I recently saw this Model A special coupe at a cars & coffee but was unable to locate the owner. It has piece of beltline trim that looks clean & does a nice job of holding the vinyl in place. Is it a stock piece, custom made, off another vehicle ? In the last pic you'll see it looks like a piece of possibly aluminum channel with a possibly plastic insert. You'll notice bit is broken off by the door handle..
Our coupe just has a "z bar" style that rolls the vinyl over and crimps it and its getting pretty worn out.
I believe it is a part that might be available, it appears to be a piece found on the Model A Sport Coupes. HRP
I've had two Special Coupes , my avatar and a stock 29 that both had the two piece band. It's a stock part, the base tacks on the belt line wood and then there is a snap on cover, I've never seen a repop of it, the inner band is on quite a few of the cars but the outer piece is hard to find. My 29 has the stock band but my avatar had Hidem Welt because I didn't have the band.
That looks like a molding used on boats as well. My Peterborough had one like that to cover the seam between the hull and upper section. It was a semi flexible, form fitting aluminum that was riveted in place, with the center rubber/vinyl insert slid in place after installation, just like 2OLD2FAST has shown.
It's used on Sport Coupes and Business Coupes and not reproduced. It is a very hard part to remove without damaging it. The inner part is nailed to the wood that is bolted to the body and over the roof fabric, the cover snaps over it. Occasionally you will see then while walking the aisles at HERSHEY or other larger Model A swap meets but you usually see them in one piece, as taking it apart as I mentioned, will damage it in some way.
Rare part, and the price tags on the ones I've seen at Hershey may shock you, but you better buy it, there aren't too many others to choose from.
I was unable to scan it but my most recent Mike's "A"FORD-able Parts catalog has these moldings listed as A473013. 10Ft. Piece 5/8" wide. $27.95 I'll try a pic.
But...This catalog is from pre-Covid. A lot of parts are now temporarily not in stock, discontinued or now a higher cost. . It's worth a phone call. 706-652-3866 Edit: I just measured, one 10' strip is more than enough.
Ok guys great info & many thanks for the help. Ive looked and yall are right, I have almost the exact same looking aluminum trim with the rubber insert on my old camper. If it could be bent without kinking it up that may be the DIY solution. Hersheys to far for me, I'll check Pate swap meet in April. Being rare & fragile probably explains why ours was done the way it is. That and around here special & sport coupes are both pretty rare. I'll definetley check that Mikes catolog too. That looks like the same style channel as well. Thanks guys !
Those aluminium pieces in the Mike's catalog are for the top. They are too narrow for the beltline you are wanting. I have never seen a reproduction for the beltline. As said, original ones are very hard to find. I do have one that I would sell, but safely shipping it would be expensive. We can chat via PM if you like.
LONE, I'd suggest something that was once the normal way to do this 'piece it together' thing, before the internet. Grab a catalog from a supplier or two of parts. Maybe even grab a judging book for the car, if there is one (Model A for sure). They can answer a ton of questions you haven't even though of yet, and give you an idea of value, so you know when to pass and when to grab.
Restoration Supply Company, www.restorationstuff.com has what is listed in their catalog as "Half Oval Moulding. It comes in brass, aluminum and steel. It looks like it would work just fine if you can get the bends correct. Part number MOU030 is 1'' wide aluminum and comes in an 80" length. I would anneal the aluminum and bend it to fit and countersink screw holes to attach it and fill the holes.
Here is a Mike's Top Roof Molding: https://www.mikes-afordable.com/mm5...=b793336904f7206afcef442e4c858877&Screen=SRCH I'm not sure any are correct for your car. Call Mike, he and his daughter are very helpful.
Thanks again guys for the info & offers. Id be hesitant to try & ship one, I sure appreciate the offer. Im gonna do a little more research, see what Mike says. Knowing our cheap DIY mentality we'll probably end up making custom to work.
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