Hand Forging Sheet Metal Process and Outer Panel Gauges

The body panels of the prototype Model A1 were all forged. Outer panel gauges with panel sections assembled three-dimensionally were used to create a model. The steel plates were beaten on large mortars, anvils or level blocks to form the curves. The formed panels were checked repeatedly with gauges to increase the precision. Tools such as three-headed rollers (to create simple curved surfaces) and rollers (to form continuous relief shapes) were used.