29 Canadian Fordor Leatherback 60A or 60B?

[JC60B]

I was just at a friends place checking out the progress on his 28 AR Roadster Coupe and he shows me his new book. The Model A Judging Standards. Anyhow I’m checking out the Canadian car section and noticed no 60B Fordor leatherback in the list of Canadian cars. 60A is in the list showing built 28 and 29. When I went to order the top for my Canadian 29 the vendor told me it had to be a 60B because of the year even though the little piece of original top I found looked brown which is on the 60A. They said it was just faded that way and should be black. Can someone verify whether or not there was a Canadian 60B? It’s not like I’m going to change it now but good to know the actual model I have. Also I know another guy building a Canadian 29 Fordor Leatherback and he hasn’t ordered the top yet.

[Bob C]

I have a Canadian Ford parts book and it only shows 60-A.

[Model "A" Fords]

If there was no 60-B on the list, does this mean yours is a 60-A and the vendor was mistaken? If so, was it supposed to be a brown or tan roof? Was there any difference from U.S.A. to Canadian?

[Bob Bidonde]

In the USA, the 60B is a Leather-back with a black top made by Briggs in 1929 only.

[JayJay]

Russell Knaack and Steve Plucker did a series of articles on early Fordors, including the leatherback, in the MAFCA Restorer a couple of years ago. Their first article (March/April 2021) stated that there were 4,287 60-A built in Canada in 1928. In the second article (July/August 2021) they stated that the 60-B replaced the 60-A in December 1928. This would imply that there were few if any 60-A built in 1929. They did state that the changeover occurred approximately at Briggs body number 96,000, so that may give you a clue whether you have a 60-A or a 60-B.

If you are a MAFCA member you could likely get their contact info from the MAFCA directory to ask them more detailed questions. Both have a wealth of information.

JayJay

[WTSHNN]

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Originally Posted by JayJay

If you are a MAFCA member you could likely get their contact info from the MAFCA directory to ask them more detailed questions. Both have a wealth of information.

JayJay

Here is Pluck's email. [email protected] and his website is; http://www.plucks329s.org/

He hangs out elsewhere these days if you know where to look.

Here is Russ' research post on Pluck's site;
site;

60-A, B, and C Briggs Fordor Production Quantity & Dates Study
Recording body tag numbers from all available Briggs Body Tags on 60-A, 60-B, and 60-C Model A Fordors (usually located below front passenger firewall on wood frame rail). Primary objectives are to correlate the body tag numbers with production quantities and dates for each body style, which do not currently exist. Also interested in any information specific to the 60-A, B, and C Fordors. Contact: Russell Knaack, 13911West 167th Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491; Phone: (708) 301-9973. [email protected]

His username on this page is Russ

[Bick in New Zealand]

I have done a check through both the Canadian parts books and body books, and they only refer to the 60A. One suggests the production dates as 5/01/1928 - 7/01/29. In the body parts, it refers to the top deck (Roof covering) as just leather, and in a number of cases the vehicle is referred to as a 'leatherback' The difference between the A&B, as stated were pretty much cosmetic, and as the majority of these bodies were assembled in the U.S. by Briggs, it is pretty much up to the restorer to date their 'Leatherback' from the other features of the car.

[JC60B]

So did they offer both coloured tops and call them both 60A?

[mercman from oz]

Photo by Bick in New Zealand

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by JC60B

So did they offer both coloured tops and call them both 60A?

I don't see it that way. My Canadian Parts Book shows 60-A Fordor (leather back--seal brown top) (Briggs) 1928-29

[Bick in New Zealand]

I believe they offered both, and the colour change, was just a production running change.