1911 Torpedo top-to-windshield fit question

[Mark Nunn]

The owner of the red Torpedo shown below sent me a batch of photos. I am giving serious consideration of buying it and I know it needs TLC. I am wondering about what to do about the large gap between the top and the top of the windshield. I am comparing it to the blue Torpedo, which many of you have seen before.

I have not seen the car in person yet, although two of my friends got it running and gave me intel. What should I be looking at or measuring to asses fit issues? Is the windshield wrong or the windshield support rods? Any input from Torpedo experts is appreciated. This car has been in the same local family since the early 1950's and displayed in a museum for decades. So, it needs work to make it road worthy. I'm prepared for that but that top issue bugs me. Thank you Mark

[love2T's]

Not an expert, but having had one a while back that I sold, the lower windshield on the red car looks to be "flatter" than the blue one? Could be an optical delusion tho. But yeh, sumpin aint right? Isn't this the same car that's been on Hemmings for like ever, starting out at around $40K? If so, man have prices tanked!

[KWTownsend]

That gap is pretty big. I'm not a Torpedo owner, but I'd measure the length of the front bow from the pivot to the leading edge on both (or more) cars. It might be the bow was not seated inti the top socket far enough.
Good luck!

: ^ )

Keith

[Herb Iffrig]

The windshield on the blue one looks like the way the windshield is fitted on mine. I have always considered mine to be correct because of the research that I have done. There should be a long brass cover to keep the rain from leaking through the crack dividing the upper and lower sections of the windshield. It is needed because of the way the windshield zig zags. The rain could fall through and land on your knees or the coilbox.
Check the steering column to see if it looks original. That is one of the parts that that is unique to the Torpedo. The length and angle it is mounted to the dash are different There are others, the sidelight brackets are different, the sediment bulb is different.
Those are the differences I can think of that would not be apparent in the photos.

[Scott_Conger]

Mark, I think there are two things wrong which are the bulk of the gap:

1. The top is very square in back and flat across the top...if the back raked back a little, the center bow would be the tallest, and then if the front bow was dropped down and the top material extended forward (perhaps 4-5") then the front bow would be in place correctly (a shame because that was a well done top but to the wrong profile)

2. The support rods from windshield frame to the body are clearly too short; the angled windshield is well below the top of the steering wheel and should be above the wheel. Extending these rods will bring the top pane to be perpendicular to the road lift the top of the lower pane to be above the steering wheel and less "flat", and then be tall enough to engage just behind the corrected top

All easy fixes with some $$ so that in my opinion would affect the price just a little bit.

[Model T Mark]

I own the blue one. Mine was a little too tight in that picture because the windshield was too far forward. I since have adjusted it. I have seen that gap all over the place in 11 Torpedoes. Contact me through this site if you have any questions. I have restored three of these in the past 30 years. I would be more than happy to talk Torpedoes with you. Mark E.

[Mark Nunn]

Isn't this the same car that's been on Hemmings for like ever, starting out at around $40K? If so, man have prices tanked!

Yes, this is the same car. And no, it is not a $40k Torpedo. It needs some things to be operational and some that should be fixed.

It has a lawnmower carburetor. It does not have a wire choke going through the radiator. Instead, it has a flexible choke cable that passes through a hole drilled in the front cross member with the knob sticking out front. It doesn't have brake rods from the brake lever to the parking brake. It has auxiliary brakes and I suspect that the rods to those interfered with standard rods. There is no carbide generator or even burners in the headlamps. Rear tires look like 30x3 rather than 30x3.5.

The car is full of Phillips head screws and Menards hardware. It will take a lot of research to find proper bolts and castle nuts.