VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 '32 hood vents

I keep seeing the same models of '32; some with chrome vent doors and others with painted vent doors.

So my question:

Which model/models of '32 vehicles had chrome and which had painted hood vent doors?

Gator;

All Deluxe models have chrome hood doors, and all Standand models have painted hood doors.

However, the hood door latches on both models are chrome.

Is it that simple RGwiz?

Follow-up, what makes a model a Deluxe?

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This is where I get mixed up...my standard cabriolet has chrome hood vents and it is an original car from the original family.

According to the '32 Sales Data booklet (pages dated 12/31) De Luxe models had chrome hood ports and cowl lights, two spare wheels in fender wells. The exception is the Landau Phaeton, Sport Roadster, Sport Coupe, Five Passenger Coupe & Convertible Cabriolet with rear spare also had cowl lights and chrome ports. All "standard" models had hood port handles that were chrome. At least that is the early models. Later in the model year many of the De Luxe models were discontinued.

Thanks Chip, that is what I wanted to know.

The posting by RGwiz is not entirely accurate.

Prior to April of 1932, the following models were available with the following equipment:

Special Sedan (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

DeLuxe Convertible Cabriolet (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

DeLuxe Five-Window Coupe (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Standard Five-Window Coupe (no sidemounts, no cowl lights and painted hood ports)

DeLuxe Five-Passenger Coupe (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Deluxe Coach (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Deluxe Sport Coupe (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Deluxe Convertible Landau Phaeton (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Convertible Landau Phaeton (no sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Deluxe Coupe (sidemounts, cowl lights, and chromed hood ports)

Sport Coupe (no sidemounts, cowl lights, and chromed hood ports)

Standard Roadster (no sidemounts, no cowl lights, and painted hood ports)

Deluxe Sport Roadster (sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Convertible Cabriolet (no sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Standard Sedan (no sidemounts, no cowl lights and painted hood ports)

Standard Coupe (no sidemounts, no cowl lights and painted hood ports)

Coach (no sidemounts, no cowl lights and painted hood ports)

Phaeton (no sidemounts, no cowl lights and painted hood ports)

Sport Roadster (no sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

Five-Passenger Coupe (no sidemounts, cowl lights and chromed hood ports)

After April of 1932, the Deluxe models were dropped and sidemounts were now $15 extra.

Thanks a bunch for that long list JYD, I am going to make a copy of it to take to shows.

Follow-up question:

My '32 was built in Dec. 31 and delivered to the dealer as a standard....if the lady that bought the car then had had the dealer install sidemounts the lady would have made it a Deluxe model (since the only difference between the 2 are sidemounts)? Is there anyway to look at a car and tell if the sidemounts were factory or dealer installed?

Guess that is why (only need to add sidemounts) I see so many Deluxe models and so few standard models of some cars on your list. Maybe it jacks up the re-sale price later for owners too.

JYD;

To be more accurate let's try again...

All 1932 Deluxe Models, Sport Models, and The Special Sedan factory built prior to April 1932 had chrome hood ports. Standard 1932 Models built throughout the entire year had body color painted hood ports. (?)

So what happened after April? Were the Deluxe options still offered along with the $15 sidemounts? Could a dude buy a Standard Model and, let's say just add on the cowl ligths, or any previously offered "Deluxe" item? And what about the Deluxe Interior patterns?

Then if someone has a April or later built '32 car he can add chome ports to his Standard Model...Or even side mounts?

OR... Were there NO Deluxe Models built after April 1932? Discontinued, along with all the deluxe items, EXCEPT SIDEMOUNTS?

The Deluxe models were dropped after April. Prior to April there were 20 models. After April there were only 14 models. For example, prior to April the Special Sedan came with chromed hood ports, cowl lights, and sidemounts as standard equipment. After April the Special Sedan now came with chromed hood ports, cowl lights and a rear spare. For $15 extra sidemounts could be added (this was the same for all previous Deluxe models) and when sidemounts were added the Special Sedan was then called the
"Deluxe Special Sedan".

A dude could purchase a standard model and then have the dealer add anything he wanted...like cowl lights, chromed hood ports or sidemounts.

Interiors did not change and there were no "deluxe" interiors per se'. For example, the Standard Coupe came with trim code 16, and that was the basic interior no matter how many "accessories" like cowl lights and etc. were added. The Coach came with trim codes 16 and 20. The Sport Coupe came with trim codes 17 and 18 and so forth. The difference between the trim codes would be the colors and the material used.

It's still a little foggy after April '32.

The trim code seems to clear it up a little.

If I ordered a 4 dr sedan but didn't like the interior and wanted the same garnish mouldings and mohair that my buddy got before April, I would ask the saleman to get me a car with trim code 17 or whatever code goes with a 4 dr Sedan. Then I would have him add the cowl lights and chrome hood ports at his dealership. If I had the extra $15 I'd have him throw in the sidemounts too.

Now, would I have the same looking car as my buddy?

Can I call my car a "Deluxe"?

IMHO you may call it a Deluxe, but it is not as the factory made it... I would consider it a clone and not really a Deluxe model...

