Sometimes I hate decisions. I will be doing an AV8 project starting this summer. I have resources for help on the frame, front and rear ends, and the car will be rolling with a late-40s flattie. 39 ****** or something nostalgic, banjo rear end, and (I hope) a Schroeder box steering. I would like to get the horns pinched in tight to be within the grille shell, but most of the stuff I have. My huge huge problem is that I can't decide between a 28/29 roadster body or a 30/31 coupe. Either way will be a postwar/early 50s vibe, and here are a few images to let you know how I'm thinking. Not a rat rod. A well-fabbed rod that looks nostalgic. Give it to a vote!
I have had built and driven both coupes and roadsters. Coupes are far more practical cars---good for cool or rainy weather, okay for night driving also. They are well received by the public, and have a reasonable amount of "wow" factor. Once you get used to driving them, they're not that much different from your daily driver. Roadsters, on the other hand are not very practical. They are kind of a pig of a thing when it rains, and not very comfortable when its cool. If your bald like I am, you will always have to wear a hat of somekind when you drive them, or risk sunburning your head to death. There is always a lot of wind noise in a roadster. A roadster really is not that great after the sun goes down, and it gets cool and damp, coming home from evening rod runs. BUT---OH MY GOD---what fun a roadster is!!! The fun factor on a well built roadster is about 5 times greater than any other body style ever built!!! Before you make your decision, try and find a friend with a coupe, and a friend with a roadster, pick a sunny afternoon, and go for a ride in each one. The roadster experience can not be described by mere words alone.
Everyone should own a roadster at least once, semi impractical for Minnesota, (where I live) but fun as hell. Alot like a motorcycle, you'll be bound to get wet at some point and time but nothing like it.
I have both a coupe and a roadster. The coupe is an excellent daily driver, but the roadster is the adventure car. If practicality has any bearing on the decision, build the coupe. If it is entirely about fun, a roadster is the only way to go.
Build both if you can afford it...if not, definitely a roadster. Even at 38 degrees in the freezing rain, it's still fun.(sorta)
and tHIS is why im buildin a sport coupe, lol... in beetween, different, and i intend to make the roof go back!!! ... good luck man, its a HARD choice... i wanna have a roof for my neck of the woods
Maybe a Cabriolet? My friend Mark made a nice top for his '33, out of conduit and wood peices around the windows and above the windshield. It can be easily taken apart and put in the space behind the rear seat. I cant find any nice pictures of the car with the top on, but you can get the jist from these. It kept the car dray at york last year. In this picture you can also see the top that sixcrab has on his 32 roadster, despite the lack of windows it does okay in the rain.
I've driven across the country twice on the Great Race in open wheeled Model A speedsters that not only were *******, they were doorless too. We got rained on alot, we drove at night, we did all that ****. I'm sure a coupe would have been more practical but that open top feeling was so great, it just isn't worth it to be trapped inside a car with a roof. I'm building a 26 roadster on a 28 ch***is with A running gear and fenders. My #1 choice would have been a 30-31 roadster but the T was a close second. I like the smooth cowl of the T roadsters and the 30-31 A's better than the door-pillared T coupes and 28-29 A's. I'd do a 30-31 roadster.
I say it's great to have both, but better to have a coupe first and then a roadster. That way you can always get out..... and besides i would need that as i drive my traditional cars as daily drivers. So, if you have a coupe right now.... build that roadster! My .02 -scott noteboom
Yep. Yep. Yep. I know what y'all are saying about roadsters. I had a 67 Datsun when I was fresh outta school, and that thing was so much fun. I remember driving south in Western Michigan and I think it was about 45 outside. The gal I was dating had a blanket wrapped around her and we both had hats and gloves on. Took it camping. Went to the beach a lot. I just love them coupes too. Tough lookin and if you leave the roof out-it's like a roadster with doorsides. And a few of you nailed it when ya said to do both. Well, that's the plan for now. . . .and in 10 years I oughtta be done.
ROADSTER...as long as you follow the same rules as the one in the first picture of this post you can't lose....OMG! That thing is beautiful! It looks familiar but I can't put my finger on it, whose is it? I need to see more pics. 28-29 with a Hallock style windshield on deuce rails...or channeled.... You CAN'T go wrong. (I've got a 31 in the works right now). Yes coupes are more practical.... I had the pleasure of riding in Bob's roadster during the Roundup...now roadsters are the only thing on my mind. Build a removable top if you're going to go on a long trip or something....? Don't worry, you'll make the right decision as long as you go with a roadster. hahaha, Good Luck, John Joyo...
I have a model A coupe and roadster. I just got the roadster on the road about a month ago. Someone ask me which one I liked the best. I told them it's like your kids... you love em' all the same. Haven't gotten wet yet, but I know I will sooner or later. ******* is a lot of fun.
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