1927 Coupe Model T Ford Front Seat Back Panel

[daveclause]

Hello, everyone.

I am looking for the seat back panel for the 1927 Coupe. I have checked ekler's, lang's and a few other sites but am only finding them for the roadster.

Is there a manufacturer for this part or do I need to fab one up?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[Humblej]

Not sure I know what you mean by a coupe seat back panel. There is no metal panel directly behind the seat. The seat back springs mount to a wood frame that is visible through the trunk. There is a package tray that fills the gap between the top of the seat back and the rear window. Several versions over the years, most were metal with different amounts of wood, some were all wood. All were cloth covered. If that is what you need there are no repos, and not the sort of thing you find used. The metal tray has a lot of bends that making a new one from scratch will be a challenge...particularly if you do not have a pattern to copy. But you say the roadster has one, so the roadster does not have a package tray, the piece behind the seat on a roadster is the back of the body. The coupe is a very different body than the roadster.

[Humblej]

[daveclause]

Thanks, Humble. I did not know this. Very interesting to find this out. I guess I'll fab one up.

Thank you, again.

[Humblej]

[Humblej]

From the Ford Service Bulletin.

[Mark Gregush]

I am pretty sure he is talking about a panel that would close off the trunk from the cab not the package shelf. The T nor A had one and I do not recall one on the 33 coupe I worked on. You could see the support and springs when you looked in the trunk even on the later coupes and sedans. At some point the trunks became better finished and may have had some extra bracing, but would have had card board type panels added to finish off the trunk and if you took the card board away you would still be able to see the springs.

[jab35]

If I ever get to this on my '26 coupe, I plan to use hardboard material covered with non woven landscape fabric. The fabric looks old going in, and will likely age gracefully inside the trunk.

FWIW, I have seen pics on this forum of old reupholstering work on '26 seat backs where some type of dark fabric was installed behind the spring but in front of the frame. With that treatment the wooden frame was visible inside the trunk but the interior of the spring was hidden. I think landscape fabric would be good in that application too, it can easily 'breath when the seatback is compressed. jb

[daveclause]

Mark, Exactly what I was talking about. The wall to close the trunk area from the main cabin.
I assumed there would be one like the Roadster has but there isn't one.
I guess that I'll fab one up. I need that area closed off to suite me.

Thanks to all for the reply's. They are very appreciated.

[Humblej]

Dave, if you close off the back of the seat area I think you will have some issues with access to the battery.

[rickg]

I used a piece of 1/2" plywood on the back of the seat on my 26 coupe, I painted it and attached it to the package shelf with a couple of angle brackets, the battery is in a battery box mounted to the floor, I have a wood floor instead of the sheet metal.

Rick

[StanHowe]

My 27 coupe came with the seat back support in pieces, it looks like just a few uprights with some cross pieces. We cut a piece of 3/8 plywood to fit in that space and bolted it in to some existing holes as that was much quicker and easier than trying to make a repro of the factory support. It also seals that area very well and made a very solid support for the seat back. I am not so concerned about authenticity anyway. We made a cover for the battery of the same plywood, it fits well and does not need to be removed to access the battery through the trunk opening.

I am gradually gathering up parts for my winter project of rebuilding it. I may end up buying a new top wood kit for it, there is a new but 40 years old kit on it now with no fabric or cover so that is also a project. It has been wet enough times that it is a little warped etc. I'm not sure who has those kits but I think they are in that $500 range.