After convincing my wife that I can build a Model A woodie a lot cheaper than buying a 40 woodie and her seeing a picture of jeffkau's build. She is in after Moose did his magic with the color and adding a hood on the picture of jeff's build. So now my mind is going in a million directions. Do I buy another body/complete car or is there enough repop parts to build a new complete cowl? I certainly dont want to cut my coupe apart. I would like to avoid buying a complete car if possible. I already have the 30 coupe complete car and a Boling Bros. chassis that the coupe body was going on. So I will have a chassis availiable either way I go. Gamm may get the Boiling Bros chassis for her woodie and the grandson will get the stock chassis for his hot rod. He will end up with both eventually. Looking for ideas from you all, that know way more than I do.
What you need depends greatly on what sort of skills you have. Starting with a real steel cowl would be best. Should be able to find one without too much difficulty. I’d build a steel cage and hang the wood on it. Or even make it all out of steel and paint to to look like wood. And by the way, those front fenders are 28/29.
Needs windshield posts and more: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/30-31-model-a-roadster-cowl.1274796/
Find your wife a real woody. It will be way cooler and when she's done with it it will be worth something.
Go over on the Barn and look at the build thread by GB SISSON for his jail bar woodie. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175939&highlight=jail+bar+woodie
Not a model A , but a good start and in PA later kb Marketplace - 1932-34 Ford Truck Frame With Jaguar Susp. | Facebook
What is a real woodie? Did you read my post? I have a real Coupe that is gonna be hot rodded. I want hot rods not parade cars. And I dont make investments in vehicles. Although I did do good on my OT(2017) van I sold earlier this year after I used it for 4 years. 5K over new purchase price. I just need a cowl. Not financial advice.
Then why ask? Looks like you have all the bases covered. A real woody is one that was a woody originally. It's sorta like "stock" there's just one way to get there.
I'd contact the guys at Iron Trap Garage. They have a lot of original parts and should have a cowl and the trimmings.
Where did I say anything about an original woodie? I even added a picture as to not confuse anyone of my intentions. I was hoping someone could suggest what body/cowl to start with. Or if there are enough repop pieces produced to create a cowl. Some guys on here know the Model A body lines way better than I do. That is WHY I asked. I dont like making rash decisions without a little research. I dont want to regret buying one thing to find I should have bought another. But thanks anyhow.
On the list of candidates. I appreciate the info. Right now I am only 2 days into this. Price ,condition, and distance will dictate urgency. Thanks
Here are a few pics of my 29 A. Has a woody steel cowl and windshield. I didn't build it but do woodwork and. will say that it looks to be very difficult to build one. There may be plans available, that's the only way i would attempt to build one.
The National Woodie Club has plans for like 40 bucks for a model A based body. At least they used to. It’s a fairly easy body to build, woodie wise. The 40’s and 50’s get very complicated.
Well I have wagons.. this one went across the pond recently.. but I still have another.. and some parts for a 3rd 1929 wagon, because well.. because I like wagons. my avatar is a 40 woodie and I have a few parts for a 39 wagon that might help you get started.. and I am in Pennsylvania.. pm
Hey, CT; There are, or were, a few guys specializing in woodie "kits", catering to the streetrod & resto-rod guys, besides the restorers. One was IIRC, Doug Carr(Wooden Carr?) who also did one-offs , & I've forgotten the others. They did very nice work, but weren't cheap. Hemmings should be helpful. The Woodie club plans would be esp helpful. Fwiw, the squared-off look doesn't come off well at all, appearing as pallet-pieces no matter how well finished. The proportions never look correct, compared to the beaded & rounded-edges like the factories & even the aftermarket back then used. I always wanted a woodie, no matter how impractical for where I live, so a few years ago I got a ~'29 Nash cowl/dash/w.s./A-pillar body section. Had a line on a Nash chassis too, should've gotten that. Doubt it'll ever happen now, but point is, virtually any make could become a woodie. What year of make do you or wife like best? Start there. All you really need is cowl/hood/rad shell & fenders - rest is wood. There's a guy(Mike ?) on here w/a ~24 Dodge woodie built years ago from the Woodie Club plans - & it looks right. Marcus...
If you join the National Woodie Club you can purchase plans for a 1929 Ford Station Wagon body for $20.00.
"I have wagons", now there's an understatement. You have some of the most beautiful rides it's been my pleasure to see. When I read the OP's post, my first reaction was to send him to you. Thoroughly enjoyed the time my friend and I spent with you when we came up to get the '36 fenders.
You’ll also need a good source of hardwood to use, it can get pretty expensive. Check around with the local tree services on who has small sawmill in the area (who also stacks and dries it correctly).
