the fender level. I wonder if the fenders are from a AA since the radiator shell if from a AA and it looks like a farm in the background? But the bottom line is if you like it and are willing to put a little work in to fix it up buy it because you will probably not find another one in that condition at that price

Charlie Stephens

UPDATE: 26Tudor measured the wells and they are correct. He got 6 1/8 which is close enough. Must have been the camera angle or maybe I just need glasses.

Charlie Stephens

[26Tudor]

To the poster that asked about the paperwork-
He has the title, dated 1965, in his name, when he bought it.

[Tim]

Hand him $4500 it's still a deal. that is a great opportunity for a really unbelievable piece.


Tim

[29RPU]

Make it a done deal.

The wheel wells look proper to me. 30-31 would be slightly larger than the earlier because of tire right?

[Model A Man]

I would pay $6,000.00 in a heart beat and still think that would be a cheap price

[Dan Baron]

If you don't want it I'll take it...I'm still looking for a new truck. Sorry that would be a new "old" truck. Good luck in your new find. We all know of a guy who has things like this, that will never do anything with them and won't sell a thing. Then they pass away and the family gets ripped off by vultures. At least this guy is willing to let things go. Again good luck you lucky bastard.

[Roadster62]

Hell yes! Don't be an ass pay the guy FULL ASKING PRICE!

[Charlie Stephens]

Time for a confession. With one exception I like the '32 body styles better than the Model A. I like a '32 roadster better than a Model A roadster. I like a '32 sedan better than a Model A sedan and so on throughout the list of body styles that were available both years. What is that one exception? I like the '30-'31 roadster pickups better than the '32 roadster pickups (although due to their novelty I would probably take one if it was forced on me). The Model A roadster pickups used the smooth flowing cowl section from a roadster/phaeton while the '32 roadster pickups had a unique commercial looking cowl that looked like it belonged on a jeep. I should note here that the reproduction '32 roadster pickup by Brookville uses the cowl section from a roadster.

Charlie Stephens

[Chris in WNC]

BUY IT RIGHT NOW!!!!

then start looking for a good non-welled fender for the passenger side.
it will look much better (like a proper truck) with only one sidemount.

I keep looking. someday it will be MY turn to find a gem like this.

enjoy!

[1931 flamingo]

If nothing else, BUY IT and flip it or at least save it from someone who may cut it up. JMO If avail I would buy it.
Paul in CT

[26Tudor]

Thanks for all the opinions, guys.
I will most likely buy it, but I am afraid I could end up having to sell it again it I get laid off from work (which, as it stands right now, is a VERY distinct possibility).
If that happens, I will contact the folks who have voiced an interest in it, in the order they posted on this thread about it.
Here's a few more photos of it... the guy says he has every single piece and part for the truck, windshield stanchion and frame, near perfect chassis, every nut and bolt that came off the car... He was a Mechanical Engineer, so I have a feeling he did, in fact, "tag and bag" everything

[Mitch]

For goodness sake. The body alone is worth more than $4,000 to me. Original stantions? Whoah.

[cradlescyth]

Hi
Does he llive in Mass???

[Ron in Quincy]

Using AA well fenders was a trick we used years ago if you were going to install 35 Ford 16" wheels; they fit in the wells without deflating the tire.

Ron

[26Tudor]

Okay, Mitch, if I don't get to keep the car due to financial hardship, you're on the list....
Cradlescyth, he couldn't be farther away from MA if he tried....But that's all I am going to say, until I have it in my garage..

[Model T Monte]

Yep, It`s a cinch your gettin laid off. I`ll go ahead an take so you won`t have to struggle. Lets see, if you give 3500. I can give at least 3250. Monte

[26Tudor]

Monte, your generosity and open heart are truly heart warming. 8=)
If I DO get it, and have to sell it, I'm sure not gonna give it away....
If I have to sell it, that will be ONLY because I need every danged penny I can get my hands on.

