Vintman Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) Hi Folks, Would appreciate your help again. The attached rather grainy photo from the USA seems to show a cca 1921 Essex Touring; smaller bowl headlamps, slatted radiator. At least, the windscreen seems to be a Tourer because it is raked rather than upright as on sedans. However the side windows seem to have a 'sedan' type of 'body' which seem s to be too good as add-on weatherproofing. Either this is something 'special' or it ‘aint an Essex?? Regards Vintman (UK)www.svvs.org Edited February 16, 2016 by Vintman (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgedh2 Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 This appears to be a touring car with an aftermarket "California top". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Vintman.In the AmericanCars book 1921 Essex,"The open touring cars recived a new tops with improved weather protection".Can that be the same as the top on this Essex.Leif in Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Here's a touring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 (edited) And here is another touring(not Essex) from the book 70 years of Buick.Leif in Sweden. Edited February 17, 2016 by Leif Holmberg (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgedh2 Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Leif, the text for your photo states, that manufacturers produced "California tops" for open cars. Exactly what I said above. California tops essentially provided "closed car" weather protection on open cars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintman Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Hi Folks, Many thanks dodedh2 for your thoughts. I doubt it was a factory option and I did notice the comment mentioned by Leif in the Standard Catalogue. It would seem that the car is a cca 1921 Essex Touring and that it indeed has been fitted with an aftermarket 'California Top'. I could not find any pictures anywhere of an Essex Tourer with that type of roof. Interesting to trawl through the various 'California Top' makers. It seems trhat the Gould top would be a close match. Again, Many thanks for your help. Kind Regards Vintman (UK) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Here is a photo of a door top to make a touring car with the California into more of a closed car.I wish I had more photos of the set up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Friederich Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) A Buick with a wintertop by Jacobsson in Stockholm, on sale at Ostermans Marmorhallar in the Autumn of 1924:http://forums.aaca.org/gallery/image/36843-buick-with-winterop-by-jakobsson/ Edited February 18, 2016 by Casper Friederich (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgedh2 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Vintman, never said it was a factory option. Manufacturers producing California tops does not mean it comes from the factory. It means manufacturers produce them. Aftermarket products are manufacturers also, just like Ruxtel, New Day, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintman Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks dodgedh2. I was actually agreeing with you and trying to clarify it to my friend Leif in Sweden. Thanks and Regards Vintman UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) Here is a photo of a door top to make a touring car with the California into more of a closed car.I wish I had more photos of the set up.Hi 28 Chrysler... Small world; I was really squinting to see if that was a pic of a car I once owned...then could see the light blue car parked sideways in front of it! Not only is my old car(s), but that pic was in my yard, so I must have taken the pic That car is a 20 Reo with a All-weather top added when new. It had a drop down panel above the drivers compartment which still had the never used side curtains to be used in summer rains when the solid door tops were removed in spring. The curtains still had the instruction tag still stuck to them. That car was loaded with add-ons when new; huge 35x5? Hayes wire wheels, bumpers, and lots more I forget right now I should try to restart my old PC, as I have tons of detail pics of the entire car.....if I can get it to work Edit, trying to recall the top manufacturer tag above the windshield.....I like to say Rex-A-something? I know I have a clear pic of the tag too. Edited February 21, 2016 by F&J (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Here is a photo of a door top to make a touring car with the California into more of a closed car.I wish I had more photos of the set up.Update on pics of my former Reo with Rex top.... I don't know if AACA rules allow me to post a link of a lot of my pics and repairs to that car, on a different car website? I can't post the link until I know I did find it and read all 8 pages with pics. I totally forgot that I also showed a couple other old cars I had...and totally forgot that one was a 1918 Stude wrecker made from a touring, a long way back.. In the thread, I show that I found a super rare REX ROADSTER hardtop for a big roadster, and I fit it on the Stude. That top was missing the door extensions,. but still a good find 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I got that photo emailed to me. I was asked if I could make up some door tops to close in a semi open truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieBaearPhilly Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Vintman’s original post includes the pic of my grandparents’ 1921 Essex with “California top” outside their house in Denver. I have the green plaid, wool lap robe from that car. Anybody want it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickelroadster Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Why don't you show us a picture of it? I am sure someone would like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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