Mid-1931 Canadian assembled car (plant not known). This was a chauffer driven car, originally owned by a gentleman in Winnipeg Manitoba. Purchased by a restorer in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. We purchased the car through an auction sale in Calgary, and once again a name had to be chosen for our purchase. 'Diamond' was the appropriate name selected, and as it has turned out, that has been the perfect choice, as it has turned out to be equivalent to a very large 'Diamond'.
Many of the 'Murray Body' automobiles were also built in facilities leased from Ford in the Ford Plant using original Ford prints.
During the original restoration, the vehicle was repainted along with the installation of new 'Mohair Upholstery'. Since acquisition of the car by Audrey and myself, we have also installed a synchromesh transmission, along with a Mitchell Overdrive, being powered by a 5.5 high compression head.
My 1929 Tudor was built in Denver on June 14, 1929. It is all original right down to the plain brown check upholstery. It has just under 50,000 miles on it and is a pleasure to drive. I purchased the car in Turner Valley five years ago. It had been sitting in a garage for about nine years since its owner had passed away. Very little needed to be done to it to ready it for touring. I could not have asked for a better car. ....Ted
There aren't very many trucks like this in Canada because closed cab pick-ups weren't produced here until 1930. This one originally emanated from North Dakota and Ron & Irene Rigby bought it in 2008 as a work-in-progress from a chap who had acquired it in 1993. He had also acquired many of the restoration parts needed and did begin the restoration but then gave up and hadn't touched it for 10 or 12 years after discovering just how much effort a restoration project of this nature entails. The occasion of Calgary's Lougheed House July 25th, '09 Heritage Day was the first occasion this truck was displayed following its completion. Subsequent to a Ford trucks promotion and display at Gerry Wood's Woodridge Ford outlet, in 2011 this truck became an addition to the Gerry Wood collection of Ford collectibles.
This vehicle was purchased as a rusted, bullet infested pile of metal on a nearly complete chassis. Body work was done by someone else, wood and all other finishing done by Peter.
Although some Cabriolets were produced in both 1929 and 1931 the majority, and the most attractive ones, were produced in 1930. The Model A Cabriolets were the first true convertibles produced by Ford in that they were the first open Fords to have 'roll- up side-windows' instead of 'clip-on weather curtains'. Harry Wigle must be given credit for scrounging parts from Oregon, Boston, and Saskatoon as well as Alberta and for completing much of the restoration work on this car. At one point though he had endured three hip and two knee replacements and could no longer get into the car, but was reluctant to sell it until it had been finalized to the stage he had originally envisioned. Having expressed an interest in the car Ron Rigby worked with Harry in 2002 and 2003 to finalize restoration of a variety of components, install an overdrive unit and a set of cast iron brake drums, and eventually add a set of wind-wings. It was September of 2003 that Ron and Irene Rigby formally bought the car following which for some 21 years they enjoyed it as their primary touring Model A. Following its accumulation of 8,000 miles it is my pleasure to have now acquired what is the only Model A Cabriolet in the Club from Ron in September of 2024 and I now have the pleasure of enjoying one of the nicest Model A's in the Province.
Although precise history of the car is not known, it is believed to have been in Southern Alberta since new. An initial restoration, primarily mechanical, was undertaken around 1960. The car was not driven until after complete restoration by Al Bank of Calgary in 1989 - 91. The car has been owned by the Rouses since purchase from Al Bank on August 10, 1991. The Rouses have put about 20,000 trouble free miles on the car including a 1530 mile trip to the MAFCA N.W. Regional Meet in Surrey, B.C. during August 1998 and a similar 1100 mile visit to Spokane in 2001. The car was judged at the '93 and '98 MAFCA regional meets and received a 3rd Place at each meet.
Used for club activities and many enjoyable rides in the countryside of the Carstairs and Sundre areas.
