History Pre-War Roadster Research: Model A v. '32 Shell

yup, I think that had a lot to do with it

 

32's have grille bars to help keep the stones out of the radiator too, another advantage. That's why those grille guards are popular with Model A restorers.

 

*****IN' rides !! I like ! I like !!

 

The underhood radiator cap on the Ferrara roadster is a neat touch...done just like modern aftermarket Ford radiators, but neatly fabricated and using probably the original neck and cap.
The swaps almost all would have require either money or well developed skills as the deuce and A filler locations differ, and the overwhelmingly popular '29's need shortening or hanging in front of crossmember...
The aesthetic drive behind this is interesting, and has intrigued me since I discovered the source books on the early rods and lakes cars. Looking at "When the hot rods ran" and other books, stance and overall looks are GREAT on most of these backyard contraptions...and now the aesthetic shown is closely followed not just by traditional types but even by streetrodders building fenderless cars.
Was THE LOOK totally an accidental result of what happens when you screw together a pile of deuce and A parts, or did it get as much attention as the engine?? Are we all following similar paths as the result of rigid, mindless adherence to what happened at Muroc, or did a bunch of crazy depression kids achieve a sort of Automotive Golden Mean that speaks to something inherently pleasing to large primates?

(An additional parallel Case to think about...Albert Drake, in one of his history books, shows the earliest use of the now nearly standard 1938 Ford taillight on a roadster. The picture dated to 1938 or 9! There's a piece that is just as prevalent on traditional and modern roadsters as the deuce shell. So new the rodder probably had to buy it new at the parts counter. You can almost hear the pioneer saying "OK, done, there's the perfect taillight. Now we can get back to tinkering on the motor.")

 

gwhite, great roadster pics. Would you happen to have one of the Howard Johansen car (#606) from Bonneville 1952 in your collection? Thanks for any help.