The International Cessna 170 Association

gahorn wrote:Jean, WELCOME...and please allow me to add my opinions to this conversation.
The '48 fabric wing version (sometimes referred to as a "ragwing") has some internal wing parts which are virtually impossible to find, and if damaged, will have to be custom manufactured. The approval processes of these parts could be a serious issue for an airplane maintained in accordance with some foreign authorities, however if you possess a U.S. pilot certificate and keep the airplane in U.S. registry may not be an issue.
The '48 uses the same ailerons as the C120/140 aircraft and does indeed have a slightly slower "roll rate".

The A-models and B-models, if similarly equipped, were actually a few pounds lighter than the ragwing when first produced, due to less internal structure to stiffen the fabric wings.

The chief advantage of a B model over the A, is the availability of parts, particularly 1953 and later cowling, empennage, and wing parts, and some cabin-ventilation/heating and fuel system parts, as the B-model was the prototype for development of both the Cessna 172 and the military L-19, which share many, many parts in-common, many are in New-Old-Stock Inventories, and some parts of which are still in production. This is one reason the B-model generally enjoys a higher price than the other models.

Otherwise, the B model has only slight performance advantages over the A and original fabric versions, while enjoying only slightly lighter elevator control-forces.