I acquired my '28 Sport Coupe from fellow club members George and Bonnie in 1997, who nicknamed it Henry. They had owned it for 25 years. This car has the date of August 31, 1928 stamped on the firewall. It is a Canadian built car, with all the usual Canadian made features such as Robertson screws and smooth bumper clamps. I believe that the engine is still the original one installed at the factory. It has a five-bearing camshaft. The rumble seat was also original from the factory. The car is a fairly low mileage one that appears to have been well kept and maintained all of its life. George thinks that it belonged to an old spinster lady at one time. It has never been given a complete restoration, but it was repainted and the original top replaced many years ago. In the time that I have owned it, I have completely rebuilt the engine and transmission and installed a new top and headliner. I had the wheels powder coated. I rebuilt and installed an original horn, along with numerous other small repairs. My goal with this car is to make it a reliable and enjoyable driver.
Canadian assembled car out of the Ford Plant in Winnipeg Manitoba. This car was originally owned by a elderly lady in Saskatchewan. The car was then sold to Trevor Dumville, who eventually turned over ownership to Harvey Dejong of Nobleford Alberta. Glenn and Audrey Smith purchased the car, 'Rolex' from Harvey Dejong, in October 2007. This car was given the name 'Rolex' due to the fact, that when they were discussing the purchase, a comment was made that if they purchased the Fordor 'there goes your Rolex Watch'
The 'Model A Ford Briggs Body cars', were actually manufactured in the United States at the Ford Plant in Michigan. Ford leased fabricating facilities to 'Briggs' for this purpose, to bolster fabrication output of the Ford Motor plant, for shipment of vehicle body's to assembly plants in Canada. Many of the 'Model A Ford' cars built in Canada were scheduled for shipment to other commonwealth countries before assembly plants could be respectfully built in those countries.
This car has the original lacquer paint sporting the normal 'lacquer paint crazing', along with much of the original upholstery. When you study the assembly of this particular model, you will notice the use of slotted screws in the interior, (as shipped out of the Ford Plant in the USA), with the use of 'Robertson Screws' being used for external parts assembly here in Canada.
It should be noted that on this particular model of car, the absence of pin stripping which was dropped in August of 1928. Vehicle was manufactured September 1928.
Rolex now has a synchromesh transmission, along with a Mitchell Overdrive, being powered by a 5.5 high compession head.
Barry is now the proud owner as it was recently purchased from Glenn in August of 2021. The car is renamed 'RJ' (short for Rolex Junior) as Glenn wanted to retain the name Rolex for his new Model A.
Doug's Story
Our 1929 Model A, Tudor was purchased with the aid of my father, Ole Knutson when I was seventeen years old (1976). The 29 Model A was sitting in an old barn on a farm in Southern Saskatchewan. After making a solid offer of $75 dollars, I became the proud owner of the car. I felt confident in my abilities to restore the car to its original glory, which was the beginning of quite an adventure. The progress seemed extremely slow while I was attending technical school in Edmonton. Whenever I came home to the farm, I would remove and take some component back to be rebuilt. Once married, I needed to convince the New Bride that the Old Model A required a warm place inside the garage Wendy's comments included - 'What are you going to do with that Pile of Rust'? What a joy it was to fire her up the first time and drive her around the back alleys. My entire family enjoys the car immensely and my wife now refers to the old Pile of Rust as the 'Date Car'
The date on the firewall of our Roadster indicates it was produced on July 17th, 1928 and its restoration from a 'barnyard rust bucket' to being awarded a second place Blue Ribbon award in the 1997 NW Regional MAFCA Meet held in Portland, Oregon, - - required a total of some three years. As both members of the Stampede City Club (SCMAFC) and residents of Medicine Hat It has been our pleasure to not only use it to participate in a number of Club functions including the 2003 Regional Meet hosted by our Club, but to also enjoy the attention this car garners in our own corner of the Province. Besides having been displayed on a local automotive calendar it is also displayed monthly in the TSG Insurance group's 'Legends Collector Car Coverage advertisement' currently appearing in the Club's newsletter, 'The Script'.
It was a Northern Alberta car with a squirrel infested engine that sat for many years, before we tackled the restoration. The car restoration was lots of late evenings, many swap searches, contacts, drive here and there, many weekends work but well worth it. We especially enjoy the time we can now spend with seniors centers and the joys and memories it brings to them.