What would the VCCA judges call it if they knew the history of the car?

I could add just sidemounts to my car and remove the rear spare and it would look like an original '32 Deluxe Cabriolet...but I would know it is really a '32 Standard Cabriolet and not a Deluxe.

Gator;

That's why we need to understand the history of these cars.

I'm sure you have seen '32 cars at shows that "appear" to be a Deluxe. According to the JYD (I'm sure he has proven this more than once) if those cars were built after April '32 they can't be a "Deluxe". Instead they would be a 2 door, 4 door, coupe, or whatever outfitted with factory trim code and Dealer installed options.

I don't consider those cars bogus by any means.

However, a dude that has a Standard Model built BEFORE April '32 and trashed the interior, installed a HC Deluxe interior, then adds cowl lights and chrome hood ports and even dual sidemounts has a cloned car. I don't know if the trim code would give it away. (?)

What do ya think given the information so far?

What's a sport Sedan?

Never heard of that one. (?)

Sorry, I am still confused a little; since my car was a 12-'31 build and could have been a Deluxe or a standard would you consider it an original Deluxe model if you knew it had been build as a Standard in 1931 & I had added the sidemounts/trim in 2005?

I guess I would tell people it is now what a Deluxe model would have looked like...but could I shown it (list it) as an original Deluxe model ethically in a VCCA show?

Guess we also need to define 'bogus' and 'clone'.

What would you call '69 Firebird that has '69 Camaro trim now...'bogus' or 'clone'?

Interesting questions….

According to a brochure I have in front of me the Bedford Cloth interior WAS available in the Sport Coupe Deluxe Model.

Bingo Bill; If you have the words "sport Sedan" on a title it dosn't mean much. That sounds like a mistake at the DMV.

Bogus = Spurious; fictitious; sham; -- a cant term originally applied to counterfeit coin, and hence denoting anything counterfeit.

Clone: = something virtually identical to another object.

Fake = . To manipulate fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better or other than it really is; as, to fake a bulldog, by burning his upper lip and thus artificially shortening it.

I guess I should use the term 'fake' instead of 'clone'....

Gator,

The date on the frame of my car is Nov 11, 1931.

My car is a Sport Coupe. The tag on the cowl shows trim 17. That's a Deluxe style interior. It looks just like a Deluxe except it has a rear spare. It is NOT a Deluxe Sport Coupe!

I guess you may have answered your own question regarding your car.

As far as the Camaro/Firebird thing...I'd call in a CamBird. LOL (or a big mistake)

Gator!
I wouldn't use any of those terms with a 32!!!

Maybe we should be just very happy to own a 32 and enjoy it.

I would still like to get to the bottom of all this because it's history.

I would never put sidemounts on or change my car...as long as I own it; it will be a "1932 Standard Model Cabriolet Convertible" period. :)

--Plus, I like the looks of a rear spare, so I will never be tempted to lose it...

Gator, I feel the same way. I want my car just as it came from the factory.

I have a few things on it that shouldn't be. Like whitewalls (got them years ago at a great price) a chrome open car wiper motor that just looks to cool to change out, and I chromed my oil filler cap by mistake but it too looks very cool.

I don't like sidemounts because the car is a Chevy not a Caddy and too many dudes have them.

PS...IMHO you should teach them how to drive a standard shift also you never know when she might need to know how to drive one. Plus she will be able to drive old Chevys. LOL

Ditto, RGwiz, sadly it looks like people like us gets fewer and fewer every year...the only thing I MIGHT (I am going back and forth on this) put on this car that wasn't there in '32 is a right hand tail light...and only might do it because the drivers today don't know hand signals (except the 1 finger salute) especially the "slowing down" hand signal... :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

There was no "Sport Sedan" in 1932, only the Standard Sedan and the Special Sedan.

Changing the trim, the date of manufacture of the vehicle, and what equipment the vehicle had prior to April or after April, has no bearing on the judging process because the VCCA ignores the information supplied on the Fisher Body Cowl tag, the casting dates and the car serial numbers. :( :( :(

The Sport Coupe came with trim code number 17 (plain tan mohair) and trim code number 18 (plain tan whipcord bedford cloth). These two trim codes were also used on the Special Sedan and the Five-passenger Coupe.

"So what happened after April? Were the Deluxe options still offered along with the $15 sidemounts?" Yes, after April of 1932 the same equipment was still offered on the deluxe models except for sidemounts....those were now $15 extra.

"My car is a Sport Coupe. The tag on the cowl shows trim 17. That's a Deluxe style interior. It looks just like a Deluxe except it has a rear spare. It is NOT a Deluxe Sport Coupe! Actually, that is not a "deluxe style" interior. That is the same interior offered on all Sport Coupes, whether they were standard or deluxe. The trim codes were the same after April as they were before April.

So the trim codes may be the key. If you are familiar with them.

Trim codes identify a Standard vs. a Deluxe.

So Gator, that may be what to look for,
providing the dude has his hood open.

Sorry guys but the trim codes won't help you either. All it tells you is the material used. If you look up the inside moldings and which are painted, mahogany, walnut it might give you a clue.