History 1932 Ford Deluxe 3W Coupe, Murray Body # informal registry,how many are still around?

When I sold my coupe I had forgotten that the tag was still in my toolbox...put it on ebay and it sold for $500.

You don't need it to title a car and they are really only good for bragging rights.

 

Here is mine, Lynn Paxton he wanted to take if for a ride at the Jalopy Showdown. Still getting the mud out! Number is #267.

Note to Harms Way. This number as it is does not appear on any registrations it is more of an assembly number.

 

Heres a Canadian one ....

 

Heres mine. I can't get to the tag right now. I will later.

 

He showed the tag to me also. It was Canadian and as I remember, the number was VERY low...like around 190 or so...extremely early. That was one unbelievable car. DD

 

Yes Dick,... I realize that, as stated above,... And I understand where you guys are on this,... but it's like was said,.. in Michigan as well as a number of other states,.. that number (right or wrong) with a bill of sale from a former no title state, and you get a title with that number on it.

And I'll say this again,... "I might be over cautious,.... But I like to avoid any potential problems before they arise." ( as stated these comments are IMHO, In My Humble Opinion)

Have fun with this guys,.. Its interesting and fun,... But I will continue to be a "ol' stick in the mud" when it comes to posting these numbers,....

 

Here's mine. no floor - no tag...

 

I've got one.

Had no floor and so no tags either

 

Here is my 3W in 71.
Tag B520A 5576

 

Great looking car, Andy, glad you chimed in.

 

I would have figured a LOT MORE Hambers would have responded to this post. I know there are more 32 3W coupes here than have posted

 

Hey Deuce Roadster, is that B520B 483 on your 3W? It seems most of the tags we're seeing are B520A's and they have numbers lower and higher than 483, so I'm curious as to what the difference between the A and the B are. Any ideas?

 

I have two. Niether have tags.

The best one is getting put back together now. It was channeled so the tag is long gone. Getting un-channeled but the chop will stay.

The second one is an old jalopy racer so the tag is long gone. I am hunting parts to put this back as a working race car.

 

Yes, it is a B 520 B
NO explanation ... it is what it is.
The other tag I have does has a A on it.
My actual 32 3W VIN number is pretty low also ... so the low number on the MurrayB tag does not surprise me.

My A tag is in the 15 thousand range. There were over 22 thousand Murray 3W bodies made.

I do know that Henry Ford had 32 different assembly plants in 1932 ( Charlotte NC was the closest to my house ). Maybe MURRAY had two plants also.

Murray Body Company was in financial trouble in between 1931 and 1943. The company lost lost 4.3 Million dollars

There is some interesting reading about the Murray Body Company here

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

 

Count me in for a deuce with no body tag.. yet.. Car was channeled, now its back high..

 

Here is a picture of mine

 

I have one, no body tag, but original frame rails. It is an early one.





Ago

 

Trying to figure out the distinction between B520A and B520B. One suggestion is that one is for rumbleseat cars and the other for trunk cars. Mine is a B520A and is an original trunk car, and I know Andy's is an "A" and was originally a trunk car although it has been converted to a rumble (great story, Andy).

I know it could be a totally different reason, even an early/late thing, any thoughts?

This thread is also going on the fordbarn, for those interested:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28722

 

That would work ... mine is a factory rumble seat coupe and I have the " B " on my 520 tag.



I actually prefer a trunk car ... easier to haul your luggage and stuff for those long weekend get aways ... but both my 3W and my roadster are rumble seat 32's.

 

Wow! Did we just use the power of the h.a.m.b. to solve a mystery that was lost to the ages! B520A designated trunk cars and B520B designated rumble cars. Probably just me, but I think that's cool.

I haven't heard from anyone that knows the answer, so maybe.

How do the cars with tags of you others that have posted jive with this new info?

Randy

 

mine is a B520A and has a trunk...still has original floor even tho' channeled in the late 40's-early 50's

 

For the third time these aren't serial numbers, these are body numbers which do not correlate to the serial number. Think about it, what is to keep someone from walking up to your 32 at a car show and snapping a picture of the serial number on your frame?


Back to the original post, my B520A coupe was a trunk car when I bought it in 1974. I'm not sure how it may have been changed before then.

 

Here's mine. Don't recall seeing the body tag, so it must be missing.

 

Wow, that thing is cool! What's the story on it? Johnny

 

Here are some pictures of my dads. Its channeled 8 inches in the front and 10 inches in the rear. Original floor is long gone, as well as the body tag.

 

mine channeled on original rails no tag

 

Here's Richards and he still has it.

 

This all steel 3W belongs to fellow HAMB member 3 Deuces ...



Photos by Hotrodprimer

This 3W belong to a friend of 3 Deuces and myself.



This 3W in a local NC vehicle




This 3W is tucked away in a up state SC barn ... and cannot be bought ... I and many others have tried.



This 3W belongs to fellow HAMB member Turbo Dickie



This 3W belongs to a friend here in the Carolinas



He also owns this one ...



HAMB member Dick Spadaro has this one



I know of at least 5 or 6 more in the Carolinas ... that just cannot be bought ( I have tried )

 

Tag # 237 on this car Bruce

 

Thanks for sharing that, Bruce. Was I correct in remembering that it was a Canadian built car with a Canadian body tag? I think that's the lowest # we've seen here yet. Still waiting for #1!