World's Biggest Sun Roof

[Old Fart]

Many of you may not be aware of the fact that old Coupes and Sedans had fabric roof's.
The technology to press a steel car body with all the curves to create a complete steel top only became available in the mid to late 1930's.
With that said, right now I have a Model T with the world's biggest sun roof while I wait for the rest of the wood struts to arrive so I can put a new fabric top in my 1927 Ford.

You may also notice that Henry Ford wasn't too big on dashboard instruments.
No speedometer, no gas gauge, no water temp, no oil pressure, only an ammeter (because of them new fangled lectric headlights) and a little tiny light so you can read it at night.
The rest is "common sense", a Model T will do about 45 MPH flat out and if you try to do that too long, the radiator will boil over and spit rusty water and steam from the radiator cap (sticking up at the front of the hood) all over the windshield and YOU if you happen to have the windshield open at the time. It has no oil pressure gauge because it has NO oil pressure! It's lubricated by little dippers that pick up oil from the oil pan and throw it all over the place inside the engine.
How can you tell when you're low on gas? that's easy, it quits running

We've come a long way in 80 years, huh.
I might also add, No radio, no heater, no air cond, no power steering or brakes, no ash tray or cigarette lighter, but that's a good thing because the gas tank is directly behind that ammeter You HAVE to drive carefully because the seats are mounted on the (removable) wooden floors, (no point in putting in seat belts) and that little nut in the middle of the steering wheel lines up perfectly with your teeth!

Dennis.

[Anth]

Very nice project you have there

Its amazing when you think of how simple the older cars are compared to what we see as standard these days.

Dad and I rebuilt a 1963 Mini over the past few years and I love the fact that everything is either mechanical or electrical - not computational. Only thing we didnt replace on it is the roof!

[Old Fart]

I'm trying really hard NOT to replace anything I don't absolutely have to on this car! It's NOT "restored" it's original, an 80 year old "Used Car"!
It's been in storage for MANY, MANY years.
If there were ever 2 words I never figured on using in the same sentence its "Car" and "Wood" I've built a bunch of Rods and Customs in my long life but this is my first antique. When I bought it, I planned on building an early 50's era "Flathead" powered Hot Rod but the darn thing just runs so sweet I haven't got the heart to "modify" it!
Somebody (probably in the 1950's) put a complete wood roof under the fabric, (originally it was just wood struts and fabric).


I wish I could have re-used it but the wood crumbled to dust at the touch, so I'm starting from scratch and I'm putting it back to original. If I was going to build the Hot Rod, I would probably go find a BIG piece of Plexi-Glass and make a real sun roof!

[Old Fart]

Saturday was just too nice a day to miss our monthly local auto show, top or no top!

Lee Ann (las47032) getting a severe sunburn sitting in our "topless" car.

[sfga6970]

That's a beautiful automobile. Good luck with your restoration.

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by sfga6970

That's a beautiful automobile. Good luck with your restoration.

You ought to try driving one of these things!


The pedal you think is the gas, is really the brakes.

The pedal in the middle isn't the brakes, it's reverse.

The pedal on the left isn't the clutch, it's low and high gear. The clutch is part of the emergency brake lever sticking up on the far left.

The throttle is on the right side of the steering wheel and don't try to signal a turn with the lever on the left side of the steering wheel, that's the spark advance.

The choke is the lever sticking out of the dashboard on the far right. it's also the air/fuel mixture for the carb. which, like the spark advance, you must fiddle with constantly going down the road.

YOU are the windshield wiper motor, notice the lever sticking out behind the wiper.

Dennis.

[sfga6970]

It sure sounds like it would be confusing learning how to drive it.