1930 Ford Model A

Description

If you started from scratch building your own rod, you might have a rolling chassis before you hit the sticker price on this very cool 1930 Ford Model A roadster. In the world of bargain-priced rods, this one stands out because it not only looks right, but is full of goodies like a fully independent suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, and a leather interior. Nice, right?

Like most modern rods, this one has a fiberglass body (in this case, it's a Wescott), and as a result, fit and finish are very good. They rendered the Model A shape and details quite accurately, from the curvaceous rear deck to the delicate moldings that made the A look like a much more expensive car than it was when it was new. I also like full-fendered rods because of their more substantial look, and the flowing fenders work quite well with the open sides of the hood, providing protection and a racy look at the same time. The build has some miles on it, but the two-tone black and red paint job shines up nicely and is traditional enough to never go out of style, so you won't ever feel out of place in this car. A correct Model A grille shell (with accessory guard!) is topped by a moto-meter and those are genuine Model A bumpers and rumble seat handles on the rear deck. The whole thing neatly balances the original look with hot-rodding tradition.

There's a wide black leather bench seat inside, just as there would have been in 1930, although the soft hides are a lot more supple than the originals. It's easy to get comfortable thanks to a tilt column and a realistic driving position, and the pedals are sensibly arranged for life-sized drivers. Pretty Dolphin gauges with delicate little needles look period-perfect and all the major controls are grouped right in front of the driver for easy access. A leather-wrapped wheel adds some contrast to the otherwise all-black interior, along with a few bright flashes of chrome and billet aluminum. There's a lift-off top that looks like a proper roadster folding unit, and while the rear deck opens like a rumble seat, it's outfitted as a trunk, complete with battery.

Reliability and performance are the keys to successful rods these days, and nothing works better than a small block Chevy V8. It sure fits neatly in the Model A's engine bay and carries the basics: Edelbrock intake and carburetor, block-hugger headers, and accessories tucked in tight to the block. Lots of bright chrome glitters from under the half-hood, encouraging onlookers to take a closer examination, and it runs superbly. Underneath, there's a Mustang II style front suspension with A-arms and coil-overs, plus rack-and-pinion steering. Out back, it carries a fully independent Corvette suspension and with that came disc brakes at all four corners, so this little roadster goes around corners a lot better than most. A custom exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers barks out the orders thanks to a pair of chrome megaphones poking out from under the body and with a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission, you can drive this one every day without a hassle. 15-inch Torque Thrusts fill the fenders with 195/65/15 front and 235/70/15 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials.

Think about what went into this build and you'll quickly realize that building your own is just throwing money away. This is how you'd do it anyway, so why wait? Call today!