[CWPASADENA]

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Originally Posted by 26Tudor

If I DO get it, and have to sell it, I'm sure not gonna give it away....
If I have to sell it, that will be ONLY because I need every danged penny I can get my hands on.

I do not blame you. When things are tough, you have to take care of your own needs and those of your family.

What you pay for something is irrelavent. If you do have to sell it, you should get Fair Market Price for it.

This will make a nice piece when finished and it looks like it is in very good condition to start with.

I hope it would go to someone who would do it justice and not to some one who will chop it up and put a "350-350-9 inch" in it. Those guys can buy a Brookville and have at it.

I really like the 30-31 Roadster P.Us and would like to see this one put back together.

Good luck with your "find" and I hope things work out for you.

[1931 flamingo]

Vince, I don't think the previous poster meant the whole fender, just install the AA wells.
Paul in CT

[26Tudor]

He says he has the windshield stanchions he took off in 1963, He said the chrome isn't too good anymore, but they weren't pitted or anything, last time he actually unwrapped them and saw them (I guess, from what he said, about 12-15 years ago)
I expect to have the cash together Monday, and plan on borrowing a friend's truck and trailer, and heading over to his house and shop, cash in hand.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by forever4

Hey Pete,
See what I mean about good stuff at good prices still available to those who hunt?
Right in your backyard even!

Hell, I bet it even comes with a big box of NOS Ford hoses, fan belts, tire valve hardware etc. the guy collected for it in 1963! Look at that rad shell!

Note to self: Resist the urge to kick any dog turds found laying around the forum!

[RichardW]

I am no expert but can someone tell me what is going on with the outside door handles?

Never mind, I am used to seeing closed pickups where the handle is higher.

[Roadster62]

Give us a hint, thay are on the OUTSIDE, now what?

Originally Posted by RichardW

i am no expert but can someone tell me what is going on with the outside door handles?

[Mitch]

My understanding is that the original stanchions were not chrome, but painted. Of course I'm no expert.

[Purdy Swoft]

The radiator shell looks great but is for a AA truck and won't work with a passenger car or pickup radiator. The AA radiators were thicker and the radiator shells didn't have the widows peak. The shell pictured doesn't have the widows peak and has the stainless emblem as used with AA trucks.

[26Tudor]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

The radiator shell looks great but is for a AA truck and won't work with a passenger car or pickup radiator. The AA radiators were thicker and the radiator shells didn't have the widows peak. The shell pictured doesn't have the widows peak and has the stainless emblem as used with AA trucks.

True that, sir, but he has quite a few of the passenger car radiator shells, and I am going to be able to not only keep the AA shell, but "cherry pick" the best of the Passenger Car shells he has amassed over the years. There is one on the trailer with the body that looked 99.9% perfect to me, but he said he has a better one than that, he just has to dig it out of storage.
I'm going to give him the $$ tomorrow, but won't be able to transport the car until next weekend. I'll know more then...
Here's one of the original photos Iposted, showing the Passenger Car radiator shell

[jimnungesser]

yes, it is worth $4,000. You need to determine if it has a wide bed, top bows and windshield, because these can be costly.

Jim , 31 SW FORDOOR

[26Tudor]

I know the top bows are there, they are inside the body now, you can see parts of them in some of the photographs on this thread. The windshield frame and stanchions are there. The Wide Bed part, I'm not sure, there seems to be some confusion about the bed on it on this forum right now... it's what the guy bought in 1965, that much I DO know.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by 26Tudor

I know the top bows are there, they are inside the body now, you can see parts of them in some of the photographs on this thread. The windshield frame and stanchions are there. The Wide Bed part, I'm not sure, there seems to be some confusion about the bed on it on this forum right now... it's what the guy bought in 1963, that much I DO know.

