28-29 30-31 Model afour door sedan's

[Two cool 1929]

How can I tell the difference between a 28-29 and 30-31 Model A four-door sedan

[Gary WA]

Hub caps small 28-9, 30-31 larger diameter, light bar straight 28-9, 30-31 more curved, Bumpers 28-9 have a flared end, 30-31 straight, Radiator smaller on 28-9, wheel size 30-31 are 19",fenders etc. Headlight shapes 28-9 cone,30-31 rounded more. You could go to some websites and look at some, MAFCA.com. Model A Ford Club etc.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

He's probably asking about the body.

[Two cool 1929]

Yes I'm trying to figure out the difference in the body because I know other four door bodies 28-29 look like a 30-31 I got a four door bodie and wanted to try to find out the year

[Scott NY]

30-31 gas tanks drop in from the top the 28-29 tanks install from underneath

[The Master Cylinder]

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Originally Posted by Scott NY

30-31 gas tanks drop in from the top the 28-29 tanks install from underneath

From the cowl back I believe all Briggs Fordor bodies are the same. Same with Murrey Fordor bodies.

I want to add this is a generalization. Of course the two window and three window fordors are different.

[Gary WA]

Originally Posted by Two cool 1929

Yes I'm trying to figure out the difference in the body because I know other four door bodies 28-29 look like a 30-31 I got a four door bodie and wanted to try to find out the year

Pictures would be very helpful?

[Gene F]

The two piece splash pans (over running boards) is always a thing I notice.

[Two cool 1929]

Here's a few pictures

[mercman from oz]

Ford Model A Fordor Sedan Body owned by Two cool 1929

[mercman from oz]

1930 Ford Model A Three-Window Fordor Sedan

[Two cool 1929]

I'm guessing it's a 30-31

[mercman from oz]

1928 Ford Model A Fordor Sedan.
From these illustrations, your Sedan cannot be a 1928 or 1929 model.

[mercman from oz]

1931 Ford Model A Slant Window Fordor Sedan

[ryanheacox]

Is that a tank or just a panel where the tank would go? 1929 saw the change from the 60 series Fordors to the 155/165 series that carried through 1931. A 60 series from 28-(mid?)29 would be very easy to tell apart, the later bodies would be tougher. All Fordors (except taxi) had a more streamlined, more 30-31 style cowl.

Looks like you have a 165 (standard) Briggs body. I don't know enough about the 29's to say what year it is though. Definitely not a 28.

[mercman from oz]

1929 Ford Model A Briggs Body Sedan.
Note, the Briggs Body Sedan was only a two window, not three.

[w.michael]

You have a 1930 or early 1931 Briggs body Fordor. In 1931, there were two different fire walls. The area where the gas line attaches at the firewall under the hood is referred to as either "flat" or "teardrop." Firewalls were flat for all of 1930 and until approximately the end of March of 1931. After approximately March of 1931, firewalls were teardrop. Your firewall is flat, meaning your body is from 1930 or early 1931. Based on the shape of the top of the side windows, your body is a Briggs body, not a Murray body. A picture of the gas tank inside the car where the instrument cluster attaches would further narrow it down as to either first half of 1930, or second half of 1930 through early 1931.

The illustration in Post # 13 above is an artist's drawing, and is not accurate. I don't think any Fordor was ever produced with that gas tank/cowl configuration, unless it was something built in Canada or built for export. Don't go by that drawing.

There are approximately forty 'leven different Fordor models. Some of those different models are just trim level changes of the same body shell, and some are different body shells, some with three windows on each side, and some with two windows on each side. I don't know which model yours is. It does not appear to have holes in the cowl for cowl lights, which would mean it is not a "town sedan." (Maybe the holes are there, and I just can't see them in the picture.) Don't be tempted to add cowl lights if it doesn't have the holes. The "standard" models are more rarely restored than the "deluxe" town sedan models. And many standard Fordors are converted to town sedans upon restoration. Everyone seems to want maximum bling when they do a restoration, only to learn later that standard cars are pretty neat also, and maybe more rarely seen today.

W. Michael

[Dave Mellor NJ]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

1928 Ford Model A Fordor Sedan.
From these illustrations, your Sedan cannot be a 1928 or 1929 model.

That car in the drawing has the Taxi cowl

[w.michael]

Ah, yes, I forgot the taxi had that cowl/gas tank combination. The taxi was not the same body shell as any other Fordor, I think. Didn't the taxi have larger quarter windows, and maybe wider rear doors?

So make that forty 'leven and one Fordor models.

W. Michael

[dave in australia]

Originally Posted by w.michael

Ah, yes, I forgot the taxi had that cowl/gas tank combination. The taxi was not the same body shell as any other Fordor, I think. Didn't the taxi have larger quarter windows, and maybe wider rear doors?

So make that forty 'leven and one Fordor models.

W. Michael

The Taxi bodies were a bit longer, about 2" from memory.