Model A Town Car

[TerryH]

I have posted some photos before of the 1929 Town Car owned by the Lyon Automotive Collection in Southern California. It was purchased from the Harrah Collection in the late 1980’s as part of a very large deal completed by the late Gen. William Lyon, involving dozens of cars. This car was exhibited again today at a special event, so I was able to take a few more photos. One is very interesting…..it is a closeup of the divider window between the front and rear compartment, showing how the glass was shaped to fit that area…..not straight at all!

[mercman from oz]

Absolutely beautiful 1929 Model A Ford Town Car.

[chrs1961815]

The town cars are quite interesting aren't they? Don't see a lot of them, always welcome to see one.

[nkaminar]

I see 1/4 turn fasteners. Were these used to put a top over where the chauffer was seated when it rained?

[ronn]

you are correct nk- cloth top goes over drivers compartment.

and yes, the side divider glass is curved-would have to be custom made today unless you cheated with plexi....

because these cars are so unobtanium, I seriously thought to build a copy from a blindback-which would have suited me fine, in relation to what an original goes for- but then I found a Pierce club sedan and am more then happy with that, for pennies on the dollar. sometimes just have to think a bit differently as to what your end goal is and mine is to have fun.

[WTSHNN]

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Here is a picture of the top in place.

(click to enlarge)

701cd922e604d2bea85161fb2390a603.jpg

[katy]

This car was exhibited again today at a special event

Where was this "special event"?

[SDJason]

Originally Posted by katy

Where was this "special event"?

My guess would be at the Lyon Air Museum, next to John Wayne Airport (between Costa Mesa and Irvine)

Also, TerryH: thank you for posting - I had no idea they are holding a special "Ford Exhibit" - I think that's worth the hour drive for me to see

[TerryH]

Yes, it was at the Lyon Air Museum….. a special one day exhibit for Ford Company cars produced before 1970. It wasn’t well publicized, for some reason. We were sent an invitation to exhibit our cars……so I took along my 1930 Town Sedan. I was surprised there was only two Model A’s….mine, and a 1929 RCP, and one older, brass era Model T, but lots of 50’s and 60’s stuff.

[jayvee34]

Never knew Ford had a Chauffer type car!! First one I have ever seen.
I guess Henry and Edsel both had chauffer's.

That is a beautiful car. Thanks for sharing.

[Bob Johnson]

Originally Posted by ronn

you are correct nk- cloth top goes over drivers compartment.

and yes, the side divider glass is curved-would have to be custom made today unless you cheated with plexi....

because these cars are so unobtanium, I seriously thought to build a copy from a blindback-which would have suited me fine, in relation to what an original goes for- but then I found a Pierce club sedan and am more then happy with that, for pennies on the dollar. sometimes just have to think a bit differently as to what your end goal is and mine is to have fun.

Tim Kelly and I had several sets of curved glass for the partition made several years ago. We made extras. I have a spare set.


Bob Johnson

[Gene F]

Originally Posted by jayvee34

Never knew Ford had a Chauffer type car!! First one I have ever seen.
I guess Henry and Edsel both had chauffer's.

That is a beautiful car. Thanks for sharing.

Henry had his own daily driver. It was a 1929 Coupe (Washington Blue)

[Brad in Germany]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I see 1/4 turn fasteners. Were these used to put a top over where the chauffer was seated when it rained?

Those "Common Sense Fasteners" are also used to hold on the rear bracket of the driver's compartment roof side bolsters, thus way the side ones look taller.

Brad in Maryland

[TerryO]

I saw one from a distance in New Hampshire a few weeks ago at the national tour but didn't get to check it out up close.
TOB

[mercman from oz]

1929 Model A Ford Town Car. Very desirable and interesting cars.

[mercman from oz]

Early Black & White photo with the Top in place.

[BrianH]

I drove by there yesterday 7-25 and it's still there.

[TerryH]

Yes, it was separate from the Saturday only invited exhibit of pre-1970 Ford produced cars. The cars inside were already there for awhile as part of a longer running Ford exhibit. Not sure how much longer they will be there…….

[lrf]

I've been reading fordbarn for about two years now and more than once wanted to respond to different subjects but was a bit concerned about my computer illiteracy. Well I have to respond about the Town Car at Lyons Air Museum, talked to them and they said
the Town Car plus other Fords will be there until Sept. 6, 2021 Labor Day.

[ronn]

dont be concerned- this is how we ALL learn........

thanks

[77Birdman]

Does anyone know the total production of the town car? I have seen a few restored examples in print and there may have been a link or 2 on here regarding one in very rough condition that needed restored. I have yet to see one in person I think. Very neat, attractive auto. I suppose it was marketed for the executive that didnt want to seem to ostentatious.

[ronn]

I believe a little over 1000 were sold and they were sold on Lincoln lots only........

this was Edsels baby.

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by 77Birdman

Does anyone know the total production of the town car? I have seen a few restored examples in print and there may have been a link or 2 on here regarding one in very rough condition that needed restored. I have yet to see one in person I think. Very neat, attractive auto. I suppose it was marketed for the executive that didn't want to seem to ostentatious.

1928 - 89
1929 - 1013
1930 - 96
Total of 1198

The initial prototype town car was bodied by Lebaron, one of those survives today in original condition (minus a 70's era repaint).

The cars were marketed as a mid-price luxury vehicle and most of the advertising that Ford did for the Town Car was aimed at women. The cars did not sell very well. Before the stock market crash most people probably looked down on it as "just a Ford" and after the crash the town car body style quickly fell out of favor as it seemed to be an extravagant show of wealth in a tough time. There are stories of dealers who had these cars forced onto them constructing a roof above the driver and removing the partition as it was easier to sell as a Fordor than a chauffeur driven car.