You definitely have a narrow bed. Go to the illustrations of the tailgates in some of the vendor catalogs and look at the lower corners of the tailgate. Yours are rounded like the narrow bed not square like the wide bed. There is an illustration at https://www.mackhils.com/mack_produc...?CategoryNo=20
but it is not very clear (if you click on the illustration it will blow it up so you can see what I mean). This is a good supplier for truck unique parts. The wide bed probably carried more cargo but I prefer the look of the narrow bed. There is also more detail (raised belt areas) on the side of the narrow bed which makes it look better. One other thing to watch for is the windshield wiper. It was used on '30-'31 open cab trucks and '32 open cars. The correct windshield wiper is an expensive part.

Charlie Stephens

[26Tudor]

Charlie, thanks for the info.
I talked with the owner tonite (a few minutes ago, actually) and he did state that the truck is, indeed, a "narrow bed" truck, and he has the correct fenders, as they are wider than the "wide bed" rear fenders.
I'm going over tomorrow to pay the guy, and I'll check the windshield wiper while I'm there

[rollingsculpture]

what a great find , good job ! let me know if you want to sell the AA shell i could use it for my project.

[26Tudor]

It's mine 8=)


I have until the end of the month to pick through what I want for the truck, he has offered another passenger's side non-welled fender to go along with it, along with a no-hole splash apron. he has the block that came out of the car in 1963, and the chassis # corresponds with the # on the title.
He took EVERYTHING apart, including the rear end, and there is boxes of parts, new king pins, bearings, etc etc. After I am done, his son is going to come up and get the rest, including the 28-29 RPU body and chassis, and all the rest of the stuff.
The windshield stanchions are/were chrome, but have a little rust on them, but nothing a re-chome wouldn't make beautiful again. I m also getting the commercial painted headlights, and a set of passenger car ones as well.
The speedo is a Stewart-Warner, that he says he had rebuilt back in the 70's sometime.
Everything is NOT "tagged and bagged" as I was told it was... there are 5 gallon buckets of bolts and nuts and washers.
I now am the proud owner of a giant jigsaw puzzle 8=)
Oh, and the windshield frame is no peach, has some rust/separation on the bottom channel, and the chrome is shot, but I think it's fixable, and although I didn't actually see it, he says he has both an electric and a vacuum wiper assembly for it...

[Charlie Stephens]

Things seem to be going well. Just paint the stanctions black like they were originally and save the cost of chrome. My '31 RDPU currently sports passenger stainless but my tastes have changed over the years and the correct parts will go black in the future. Be sure to put the rear end back together with 3.54 gears (it may have 4.11 in it now). The windshield frame is common with the standard roadster and I think they make a repro.

Charlie Stephens

[26Tudor]

Charlie, now that RDPU is officially mine, I can tell you- I am in Crescent City, CA... if you go up the 101, and get to a sign that says "Welcome to Oregon" you missed us by about 20 miles... we are smack dab in the middle of the redwoods, on the coast (which is amazing that the truck is still in one piece, most Model A's up here don't exist from the door handles down anymore) it's obvious that this truck has been in a warm, dry, garage all it's life since 1965 (that is the year on the title, I thought it was '63, but it is 1965....)
It came from Sacramento in '65, then got taken apart, nd it sat, and sat, and... sat some more...

[29RPU]

Congrats!, Nice to have it home huh? Keep us posted.

[26Tudor]

Actually, it isn't home yet, I just paid the guy, and got a box of "goodies"... original cowl lights, tail lights, commercial headlights, NOS kingpins and some bearings, and other trinkets and treasures. I need to move a bunch of stuff in the garage to make room for all the stuff, move the Model T to a friend's house, and the guy's wife made me promise it would all be gone from their place by the end of this month.. I have family here from San Diego, I work full time, and I have our local car club's car shw coming up on the 21st.... so I am going to be a very busy guy for the next few weeks.

[Model A Man]

I have been looking for a 30/31 open cab pick up for a long time. everything I have come across wasn't what I was looking for. You got lucky, congrats. It gives me hope that some day I may find one to bring home. Good luck and keep us posted on the progess

[26Tudor]

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Model A Man, I sent you a PM a day or so ago. Did you get it?

