I want to see the differences between a real model a roadster body and one that has been cut down,i.e. a sport coupe etc. Pics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Root
First glaring difference is that roadsters didn't have gl*** side windows. Second thing is that behind and at the top of where the seat would meet the body, there is provision to tack wood along the body curve of a roadster for the top. There is also a bead in the body below this flat metal ledge in the rear quarters, making the body look finished. Third. Roadster cowl doesn't have pillars for a windshield. Fourth, Roadster body usually has a little loop sticking up in the top of the rear quarter just behind the door to mount the folding top mechanism. This area is also "finished" by the factory, rolling all the way into the car body. Fifth - The panel between the sitting area and the rumble lid is wider. This allowed room for the top to fold down, and not overlap the rumble seat lid. Sixth.. Roadster doors will have an indent inside them (since there is no window) for the map pocket that was there in the original upholstry. Seventh - Roadster doors are the least wide of all doors. So, they have a small door opening. This makes the area where a quarter window would be on a coupe longer on a roadster. Roadster dash rails were very skinny, not large like coupe or sport coupe dash rails. Overall, if there was a top, the area where it was cut off will not have a factory looking stamped in roll inside the car, unless the person did a lot of work. I'm sure I've missed some things. Anyone else? Below is a bare roadster body
Root- IMHO, Sport Coupes with the top removed never look quite right. Mainly cause of the door differences.- On a roadster the line flows from the top of the door all the way around the back. A Sport Coupe always has the "notch" right there.
I don't get why one pic shows and the other is just a link whoops... on the 28/29's... I think this is the main difference other than the shorter decklid on the coupe and door lengths and reveals. The roadster has an L shaped reveal on the cowl/door hinge piece, and the sport coupe has a boxy door hinge piece like a sedan/truck/coupe. TP
What are the main differences from a 28-29’ roadster and a 30-31 roadster? I’m going to piece together a 28-29’ I’ve got the frame and cowl Still looking for the rear quarters and want to make sure I’m getting right ones
Can anyone tell me the measurements? As I have understood, deck-lids are interchangeable, so that panel must be different - but by how much?...
I just figured you were wasting away with curiosity since 2007. A Coupester's tell tale sign is a door top so wide you could set a dinner plate on it.
Built-in drive-in trays! Unfortunately I have no measurements to share since both my roadster and sport coupe are long gone. But that upper panel is quite a bit longer on the roadster, like probably 4-6 inches. It's a significant amount.
I have one of each off car at the moment, buried in the side yard, but it's considerably obvious. I did the coupster thing once and eventually gathered the cowl and all the correct sheetmetal to make it a roadster. Coupe turned roadster: Roadster 'cat walk' panel:
I didn't notice if anyone in the last 16 years mention the most obvious difference if it's a 30/31 and that is the double body line on the closed cars. A wide one on top and a narrow one on the bottom. The only body parts that are the same between a closed car and roadster is the deck lid and the panel below and the gas tank.
There's a thread with lots of photos of cool Sport Coupes as well: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/model-a-sport-coupe-the-poor-mans-roadster.1121649/
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