Owning a vehicle you care for enough to give it a personalized proper name doesn’t seem to be anything new, nor does somebody referring to their car by “she”, “her”, or any number of other loving titles. I can only remember naming one of my cars ever, a ’73 Nova I called “Aldo”, as there was a guitarist named Aldo Nova who was enjoying moderate success at the time with a rock song titled Fantasy when I owned the car. But nobody seemed to get it, so I let the name go after being looked at oddly after trying to explain the car’s name a few times. Perhaps a name like Peggy would have been a better and more understandable choice, which is what the owner here calls his 1928 Ford Model A. She’s a beauty who’s looking for a new garage to call home, so if you’re looking to take ownership of a Hemi Hot Rod she can be spotted here on Craigslist.
We’d like to thank Barn Finds reader T.J. for bringing this one to our attention! The best news of all about Peggy is her low price, which is listed in the title line at $56. Wait a minute- once you scroll down, the ad mentions $56,000, and for what you’re getting here seems like it may be more in the ballpark, even though initially I’d probably at least try to negotiate her down a little bit. Although the car is listed as being for sale in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Craigslist area, the seller says he’s actually located in Central Pennsylvania, and with the car wearing a PA license plate on the back I’m guessing Peggy is a resident of The Keystone State.
Wherever she is, the car looks fantastic, and whoever put her together deserves a good old tip of the hat. The Model A is of the Roadster style and has been given the traditional Hot Rod treatment, including real Candy Apple Red paint, a color that’s really hard to beat for just about any rod application. The original top is said to have been fixed and chopped 2 inches, with the windshield raked the same amount. All this combined with a 6-inch channeled body has given the Ford a great stance, and the seller says the car is a real head-turner, a statement I have no trouble believing.
Peggy isn’t just all looks, either. The rod is powered by a 330 cubic-inch engine from a 1956 DeSoto, manufactured not too long before the Chrysler division’s run of cars ended in 1961. We don’t get a whole lot of details about what exactly has been done to the motor, but even in stock form these V8s produced about 230 horses, more than enough to get up and go for a build such as this, and it looks like there are both some show-and-go aftermarket components attached as well. The Hemi is connected to a Turbo 400 automatic transmission and an 8.8 rear end, and I’m sort of in awe over those headers, which do connect to an exhaust system under the car but can also be uncapped at the sides.
Plenty of detailed attention has also been given to the inside, with a white and red button tuck interior and hand-laid pin striping on the dash panel, plus there are also Stewart Warner gauges and a modern Bluetooth radio. She’s looking fit on her underside too, and overall I’m just not finding many personality traits not to like about Peggy. How about you?
Appreciate the Aldo Nova reference, Mike! Blast from the past.
That exhaust system is strange indeed!
Around that same time, we travelled with an Atlas. It was named Charles.
To my eyes, it’s too long somewhere; not quite sure where tho’…
Looks like from the cowl forward has been stretched.
Take off that cap on the megaphones and you have major noise. Leave them on, no sirens or flashing lights.
Derek.. Looks like the rear axle is further back than it would be on a car with fenders.
Nice rod. Aldo Nova was fairly successful in the U.K.. An original vinyl album is worth a fair bit of coin.
The first album was great ! I have that, and a picture disc from his second album
My father had a truck he called “Old Belcher” self explanatory
Very cool, but not my cup of tea.
This car strikes many chords. Cars with names like people which was common in the late 50’s and early 60’s. After that most of my cars were referred to by year, the 34, the 32, the 40 ,and then sometimes the body style, the Roadster the Pick up. Of course back then all cars were spoke of as feminine. I think this car is an interesting and dedicated to a certain era of Hot Rodding, even though it is anew build. I also think for that reason, 56 K is very optimistic
Thank you Joe for an informed and sane comment. This car is beautiful.
I had a Chevy HHR that I had a few names for. None of them repeatable here.
I can forgive most anything but an automatic in a car like this. If the builder was trying to copy the essense of the ’50s, he blew it big time by not having the third pedal. Our Mom’s cars had autos – look at any Hot Rod mag from the ’50s and you will be hard pressed to find a slushbox. A big part of the sound/motion was ‘going thru the gears’. Also, if you are going to lay back the windshield, you should shorten the top to match rather than having the top act as a huge wind scoop sticking out front. Otherwise, I really like the Hemi and overall appearance, color and stance.
I love these old, traditional show circuit type hot rods!!!!!! Kookie, Kookie, Kookie, lend me your comb…. I guess you had to be there.
All the hemi is good for is removing the rubber from the rear tires when it’s time to get new rubber.
Nobody will get any traction with a hemi in a rod like this. I’ll bet the owner can’t keep treads on the rear tires even over one season.
It’s a trailer queen.
Bob
Boy it’s close to right on, but Derek is right, traditional hot rod DNA is the radiator, headlights, and center of front tire on the same vertical line. That Hemi needs dual quads, not 2 R-2’s on an adapter. Nits aside, straight out of 1959, reminds me of a model Monogram had way back.
Friend of mine had one similar to this. only had two problems, it wasn’t street legal and two he wanted $6K for it. Today he could probably get 5-6 times that for it.
Very awkward proportions and spatial relationships.
Yes, it draws on some time-honored old school elements. Most of those elements are in the very wrong combination here…