Classic cars, vintage cars, automotive restoration

Cool custom style line, looking as though it was born on the production line back in 1929

Classic 1929 Ford Sedan: Custom Style Line – Part 1

This is part one of an automotive restoration series on this 1929 Ford Sedan.

Traditionally, the style line on a classic 1929 Ford Sedan ends three quarters the way up the body at the ‘C’ Post. The customer of this Ford requested that the style line be modified to continue along the roof line. We then suggested that when the style line met the ‘B’ post, it should tapered down to meet the ‘A’ post to mimic the hood line. He agreed and liked the idea.

The first image showing the original body and style lines and the next shows where we draft out the style line to be created. We have drawn and cut out a cardboard profile gauge to aid the development of the style line. The profile drawings on the cardboard are of side profiles of the roof line, to help profile shaping when it’s time to build the panel.

Custom 1929 Ford Sedan - style line — Before the surgery – this is how a classic looks

We initially made the panel with the aid of an English wheel and Eckhold shrinking machine. To make the bead line in the panel, we had to then make tooling with the aid of a lathe. The tooling was then fitted to a bead roller machine, from there we formed the bead in the panel. Using the pre-made templates, we reshaped the panel after the bead distortion, offering it constantly to the car roof line to compare the shape. Once we were happy, the panel was clamped up and clico’d into position. A line was scribed around the perimeter of the panel and the shape was cut into the roof and the hole replaced by the the new custom panel. We then tacked the panel in, plannished the weld, and fully TIG welded in. The weld was then ground down by 5/16″ grinding wheel and plannished once again. From here the body and custom panel is metal finished to completion.