The Slant Windshield Model A Ford

The Slanting Windshield; that's what Ford called it when they debuted an angled A pillar on certain body styles in late 1930 and throughout 1931. This subtle but significant styling change foretold the future of Ford body design for years to come. But...was it done for aesthetics or something else?
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[@andy41417]

First car I drove was dad’s slant windshield. Remember him towing it from Ohio to Md. with a Econoline van in 1969. Sat in the A’s drivers seat something no parent would do now. At 14 I drove it myself. Prior to that he let me shift gears while he was behind the wheel. That’s how I learned to shift an A without double clutching or grinding gears. You got a feel for it so long as you were not in a rush. It was a rare standard but cowl lights were added for turn signals and side mounts permitted a trunk which was handy when the whole family went on a trip. He swapped it for a Willys Whippet cabriolet since we were old enough to not climb out of the moving rumble seat on the 30 coupe owned prior to the 160A. He also wanted something less common. I own a 68 B which combines all those save the slant windshield. Of course that angle can be easily had by opening the windshield.

[@AModelA]

Great story and thanks for sharing. Enjoy the Cabriolet!

[@MarkHenion-pd9qs]

My Dad and I restored an early Slant windshield town sedan back in the 1980's. I love the styling! It drove well, I wasn't aware of the night driving issues, we rarely drove it after dark. Thanks for the video!!

[@AModelA]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@motorTranz]

Slant windshield was/is beautiful! Great video! Thank you!

[@AModelA]

Yes it was! Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

The reasoning for the design change makes sense. Thanks.

[@jt1454]

Great video!! I had to drive my Dad's 1931 Coupe at night "many" years ago (1990's). He did not have historic tags on it at the time as he drove it regularly. The headlight glare from cars behind me on the windshield was bad!! I now have his 1931 coupe since his passing and a 1931 slant windshield 160b fordor sedan. I have yet to drive the fordor sedan after dark to compare the windshield glare symptoms.

[@AModelA]

There's still some light bouncing around on a slant windshield but it is significantly less than on the straight ones. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@elosogonzalez8739]

Very educational! I'm learning more from you everyday! The Town Car Sedan Delivery; Never heard of this. How many of these were made, it got to be rare. Thank you.

[@AModelA]

We're working on a Town Car Delivery video. They were rare when new and are rarer now. Thanks for watching!

[@bogiepgr]

When I find that vat of money - a slant windshield town sedan will be my next Model A

[@AModelA]

Good choice!

[@cherylhalsey7001]

i think the slant front windshield on the 30&31 fords was great steps forward for safety reasons (so you could see at night with out the glare!)

[@AModelA]

Agreed, thanks for watching!

[@pappabob29]

The windshield glare at night is annoying and somewhat unsafe. Similar to the current "blinding" lights of modern cars that frequently blind oncoming drivers. Frequently because those other drivers are "unconscious" about having their "high-beams" on while driving towards other drivers. ;o( I personally like the look of the straight windshield with the external visor better than the slant "roofline" treatment however. The "notch" that appears at the roofline of the slant doesn't look so good to my eye. ;o( FWIW of course !!!

[@AModelA]

There is a sort of unfinished look to the visorless panel above the windshield on the slants. Seems like the looks of it were more of an afterthought. Thanks for watching!

[@donaldwiller9238]

Great information 👍

[@AModelA]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@johncolette6014]

Victoria. Yes. Really great looking, and quite desirable.

[@AModelA]

We'd really like a Victoria, partial to the steelbacks but wouldn't kick a leatherback out of the garage! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@JWilliams81]

Great video! Keep it up!

[@AModelA]

Thanks for watching!

[@GT47179]

I say bring these cars back 😮

[@ModelARickLasCruces]

They've been "back" since the 1950s!

[@MicroRotors]

I don't like the slants as the cars header looks like it's missing the visor with the way the top edge still has a lip tor the visor. If it was smoothed and rounded, I'm sure it would have looked much better and intentional instead of the car missing a part. If you have a straight windshield like I do, just open the windshield out a tiny bit and the light bouncing problem is solved.

[@titagonzales9927]

Eso vino en el 32.👌

[@hotrodray6802]

Works really good below 50*

[@pablo4015]

Muy bueno! Saludos desde Argentina

[@AModelA]

Gracias!

[@romjone4801]

I have a 160A slant window.

[@allareasindex7984]

Driving my ‘30 roadster my passenger complained about the glare from the oncoming cars. I said, “Do what I do, it works perfectly. Just close your eyes.”

[@AModelA]

Easy way of silencing a back seat driver!

[@rogergreen7807]

I love my slant windshield Townsedans and I drive my non slant windshield Townsedans also. There is just something different about those late '31, indented firewall cars.

[@AModelA]

Those people with non-indented firewalls don't know the added thrill of having to get out, open the hood, and turn the gas back on! Thanks for watching!

[@jdwht2455]

I owned a '31 slant fordor that needed a total ground up restoration. Got about half way through it when I decided that a '31 Deluxe Roadster was more 'me' Not a great decision in 20-20 hindsight. There are lots more upgrades to the slant then just the windshield and believe it to be the template for the '32 sedans and Victorias.

[@AModelA]

They provide different levels of enjoyment but both are great cars. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@truthreigns7]

Very nice

[@AModelA]

Thanks for watching!

[@truthreigns7]

@@AModelA you are welcome and thank you for sharing

[@Offthbadan]

This was so subtle, wonder if it was really effective.

[@AModelA]

It is extremely effective in reducing the reflection off the inside windows, especially at night. Thanks for watching!

[@patjohnson3100]

Slant windshield is more attractive than the vertical version. It reflects Edsel Ford's styling influence. He liked the more elegant appearing European cars, but had a hard time getting his ideas past the increasingly hidebound Henry.

[@AModelA]

Agreed. Edsel used the slanting windshield on the earlier Lincolns and eventually was able to persuade Henry to incorporate the design into the Ford line. Thanks for watching!

[@racebanning6390]

YUP!!!!! Put a Visor on the 32 Ford... Looks Kookie without it!!!! Thats why the Model A Reigns Supreme.... It will always be Right!!! Ya cant fix Perfect!🏁🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸🛠️🛠️🛠️🔧🛠️🔧

[@AtomicReverend]

I prefer a visored car. Don't get me wrong I like a slant windshield and wouldn't kick one out of the garage but if I was to ever go with a visorless style car it would probably be a 32 with a v8 and 3 windows but since I'm too cheap for that I will stick to Model A's.

[@AModelA]

We'd also have a hard time kicking one or the other out of the garage! Thanks for watching!

[@truthreigns7]

I like my slant windshield

[@billmoran3812]

I loved my ‘28 Model A. But, Ford made a bad design decision placing the glass fuel strainer bowl directly above the exhaust manifold. The glass bowl was known to break and spill gas on the manifold resulting in a fire. That’s how my Model A was destroyed along with many others.

[@AModelA]

Sorry to hear about your fire. It is easy to see why Ford was forced to change the fuel line design. Thanks for watching!

[@asteverino8569]

Hardly rakish. 🙄

[@AModelA]

Yet cars were advertised in the teens as being rakish. Compared to Fords that came before these slant windshields were a dramatic styling change. Thanks for watching!