History Painted Rad Shell on 28-31 Model A--Seen One?

Any one seen a painted 28-31 Model A radiator shell----thinking about it.

 

Sure,Henry Ford offered painted radiator shell on 28-31 Fords.

Most were commercial.HRP

 

Saw lots of them in the 1980s. Mostly orange and yellow, come to think of it.
I'd do it if it was a dark color like black.

 

certainly no expert but weren't most if not all car '28s painted?
'29 nickel plate or painted
'30 stainless
'31 all stainless or stainless outer with painted inserts?

 

The painted commercial shell on my '31 coupe...not the best pic, taken with my wife's cell phone.

 

were the commercial '30-'31 shells steel then?

 

Paul,I'm not a Model A expert but I have know of a 3o AA truck owned locally by a very knowledgeable Model A collector with what I assume is a original painted shell,whether or not it is stainless is anyone's guess. HRP

 

My personal taste leans towards a painted shell. Just don't like the plated ones.

 

I like the painted shell better, have one on my 30 pickup with three stainless shells hanging in the garage. I also used painted headlights but both are stock to trucks.

 

not mine.....do customs count?

 

I recall seeing them in historical books painted, I believe that one way or the other was oprional. Something that comes to mind would be a Doctors coupe for instance. The pics I am thinking of were not of restored vehicles but old photos.

Paul/HRP
In answer to the steel V stainless question I have seen steel rad shells on old As drug out of the woods. So in my opinion the painted versions from the factory would have been steel or at least most of them would have been steel. This coming from experience and 'beaner logic. if that helps any.

 

28-29 all steel or nickel plated--30-31 pass stainless-com painted steel no peek in center opening

 

This got me thinking so I checked. All '28 and some '29's were bright nickel plated. Some later '29 were chrome. All '30 & '31 (cars) were stainless with painted inserts. All commercial, all years were painted black except for a few Deluxe models.

 

Here's one.

 

The '30'31 commercial units were steel instead of stainless.

 

'30 Model A. Painted vs original:

 

This car would look good either way you do it. Love the two tone. Tim

 

View attachment 2780691

 

Open wheeled and IFS my eyes Help me I feel like I may just lose my lunch

 

Several years a friebd of mine had a 28-29 extended cab pickup. He had the shell painted red to match the color of the truck. It looke great

 

My '29 Phaeton has a '30 commercial shell on it....yes, it's steel, not stainless .


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1930 AA with black shell. JW

 

1930. JW

 

The commercial shells were painted steel. The AA trucks came with a thicker radiator, so the grill shell is also deeper.

 

Love your colors on this car.

 

I have a 30 Pickup shell for sale if you want to go with painted..

 

e-mail me-----grisbobsue@juno.com---bangerbob

 

My '31 P/U has a painted grill shell and painted headlights . All factory paint.

......................... Jack

 

Maybe it's just me; but all those painted "A" shells on cars look kind of Lil' John/Boydish.
Just seems they should be shiny like Henry made them; maybe switch to a deuce shell if
you want painted, just saying.

 

The 'Ol Peter Beater had a painted A shell.