My car was purchased new by my grandfather in '29; however it was a fordor at the time. As kids it was one of our favourite places to play and was everything from a rocket ship to a sailing ship. Unfortunately, when it was time to restore it there was little recognizable body left so I found the roadster body after mostly completing the mechanical repairs and it is not as you see it. The picture was at the flyin breakfast this past weekend at Sundre.
Picture taken at the progressive dinner 2007.
My Dad Jim first purchased our '28 Tudor sedan in Sept. of 1974 as a complete basket case. The restoration was a father/son project which we completed in Oct. of 1981. The total cost was $5392.12 which included body work, paint and upholstery which we all did ourselves. We did a couple of tours with it when it was just in primer, with no interior. Dad originally purchased a supposedly rebuilt engine for it, but we eventually realized it was all worn out and had just been painted to look nice. In 1986 we undertook the complete rebuild of a different engine which was a vast improvement. We have driven it to many Northwest Regional meets in the US, and it has been a regular at all our club's tours over the years. We have put over 100,000 miles on it since and have had to rebuild the engine again. I inherited it after Dad's passing in 2020. It has proven to be a reliable touring car over these many years.
The truck was purchased from around the Burdett area in Southern Alberta. As
far as we know, it was used for farm use.
It was restored over a period of ten years and completed in 2000 by Larry
Duncan and Frank Schile.
Located in Saskatoon
The 31 Deluxe Roadster originated in BC and only had 101.4 miles on her since restoration. Added a few personal touches like a luggage trunk and complete tool kit and wooden oak display box as per MAFCA. Plate on her is IZZY31
The restoration of this car was well advanced when the previous owner began having health problems and had to give up on the project. As of late in 2021 Ron has subsequently finished the restoration of the car excepting for the need to rebuild the car's original motor while the car utilizes an alternative in the interim.
Currently only 4 of the 180-A's assembled in Canada are still known to exist, one is in the Netherlands, one in Australia, one which was originally owned by the Brewster Family of Banff but whose location and owner the 180-A association members have been unable to locate, and the one owned by Ron which appears to be the only one known to remain in Canada.
From being virtually un-restorable when the previous owner discovered it languishing in a Windsor warehouse early in this century until now the car has been essentially restored to 'Blue Ribbon Fine Point Judging Standards'. Ron and Irene are now awaiting the resumption of NW Regional Model A Meets involving fine point restoration judging in which to enter this car.
Mike and Terese first purchased a 1928 Roadster Pickup but quickly realized it wasn't much of a family car. Club member, Dave Dodd suggested a Tudor and recalled that there was one located in Castlegar, BC that might be for sale. Mike and the two kids immediately took off on a road trip to check it out. It turned out that the previous owners had driven the car from Truro NS, back to Castlegar to fulfil the husband's wishes to own a Model A and drive across Canada. Sadly, the husband passed away soon after the trip and the car sat in a shed for many years. The car was originally built in the US and had a long history in Nova Scotia. When Mike and Terese bought it, the body and paint were in great shape but the car's mechanical condition was wanting. With the help of many club members and a huge contribution from Glenn Smith, Mike completely restored the chassis, the engine and transmission and added an overdrive. The Tudor is an excellent driver and its A&W themed Thorne brown and orange colors always solicits comments and puts a smile on people's faces.
This is a genuine Canadian truck whose initial background is un-recorded but which was apparently assembled in Ford's Winnipeg plant. In 1998 it was retrieved as a "barn find" from Melfort, Saskatchewan by Ron Rigby who then moved it to Alberta and completed its initial restoration just prior to the turn of the century.
From 2002 until 2024 this truck was based in Coleman where besides being used to promote the "Country Encounters" organization, was utilized for several family weddings, and normally entered annually in the Crowsnest and area's July 1 parade.
Since acquiring this truck Brian and Wendy have given it a renewal complete with new wooden box boards, new upholstery, a complete paint job, and a multitude of additional minor upgrades.