[Chris in WNC]

personal opinion-: find a correct '31 commercial shell.

trucks all look better without stainless radiator shells, lights and cowl bands.

[26Tudor]

Well, I got most of it home today, except for a pickup load of parts that my friend has (we were running late, the previous owner likes to talk, and by the time we were done loading everything, my friend had to head straight for work, but he'll be by tomorrow morning to drop the rest off.)
This guy had a shop full of Model A parts, and he was trying to figure out what went with the RDPU, what went with the 1929 RDPU his son is going to come and get and street rod after I am done getting what I am supposed to have.
So far, I know I still need to find the lower windshield stanchion supports, the "ram's horn" that secures them to the body, the extra commercial headlight lens he says he has to replace the one that has a small hole in it, the pedal assembly, and the front and rear springs. He swears he has all of this stuff, and he should because he took apart a running driving truck in 1965, but finding it all is proving to be a real exercise...
The main body has a little more rust than I initially saw, but certainly nothing major. I already got both doors to open and close again with some PB Blaster, but the passenger's side lower hinge is only secured by one screw, so it's kinda loose.
The fenders are in impeccable shape, but the extra, non-welled one for the passenger's side is the wrong one, it appears to be a 1930 fender with the short piece of splash apron welded to it...The bed is really really nice, tailgate is near mint, bumpers need re-chroming but they appear to be all there with the brackets, and it looks as though all the top hardware is there, but the wood in the top main bow is kinda shot.
I'd like to send out a public Thank You to Charlie Stephens- he has patiently answered many of my questions, which I am sure have taken up a lot of his time.
Unfortunately, after all of this, it appears that due to an impending job loss, the truck will end up being for sale. Once I get all the parts I can from this guy, so that I know what I have to sell, I'll be putting it on all the internet Model A boards, including this one.
I do know that the chassis # is A4770080, which, as far as I can tell, is June/July of 1931 production, and the 2 engine blocks I got are #'s A-1427306 (April 1929) and A-3813312 (August 1930) so neither are actually correct for the truck. Thankfully, the Pink Slip (title) has the chassis number on it for the VIN, so that's not a worry....
PS he does NOT have the wiper for it, he has an electric and a vacuum motor, I believe, but nOT the wiper.

[Model A Man]

Originally Posted by 26Tudor

Model A Man, I sent you a PM a day or so ago. Did you get it?

I did read it PM today. I have to pass but thanks

[26Tudor]

No Problem, sir. I have notified everyone that voiced an interest in it, in the order I saw the posts, and received the PM's.

[26Tudor]

Gentlemen, the 1931 indented firewall Roadster Pickup is officially for sale. My last day at work was last Friday, the 13th (figures), for who knows how long?
I haven't had the chance to get more detailed photos yet, and am taking off next week to kinda clear my head, then I'll drag everything out, piece by piece, photograph it, and stick it all in a Photobucket account.
I'm going to ask $7,000.00, which, as I understand it from the fine folks on here, not a bad price for this truck.
I hate to see it go so soon after I got it, but I guess better now, than after I have a chance to fall in love with it.

[anut]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

Great Buy !

Marc

tell that 82 year old to keep his truck i am 83 and will start on my ar 28 roadster pick up this fall cant wait till it cools off so i can start sand blasting

[1931 flamingo]

Goood luck with the job. Ive been out of work 19+ months and still looking.
Paul in CT

[26Tudor]

Great, Flamingo, just what I needed to hear, LOL.
I hope you find something soon, and hope I do, as well, but it's not easy up here in the redwoods for a 59 year old guy to find work anymore.
BTW, it's posted in the classifieds now....

[1931 flamingo]

I'll be 66 in oct so even bleaker for me.
Paul in CT

[azmodela]

Hmmm... interesting... I didn't know you were out of work!