Hello, You have the parts to get started, and have a great goal for your needs, but what you are describing is a street rod, not a traditional hot rod woody. There were a lot of stock woodies at gatherings and some had great modifications. But the majority of them were clean good looking stock wood and not reconstituted wood. The majority of the woodies have kept the stock look which is popular most everywhere. The original 32 Woody is a rare one indeed. If is is a real 32 woody to start. First, the drawback to the stock Model A woody wagon was the open feeling and no ability to lock the woody for security. Yes, even in 1959-65, there was a need to lock and secure your valuables from prying eyes. So, there was no kit or assembly to simply pop out and install roll up windows back then. The 40 woody models were the pinnacle then and possible now. Sleek design, able to secure the valuables any where parked. Jnaki My brother and I were stepping away from hot rods and drag racing, so our direction was to the nearby ocean for sport and traveling. Station wagons had the room, but not the classic look of old time woody wagons. So, our Model A coupe choice for our first build was based on old style hot rod and modern power. But, despite being Model A teens, we could not get over the lack of security. The woody doors did not lock and there were no locking windows. It was an open Phaeton with a wooden structure on top. So, there was no privacy or ability to go surfing with the woody parked in the lot, secret jungle hideout, or public parking place. This is what I had envisioned back then and would have boarded up the open window areas of the woody and made it into a sedan delivery. But, of course, years later, the look of the sedan delivery was too big, so a slightly, chopped version would have fit nicely, slight rake and all… The idea of security and convenience had my wife and me purchase a 327 powered project 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery that took many months of rebuilding and work to get is safe and secure. It was much better for us, although we did look at a variety of woody wagons from a Model A, a 32, a 40, and settled on a 46 Ford woody. That fell through and the sedan delivery popped up for us. Here in So Cal, there are woodies hiding in garages all over the place. But the one we see the most on the coastal streets is an old Dodge Woody that looks like a Model A version. This So Cal woody is definitely a daily driver, kept up nicely and has a following at the “woodies at the beach” shows. It has an addition that makes the Model A woody take a step back. sealed windows for security and warmth driving around on those cold coastal mornings along the shoreline highways. A lot of woodies get driven on the weekends and to car shows. My old neighbor had a maroon 46 Ford woody that he drove to work once a week, just to keep it running well. But, most of the time, it sat in his garage. We have seen this Dodge woody, just about any day of the week, when we are out and about. Usually, it can be seen coming in the opposite lane as the red color and wood combination stick out quite well. But, as So Cal traffic goes, it is hard to get a nice photo unless anyone is following the woody/or any hot rod down the street. Check out the custom tinted windows to ward off that hot Southern California sun. The neat thing, when the car is coming down the street towards you, is the stance. It is just lowered enough to look like a road hugging 50's-60's surf wagon on a mission to get to the beach. Back in those old, 10-11 foot "longboard" days, the boards would have to be strapped to the top (but no one had permanent racks on top) or sticking out of the rear window, with the front seat or back seat as low as possible. Later on, the individual bucket seats with lay back seats made it easier to transport the old longboards and the popular clip on racks became into the scene. Here is one Model A woody built by a So Cal hot rod shop. It has all of the goodies necessary to have fun, but it still needs windows and a locking set of doors. Today, there are people with the knowledge and parts to do the conversion for security. The price is low for the build parts and quality. But, further additions of a locking security is necessary. YRMV As far as a 39-40 Ford starter project, @GregCT. has a good one ready to add your own accessories. And, it has windows.
If your are at the dreaming stage then take a look the Murphy 34 woody that some builder made that caught my eye years ago. The expensive hit would be the chrome grille if one can be found. The shoebox woodies have kits available to renew the wood which is better scratch building. I at the age that I want my projects done in my life time which is less than more so I would be in the kit mode. This is a link to the roadster. Click on the thumbnails on the right for more views. https://www.superridesbyjordan.com/p784957098/h16721609#h16721609
I agree with nrgwizard, "Fwiw, the squared-off look doesn't come off well at all, appearing as pallet-pieces no matter how well finished. The proportions never look correct, compared to the beaded & rounded-edges like the factories & even the aftermarket back then used." This is my problem with most of the home made woodys and most guys who replace the body parts they don't have with wood, beds, fenders, boat tails......... Some get it right but not many. If I had known in the 60s that new wood was available for my '51 Ford I'd still have it. I did what I could but was too dumb to pull it off. Just a source for the special hardware would have helped, that and some knowledge. It is so much easier to find stiff now!
If you are versed in hot rods, carpentry and cabinet making you have the skills to pull one off. On top of that you need all the tools to build a hot rod AND do the woodwork. In the late 90s I was planning on doing the very same thing with a 28/9 cowl. Never did because I found my Touring body instead. There have been some pretty cool homebuilt woodies over the years.
is the blue one a a400 30/31 cowl sloping screen post from a victoria the hinges are in a different position from the coupe and sedan and pickup the physical length of the cowl is different from the common or garden 30-31 it has more in keeping with a 32 cowl. so find a 32 cowl p.s. the a400 victoria 1931 doors are much longer than sedans - so even longer that coupes ahem.............................. 1936 woodie cowl 1000 bucks 1936 Ford Woody cowl, dash, and windshield | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com) 7500 bucks Original 1936 Ford Pheaton Project | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com) 1. if its an oem vert it will have the thicker steel in the frame 2. If you ahve aftermarket front end stuff on your current model a it will bolt in. 3. you will get $$ moving on the body even minus the floor 4. not so much tin bashing on the sheetmetal 5. you will be feeding the wood burner chips and dust pronto
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