Say a guy wanted to buy a 1932 ford 3 window coupe and it was being advertised as original. How would a person figure out if it was an original or a Brookville body if they didn't know the difference? Same goes for a 1932 ford 5 window with United Pacific. Thanks.
Well, if it's original there's probably evidence of repair here and there. Very few have survived in pristine condition.
Try posting your question on fordbarn.com (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4). The guy that wrote the judging standards for the Early Ford V8 Club hangs out over there. Charlie Stephens
I'm thinking that it would have to be a damned high level recent build to be able to hide all the tattle tale things that shows that a body is Gennie Ford Steel.
My mate who produces a magazine called Restored Cars here in Australia and owns a few 32 Fords among his collection was looking at my UPAC build and said that on the repro bodies the body lines (cowl,doors and rear quarters) were not "as crisp" as on the original. I have never checked the bodies but it is true for the firewall as I've checked an original versus a repro. Guess I can check the phaeton with the 5W when I get out in the shed
I've got a Henry 3 window that may need a new home. I know it's real cause I've owned it since 1980. It's my avatar.
It will be difficult if the car is completely assembled, painted, and has an interior. If there is no interior, the sides of the Brookville bodies are stamped as one piece for the entire side. The OE are not. The Brookville use bronze hinges; the OE are steel. Some of the construction inside the body - bracing, welding, etc. differs as well.
There are many ways to determine. But as stated it’s much easier if sitting there bare and not finished . Mine has no patch panels , but it does have a roadster floor . My left door at the front bottom has a tiny bit of wide gap . I have noticed this in a lot of the old dudes remaining . I have owned mine for 31 years . It really would not matter to me much , if OEM or not as long as it was honestly reflected in the value . I think I read somewhere 20,000 3 Ws were produced and 60,000 are titled today . I have a Buddy that builds glass cars and titles and sells as 32 Fords . This should not be ok to do . It’s not a 32 Ford .
I agree fully, but I also would like the registration to free up the builder to not be tied with emission restrictions. Such as being registered as a 1932 reproduction, but getting the same rules as building a 32.
3 windows are pretty easy. Look at the bottom side of the cowl top. If the top panel is flange welded to the side, it’s Brookville. If it’s fusion welded, it’s Ford. And, I’m pretty sure all original passenger bodies had the doubler plates welded inside the cowl, even if they weren’t drilled for lights. I would guess that those plates aren’t in the repro bodies.
Look at the rocker panel. is it one piece ? Original rocker panels are not attached aft of the doors. this I presume was to allow for flex in the body.
Brookville seems to feel the need to lead these seams rather than do the metal work to make the rockers flow into the quarters. On today's rigid boxed frames cracking might be a problem but in 1932 the unboxed frame flexed quite a bit, that's why there were seams in the rockers at the front and rear of the doors.
Krylon, thanks for substantiating my comments. Most people do not know about the seams. I. for one, did not know about the seam at the front of the doors.
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