Town Cars were sold at Ford Dealers as well as in Lincoln showrooms alongside those cars.

Due to low sales Ford cancelled the contract it had with Briggs for bodies and refused to take delivery of already completed bodies. Some pictures exist of these unused Briggs bodies repurposed onto other makes' chassis, I believe the photos I saw were on a Chrysler chassis.

The 1930 Town Cars were just '29 bodies adapted to fit a '30 cowl and doors and were really just trying to use up the bodies Ford had on hand.

This image shows how far a Town Car could fall in 4 short years. The image, dated 1933, shows a rough and beaten Town car that looks to have been converted to a delivery vehicle.

DW-1933-12-30-138-02-X3.jpg

Capture.jpg

[jb-ob]

Minor / Major correction Tim, Briggs made the Town car bodies.

Interesting production item, it appears that all the Briggs wood subframes where the same for the '28 Fordor, '29 Cabriolet & '29 Town Car.

Creative, those guys at Briggs Body company.

[lrf]

Is the body, from the cowl back, made of aluminum? Had a friend who in the late 60's found one but didn't buy it cause it was all steel. He thought it was a reworked sedan.

[ronn]

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WTS- having read that these were only sold on Lincoln lots- what is your source indicating they were also sold on Ford lots?

thanks

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by ronn

WTS- having read that these were only sold on Lincoln lots- what is your source indicating they were also sold on Ford lots?

thanks

I've heard and read the same but I've also heard other versions of it. That it was a Lincoln exclusive at first but then poor sales (and gripes from Lincoln) lead to Ford moving them into Ford showrooms.

In The Ford Model A As Henry Built It they state

"The original sales policy was to sell the Town Car through Lincoln dealers only, but in February, 1929, it was changed to include select Ford Dealers"

It further explains that due to lagging sales in April 1929 the home sales office in Dearborn sent a strong letter to dealers chastising them for poor sales.

Newspaper articles at the time seem to indicate that in February and March of 1929 there was a travelling Lincoln Salon showcasing all the new Lincoln cars and that the Ford Town Car was displayed alongside them at these shows. But there are also pictures and newspaper ads for Ford dealers displaying the Town Car alongside other Model A options around the same time.

As far as I know there is at least one image of a Model A Town Car on display at a Lincoln dealer.

Attached is a newspaper photo from the Dade Motor Company in Miami alongside other 1929 Model A's including a tudor, roadster, phaeton, and possible a fordor.

-Tim

[Bob Johnson]

Model A Town Cars were initially sold at Lincoln dealers for $1400.00. In Feb 1929 certain Ford dealers also sold the Town Cars. Initial order in 1928 was for Briggs to build 2500 Town Cars. Briggs expected to produce 1500 bodies by April 1929. By Sep 1929 the sales were so bad that Ford cancelled the order. Late in 1929 Ford dropped the price to $1200. There were 1198 Model A Town Cars produced. 89 in 1928, 1013 in 1929 and 96 in 1930. Of all the known Town Cars none appear to have been made after April 1929. The 1930 Town Cars were made from leftover 1929 Town Car bodies. The hood, cowl and front doors were replaced with reworked parts from 1930 Fodors (Town Sedans). There was some aluminum body pieces used in the Town Cars. The front doors had pillars of aluminum and the rear corners of the body were capped with an aluminum cap. The rest of the body was steel.



Bob

[jb-ob]

One theory has it that all the Town car bodies where built between Nov. '28 thru February '29 and stored until needed. These build dates are backed up by the gas tank dates.

Initially all the bodies where painted black. If a Town Car was ordered in a color, it was simple to paint the lower sides & top of the hood in color. (January1929 Service Bulletins)

[Bob Johnson]

I can not find in the January service bulletins where it says "Initially all the bodies where painted black. If a Town Car was ordered in a color, it was simple to paint the lower sides & top of the hood in color." Page 310 lists the color combinations but does not say anything about the bodies initially painted black.


Bob

[mercman from oz]

It looks like they were trying to make this one into a Hearse?

[ronn]

Great info! thanks Tim and Bob. always like reading more about these.....

Ill take that hearse and raise you a hearse! Looks like it was used in a logging camp!

[jb-ob]

Bob,

Consider the Town Car production from the point of view of Briggs. Ford's order was small (based on Brigg's capacity) and production was done in batches over four months. Fastest & easiest method would be to paint all the bodies black. Notice that on painted bodies that the interior door jams, interior & exterior cowl, and upper body remained black.

Examine a Briggs built Bronson Yellow Cabriolet. It actually starts as a Seal Brown body inside & out, later having the sides painted yellow. Making a profit from Ford required streamlining production methods.

The January 1929 Service Bulletin is significant as it describes the paint color layout. Some time in the late 1970's a Town Car was painted with the top of the gas tank & hood black to appease the owner's taste but is not Ford / Briggs correct.

Briggs production records are long lost, the paint considerations are from Tim Kelly's research.

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

It looks like they were trying to make this one into a Hearse?

The notes with the picture state it was being used by a plumbing company.

[Gary Karr]

Originally Posted by jb-ob

One theory has it that all the Town car bodies where built between Nov. '28 thru February '29 and stored until needed. These build dates are backed up by the gas tank dates.

Initially all the bodies where painted black. If a Town Car was ordered in a color, it was simple to paint the lower sides & top of the hood in color. (January1929 Service Bulletins)

Interesting information JB. That explains why the one we're working on has a Jan 22, 1929 fuel tank date stamp and is a July '29 Town Car.

[henry's 31]

Thank you so much for the great photos of this very unique and rare Model A. I am very proud Ford Motor Company sold these great vehicles.