[26Tudor]

Yes, sir, as of last friday, the 13th (figures, I'm not superstitious, but JEEZ), I am.

[FL&WVMIKE]

26Tudor .................
Tell us more ! Did you buy it ? Did you get it home ? That is a real find !
Thanks,
MIKE

[Steve Plucker]

Can you tell us if there is an assembly plant code associated with the body? It would be located of the body's sub floor rail for which the front seat riser is riveted to on the body. The code would be directly behind the heel of your feet as you sit in the front seat or any where along that rail.


A4770080 was stamped at the Ford Factory in Dearborn on July 20, 1931.

Pluck

[26Tudor]

FL & WV Mike, I did get the truck home, and I am going to have to sell it due to some bad luck on the job front.
Steve, I'm headed out tomorrow for about a week, but when I get back, I'll check the sub rail, and report back on this thread.
Thanks for all the help, gentlemen, wish I didn't have to sell it, but Family First.

[Ghost of elmirage]

the body alone is worth four grand

[Ghost of elmirage]

sellit all separate you'll make a small fortune Good luck

[azmodela]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

For starters, I sure hope you don't lose your job. I've been thru that in the past it's not much fun. Strikes, lockouts the whole she-bang. But things seem to work out somehow.

Secondly, as nice as this truck is, IF you have to sell, I pray it winds up in the hands of a restorer not a street rod/hot rod guy.

I don't think he lost his job as he indicated...

[26Tudor]

Guys, thanks for all the positive energy and support. I DID lose my job. HOWEVER, when my wife and I headed to the Bay Area of CA to sorta clear my head and figure out what to do next, I got an e-mail from someone, who recognized my e-mail, or part of it, at least. He asked if I was who he thought I was, and with some trepidation, I answered "yes" and then found out it was a guy I knew from back when I worked for the VW magazines, I photographed his awesome '66 Bug (laugh all you want; an all steel, street driven daily, high 11 second in the 1/4 mile VW Bug is something to behold), and he was interested in the '31, and I know he is going to restore it, not hot rod it, so, I sold it to him. Probably less than an hour later, I get a call from the School District, asking me if I can be back in town for an interview for a full-time, year around, benefits, 14 paid Holidays a year, PERS retirement, job. I really didn't think I had a snowball's chance in hell of getting the job, but we cut the vacation short, I went to the interview, and lo and behold, less than an hour later, they called me and told me I got the job. If I had known ANY of this job stuff (being hired back as a full-time, benefitted, Monday-Friday weekends off) was going to happen, the '31 would have never been for sale. But I made a deal with an old friend, and even though it was less than 24 hours later that I found out I wasn't going to have to sell it, the fact remained that I had made the deal, and I don't go back on deals.(I'm a firm believer in the premise that if a man isn't good for his word, then he isn't good for much of anything)
He got a good deal, I know this thanks to all the help on this forum. BUT, (1) it's going to a friend, and (2) it isn't going to end up with a 350/350/9 inch in it, he is currently looking for a July '31 block....
Thanks again for all of your help, gents, it's kinda funny how life works out sometimes.
I know I'll never have another shot at a score like this, and it's always been a dream of mine to have a Ford Roadster (although, having one where it rains 80-100 inches a year isn't entirely practical), who knows what tomorrow will bring? I found ONE, maybe I'll find another...

[1931 flamingo]

best of luck to you
Paul in CT

[26Tudor]

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I understand what you're saying, Jeff, but I am the one that made the deal, and I figure everything happens for a reason. I don't mind him having it, as I know he will do the truck justice.

[azmodela]

Still interesting Kafer Dave... Why don't you just come out and admit that you didn't lose your job and your intention was to "flip" the A?

There are lots of people on here that flip cars and other things, honesty doesn't hurt...

[26Tudor]

azmodela, you pay for the polygraph, and I'll take it.
I can also furnish a layoff notice, effective August 13th, 2010, from the School District.