Model A

1930 Slant Windshield Tudor Sedan 55-B

E.G.Budd Company Prototype

This series of photos from the Budd Company archives were taken September 30, 1930 at Budd's Philadelphia body plant showing an experimental 1930 slant windshield Tudor Sedan.

This vehicle was a prototype and was never released for production as a Model A, though it does bear a strong resemblance to the later 1932 Ford Model B Tudor Sedan.

Also note that it is apparently shown as a 'standard' model, without cowl lamps, though it would have had the most advanced styling of the time, and which could have deemed it as a 'deluxe' model.

Note the seam between the body side panel assembly and the rear body panel assembly. This bolted joint construction is the same as used on coupes, tudors, roadsters, phaetons, and the 1931 slant windshield sedans. This construction allowed the panel subassemblies to be shipped efficiently by rail for final assembly, painting, and trimming at a Ford assembly plant.

This bolted-panel body design method is in contrast to the typical Fordor Sedan and Victoria body constructions of both Murray and Briggs. Murray and Briggs both built complete wood-framed body shells without bolted metal seams, and generally shipped completely assembled, painted, and trimmed bodies directly to Ford assembly plants.

This Tudor prototype was presumably a proposal to Ford for an improved 1931 body style. It seems to share the front end cowl and door design with the 1930 Victoria Coupe 190-A (built by Murray), which was the first regular production Model A slant windshield closed car.

This Tudor was quite an attractive car, and was a considerable styling improvement over the regular production 1928-31 Tudor Sedans. It is unfortunate that this was not approved for production, and that this prototype apparently did not survive.

The photos above and below show some details of the body construction, especially relating to the radiused corners of the door openings, unlike the typical Model A construction. This design would appear beginning with the 1932 Ford production.

Also note the rotary inside door handles, another feature of production slant windshield cars such as the Victoria and the Fordor Sedan.

There is no evidence of the typical center dome lamp as found on 'standard' sedans. This car may have had an oval dome lamp above the rear window, as typically found on 'deluxe' sedans.

Additionally, this sedan is trimmed with full rear carpeting which is also a 'deluxe' feature.

The Edward G. Budd company was based in Philadelphia, PA, and was an industry leader in the design and construction of all-steel auto bodies. Unlike Ford, GM, and others, Budd did not have access to vast reserves of timber for wood framed bodies, and so developed their expertise in sheet metal stamping and structural panel sub-assemblies capable of being efficiently nested and shipped by rail to Ford plants for final assembly. These modular panel constructed bodies used minimal wood content, primarily for top and trim.

In addition, Budd was a large supplier of completely assembled all-steel bodies to Chrysler Corporation in the 1920s and 1930s.

More related information on Ford Garage:

For more Model A & B related information, use the Site Search box at the top or bottom of this page.
Model A & AA US Body Style Numbers & Body Builders Chart
Model A 1928 Budd Roadster 40-A Development
Model A 1928-29 Budd Cab 82-A
Model A 1929 Budd Deluxe Delivery 130-A
Model A 1930 Budd Roadster 40-B Development
Model A 1930 Budd Phaeton 35-B Development
Model A 1931 Budd Cab 82-B

December 2013