thinking about moving up

[thom]

I think I will be spending some time here for a few days. I've been posting on the T forum but now I'm thinking about selling my '21 Touring and buying a '29 Fordor Leatherback that is for sale locally. Anything special, besides the obvious top difference, that I should check before buying?

[Mitch]

Brent may have some good pictures to show you the amount of wood that is under the skin

[Big hammer]

I just googled “ model a four door wood structures “and found some pictures that maybe copywrited didn’t what to post here.

[Beauford]

I had a fordor body I sold as the wood would have set me back about 13K. (Kit) Now if you are good with your hands and wood your ok!

[BudP]

Previous owner of my 29 leatherback spent so much money on having the wood replaced, he sold me the nearly completed car for less money than he had put into the car. I think he was just emotionally worn-out.

[CM2]

That's a hard thing to do,sell a car to get another.I get a bad case of sellers remorse.I do like having a wife however,and making that choice always comes up when I talk to her about more cars..some day I just might call her bluff.

[BNCHIEF]

An old friend of mine told me one day someday you will figure out it is a lot easier to get them home than finish them, boy was he right.

[Tom Wesenberg]

That's a hard thing to do,sell a car to get another.I get a bad case of sellers remorse.I do like having a wife however,and making that choice always comes up when I talk to her about more cars..some day I just might call her bluff.

She might be right though.
I learned a bit late that you shouldn't own more cars than you can properly keep protected inside a garage.

[CM2]

"Might be"?...she's always right,just ask her. but yes I do agree on proper storage ...maturity helps too,resisting the impulse buy is a learned response.

[2manycars]

That is why I bought 4 box trailers when the barn go full. I can get 3 cars in each one. (or tractors)

[Supergnat]

Do you have any photos of the leatherback you are considering. I was lucky, mine still has the original top (although painted) and interior. Mine isn’t the originalcolor either but most every thing else is original including the self equalizing brakes with non-adjustable brake rods. Be sure to check the tank for rust. Mine was filled with. Finding a decent one wasn’t easy. I had a hard time putting the repacement in. It has to come out the from under the cowl and out the side door. Good luck. Supergnat

[thom]

No pics to share. The car runs and drives. I have not seen the car, only a couple of pics. After looking at pics of a leatherback restoration project I think I will pass on the leatherback. Looks like too much wood for me.

[George Miller]

What a mess, I get where you are coming from. Any one that works on cars should work cheep. Plus they had the hard part done.

[BNCHIEF]

That is why he is where he is at, doing wood in these cars is not a job for an amateur, I can't speak to A's but I have yet to ever see a wood kit for a model t that fit right and required a lot of work. The fact that you would even consider fixing this abortion is more than I would do since you have to just start over. Those that say you are ripping him off have never done a job like that, or they would know better. I rewooded a 1927 model t four door thankfully the doors are all metal and not wood like you have there and is why I stay away from four doors in the model a.

[BNCHIEF]

All that sheet metal should have been addressed before he did anything also wonder if he had the old wood or just tore it all apart and threw it way another dumb thing to do.

[dmdeaton]

Brent, do you have any pics of a nice framework before you attached the sheet metal?

[Beauford]

Dang...if I could only do that....

[Jeff/Illinois]

Looks like a good reason to own a Tudor if you want a Model A sedan.

[BNCHIEF]

There is still plenty of wood in a tudor look up the pics of Mitch tudor also well done by a professional.

[Mitch]

I copied the Wood pics out of this thread to the Chassis technical area. Placed on the back end of the Tudor wood pics. This thread is also linked on those posts. FYI

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/technical-reference-chassis/2653-30-tudor-fordor-wood-pics

[Ed H]

That is some awesome work. No way can I duplicate that craftsmanship.
Is that a "kit" or made from scratch?

[tbirdtbird]

They had some gall criticizing your time estimate.
If it were so easy and so cheap then everyone would be doing it in their sleep. Even children.
As soon as a customer starts talking like that to us, we send them on their way, we don't need/want their business, because they are gonna complain about everything and never be satisfied

[Mitch]

Amen

[Ed H]

The pictures I uploaded were cut at my shop using factory prints and templates as guides. We are in the LONG process of drawing/digitizing the wood in CAD, and my plan is to have a 3 axis CNC router table within the next year.

I will get back to you when I reach that point. Beautiful work.

[Mike V. Florida]

Steel back Victoria wood via link to Hot Rod magazine. http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0802rc-wood-framing-kit/

[Tony Hillyard]

Brent, the world seems to be full of "Experts". Give a potential customer a price, and immediately you are trying to rip him off. All his friends say you charge too much. OK, ask them to do the job. Silence! Wherever you go in the world it's always the same. Talk cost's nothing. Tell them to put their money where their mouth is!!!!