1914 Body changeover date

[jeffstag]

Hello, here's a question from dad, who is working on his August 1913 chassis. He wants to know if anyone has information on when Ford started to use 1914 bodies. I see in the encyclopedia that '14 touring bodies may have appeared as early as July '13, can the same be said for other body styles? Thanks.
-Jeff

[Scott_Conger]

Jeff, I would doubt that other years had similar very early introductions to new body styles. The 1913 was a significant design change and I consider it to be a particularly nice and interesting car...I have a Jan. 1, 1913 touring, myself. That said, the body design was a dud from robustness standards, with the rear portion of the wooden body frame often cracking at the rear door. My car sports one of the forged reinforcement plates at each rear door to stop that from happening. Even so, it drives like riding a snake. It sort of flows with the terrain. Going around the corner on high crowned brick roads frequently cause the rear doors to open up since the body is so flexible. Once on a straightaway, the gaps are normal, the doors close and latch. No paint pops, no cracks appear.

[Drkbp]

Jeff,

You are probably referring to the note below dated July 1, 1913. It has been a while since we discussed these early 1914 style Touring cars. Most likely brought about by the weak design of the 1913 style Touring bodies.

I have 312,4XX which is a July 1913 and it is a 1914 style Beaudette Touring. The transmission stub shaft is dated 7-11-13, car assembly 7-17-1913.

The factory seems to have been assembling both styles beginning sometime in June 1913 and for about three more months of the 1913 model year. The only difference was which body was dropped on the chassis. Some may have had the 1913 style windshields as well.
Beaudette had built the stronger of the 1913 style Touring bodies and it could very well be that they furnished the earliest "1914" style bodies. A little different beading than the later 1914 bodies.

[Scott_Conger]

Kenneth

interesting info about your car. Thanks for sharing.

[TonyB]

It seems that not all bodies suffered from the weakness as there is a note:


JUL 14 Acc. 575, Letter 434, Ford Archives
Noted that 1913 Touring bodies were made by Herbert, Fisher, Wilson, and Beaudett. Apparently the Beaudett bodies differed in construction from the others. Beaudett bodies with a filler block on the rear door hinge posts apparently did not need the steel reinforcing pieces.

Previous notes indicate that reinforcing plates are dated May 1913 and make no mention of the various body builders.

[Scott_Conger]

Tony

I am guessing that as of July '13, no problems were found with the Beaudette bodies was indicative of the length of service and that they must have been marginally better, but the fact that you could buy the brace from Ford post purchase indicates to me at least, that regular service over months/years proved to be too much for everyone's body. It's interesting that no attempt was made to spec out an internally reinforced design mandate to the body makers and that the design was simply obsoleted in less than a year's worth of production.

Those who recall Constantine's trek across the globe several years ago, will recall that his '13 broke apart during what must be one of the most arduous lives a '13 has ever experienced. I think his was not reinforced.

[Ed Fuller]

My Touring has an engine block S/N from June 9, 1913. It has a mix of ‘13 & ‘14 features with a ‘14 style Beaudett body and early ‘13 style fenders.

The car has been in my family since the 1950’s when it was purchased by my grandfather. It is a very original and complete car.

[Drkbp]

Ed,

Thanks for the June 9, 1913, early date. I assume you have the metal coil box? If so, pretty well confirms the switch to the new coil begun in March 1913 was over by June 1913. The new coil won't fit the wood coil box.

Same here on the '13 fenders, pipe plug engine, two piece drive shaft housing, etc. Mine just happens to have mostly DB furnished parts.

[Ed Fuller]

Ken,

Yup, same here with mine. Metal coil box, two piece drive shaft housing, and pipe plug engine block.