Projects Guy said it's a '30, I think '28/'29

I bought this 4 door sedan a few weeks ago. The guy I bought it from said it was a '30 but had no paper work or anything. I'm all but certain the grill is a 28/29. Really doesn't matter what year it turns out to be but I'd really like to know for sure. Thanks,
Jeremy

 

Looks like 28-29 from here..

 

30 cowl, 28-29 grille

 

I stand corrected..I need glasses

 

Do not remeber for sure which one but Briggs or Murray made a 29 with the straight cowl like a 30-31. It looks to be a big bodied car.

 

1929 Briggs body sedan, the firewall with have a 2-3 inch spacer in it. There is a normal 28-29 gas tank mounted under that cowl. The hood is special to that body and the '29 Cabriolet, has a bead rolled in it, normal 28-29's don't. Good luck with the project.

 

Looks like a Briggs 4 door to me..

 

Briggs body. If it was a Murry it would have two small holes on the right lower cowl. The Mercury head went there.

 

Looks like a 1929 Briggs body. Briggs body cowl looked like the 30 -31's A's(unlike the the Murray bodied cars) . Here is a picture of a 29 Briggs bodied 4 dr sedan.

 

Did not know about the difference between body manufacturers.
Thanks!

 

Wow! And I just wanted to know the year! Was Briggs another company that made cars for Ford, or just a special style?? There are 2 holes in the side of the cowl on the driver side about half way up, could be from someone that was just bored threw the years tho. Are there any other pics I can show to know what year for sure? I'm not able to read the id tag on the firewall. Thanks for the help!

 

Both Briggs and Murray made bodies for Ford back than, and alot of other coach built bodies

Nice looking start, whats your plans?

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/b/briggs/briggs.htm

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/m/murray/murray.htm

 

Earlier I said this was a Briggs body, but Murray made them as well. This is an original Murray body tag I took off one in a junk yard close to 40 years ago, has two holes one over the other to attach it. I'd post the photos and ask for an ID on The Ford Barn to be sure. These bodies have more wood in them than any other body Ford sold, so think things over before you start on it.

 

One of the easiest differences to spot between a Briggs and Murray body is that Briggs bodies (yours) door window openings are straight across the top. Murray bodies have a slight arch across the top. They are both well-built and being one of the heavier body styles, they ride great. Maybe not as sporty as a roadster or the like, but a good, solid ride.

 

Yeah here's another shot of a briggs 29 four door...


and here's the difference from the typical 30 firewall...


TP

 

I striped on of those awhile back for a guy in Maumee Ohio who specializes in restoring Model A Fords and it was a 1930.In all my years I had never seen one of these bodies.As said it looks like a 30-31 cowl with a 29 hood attached but the hood is substantially different from a 29.I guess we can ALL learn something every day.

 

Here's the '29 Briggs I just picked up. You can see the different hood style with the body line extended on to it.


Here's a shot that shows the 3 piece cowl



The Murray body had arch top windows in ther doors

 

Thanks for all the help and info guys!

 

These cowls are a great source for straight 28-9 fuel tanks. The wood bodies tended to come apart like a GM car in some climates, so I've found several cowls in dumps without bodies attached. Take off the cowl sheet metal and you find a regular 28-9 tank that has never been exposed to the elements.

 

I need one of those hoods!!! If someone has one please PM me.

 

Anyone know the story of how Henry allowed the Briggs built bodies to differ from the rest of the 28/9 line?
I've understood the differences but don't ever recall reading how it came to be.
For example, Henry had several different shops making Model A fenders, and while they all had their own micro differences they were essentially the same design. The Briggs cowl/hood exceptions just seem "out of character" with the way Ford did bisiness, mass producing zillions of cars. There doesn't seem to be any reason why Briggs couldn't have tooled/built A's with the same lines as Murray's, etc.

 

Ford didn't ALLOW squat; Ford ORDERED what they wanted, made sure it was right, and generally had more than one supplier to help beat down prices. Whatever happened, it was a Ford styling decision, maybe to make the luxo body look heavier.
Oddity: An early Model A poster shows a fourdoor with normal '28 type cowl that never made production...AND I think, from memory, that the '28-9 Taxi body which was basically a fourdoor sedan WAS built with normal cowl and hood.

With Model A's and early V8's, Ford built the high production bodies either whole or as sub-assemblies for distant plants, AND ordered the same parts and bodies from suppliers like Briggs, all rigidly held to standards of interchageability--multiple suppliers both for safety and to get suppliers near assembly plants. Simultaneously, low production bodies (think '32 3-window, Model A Fordors) were FULLY farmed out with none stamped by Ford. In these, as with the '32 three window, fully completed bodies with interiors in were shipped out to meet chassis in the assembly plants, and in many cases for these hardware like door latches and window regulators were supplied in styles chosen by the body builder, since there was no particular need to have them similar to those in other bodies. Any '32 three window owner can tell you about the joys of needing nothing that interchanges with any other deuce!

 

28/29 briggs sedan. straight windshield posts, 28/29 style fire wall-but 3 piece, but the bead line/belt/ across the body is the same as the 30/31 model A. i have one too.

 

1929 briggs. I like those cars. I have done a couple of sedans and a cabriolet. Good luck with your project.

 

it is a 28/29 Murray body 4 door. they look like 30-31s but have some differences. I put a set of those doors on a 30 tudor sedan once and it lined up and worked out ok.

 

It's a Briggs body for sure. You can tell that by the doors. Briggs are straight above the window and Murry is a little curved. If it has a motor get the number off the driver's side just above the water return port and Google "model A motor numbers".

 

It is a 28-29 Briggs look a the front fenders, radiator shell, splash aprons, front bumper, head lights, head light bar all 28-29.

 

You've got one of the best Fordors. Lucky score!


Tim

 

Which is more desired, murray or Briggs?

 

u dudes are smart i was told all the flat square sides are 28/29 thanks now i learned some thing too.
i have a tudor body that i was told is a thirty is it possible its a 29 ?
28 RAY