1938 ford ragtop

[stitchdup]

I recently got a parts lot of 37 ford parts which has allowed me to start on this. I made friends with a guy probably ten years or more back on the british hotrod forum (its real name wont pass the censor) after he said he was thinking to move to orkney. I figured it had fallen through as i never saw his car about, but at this years vintage show, on the second day, there it was in all its carson topped glory. My favourite early ford in my favourite style, and i was doubly shocked as i thought he had a sedan, but i took loads of pics, though none are very good.

.So afte not making the finish line for the cannonball, and having numerous started builds in varying states of completion, I started another. I'm using the parts lot as it had a coupe body included along with the carson top from the amt 50 ford. its too long and its way too wide at the front but nothing a couple of slices lengthways wont fix. I started with the front fenders and briefly considered using 40 pick up ones but after studying them it was easier to mod the 37 ones. I used some left over shapes at the rear but i'll be working them to be shorter. At the front i cut the fender centre out, split it and glued it back with a spacer. This got the top shape close but the 37 fenders have a peak the 38 doesn't have, and the 38 is more bulbous. So out came the saw and i sliced along the peak and 4mm towrd the outer edge which i then filled with rod. I then built up scraps i can file back to suit. 

 

 

[stitchdup]

A little more progress. I've cut up the amt 50 ford carson top to fit this better. I also messed up chopping the screen so had to add some back. How i got it 3mm too much is beyond me as i only used 2mm tape to mark it. And the front fenders are getting closer.

 

[stitchdup]

I'm going to have to lengthen the top. Even though I'm happy with the shape, it doesn't match the real car. I still have the parts i removed so it should be a simple job. 

[Kutnplastik]

Awesome project! I had that same 37 sedan molded in orange! Can’t wait to see it transform.

[Dan Hay]

I dig it. I built something similar. Not a coupe but I did used the same top from the 50 Ford convertible. 

Edited yesterday at 03:57 AM by Dan Hay

[Kutnplastik]

That is awesome! Great look!

[stitchdup]

4 hours ago, Dan Hay said:

I dig it. I built something similar. Not a coupe but I did used the same top from the 50 Ford convertible. 

very cool, and the same colour i'm using too

[stitchdup]

The top is stretched. I added back 6mm using part of the removed materiel and while the glue was out i aded a sliver of plastic below the rear window. A little fine tuning on the rear corners and it should sit level but its pretty close. I also extended the interior space to suit the redone top. Next up is finishing the fenders