It may not be the sort of vehicle we normally feature here on Barn Finds, but when Carter asked us if we would auction his roadster pickup, we couldn’t resist. This thing is awesome! It was built 12 years ago using a 1928 Ford frame and a Brookville steel body. All the work looks top notch and there’s plenty of power to keep up with modern traffic. Keep reading to learn more about what’s been done and be sure to place your bid below if interested. It’s located in Orleans, Massachusetts and includes a clean title.
Where you might expect to find a Ford engine there’s a Chevrolet 283 V8. There’s a mild cam inside and it’s attached to a Powerglide automatic. It’s done up nice and I’m sure it can fly. Luckily some attention was given to the handling and stopping departments too. A Flaming River Vega box handles the turning duties and front and rear sway bars help keep everything flat in the corners. There’s a drop bell axle out front, ’59 Ford 9″ rear end out back, and drum brakes all around.
Inside you will find an early Sun tach under the column and a ’64 Super Sport shifter on the floor. A new correct color code wiring harness was also installed when the car was built. There are many cobbled together hot rods out there on the market today, but it sound like someone really knew what they were doing here. There are many period correct touches with a nice mixture of bits from both the Chevy and Ford parts bin.
As you have probably guessed, this thing was built to do more than just show off. It was built to run! It hasn’t seen many miles since completion though so it needs a new owner who will not only care for it, but who will drive it! There’s a short truck bed out there so you could even use it for light hauling duties (done very carefully of course). Well, that could at least be a selling point when discussing the potential purchase with your significant other.
Thanks for listing this with us Carter! We hope it goes to someone who will appreciate all the effort that went into creating it. Please post your questions in the comments section and place your bids below. If you have a cool custom like this that you would like to sell, please consider listing it selling it right here on Barn Finds!
Location: Orleans, Massachusetts
Mileage: 1,200
Title Status: Clean
VIN: A230990
Bid On This Auction
jeffery bid $14,545.00 2017-09-05 12:45:58
Robert bid $13,500.00 2017-09-05 10:51:09- jeffery bid $12,500.00 2017-09-05 10:44:58
- Robert bid $12,000.00 2017-09-05 10:39:42
Brad bid $11,000.00 2017-09-04 10:21:45- Robert bid $10,500.00 2017-09-04 09:49:58
- Brad bid $10,000.00 2017-09-03 13:05:10
pete bid $8,500.00 2017-09-03 10:20:40- Brad bid $8,000.00 2017-09-02 09:12:00
Jeff bid $7,500.00 2017-09-02 01:40:57
Paul bid $7,000.00 2017-08-31 16:37:22
James bid $6,000.00 2017-08-31 13:00:33
Walter J. bid $5,500.00 2017-08-30 15:16:09
Scott bid $4,501.00 2017-08-30 15:01:28
Stephen bid $4,001.00 2017-08-30 09:38:02- Jeff bid $3,500.00 2017-08-29 20:22:25
Mark bid $3,000.00 2017-08-29 18:29:41
Drum brakes? After all that work? Could put Chevy drums up front, ford in the rear, nice looker though.
Now this is a resto-mod I could really love. The stance is perfect, with wide wheels, tires and whitewalls, and almost-Moon hubcaps.
It looks more substantial than a ’28 model year body would lead you to expect, which makes it even more appealing. The pickup bed with chrome rub strips on varnished wood is perfect. And I like the mix of makes: Ford frame, Chevy drivetrain.
I think whoever wins this auction is also going to get a lot of envy from all kinds of car guys, probably even ones who usually buy modern ‘Furrin’ cars.
That is a beauty…….too bad it’s a Ford…..well, part of it anyway.
I was thinking….too bad it’s not all Ford!
She sure is perty….I’d put factory louvered hood sides on it though to mask that non-Ford power plant long enough to drop a Henry engine into it, as well as the correct headlamps and support. Might even go so far as painting those rocker covers flat black and putting “weed block” screen inside of the hood sides. Love the color, rake, Bigs and Littles with wide whites.
I might opt for a banjo steering wheel as well.
sweet ride! love the louvers on the rocker panels! and I bet she scoots right along with the 283/PG drive train. so nice!!!!
Nice build – like !
“Drum brakes after all that work”! Put Chevrolet drums front, Ford drums on back. Mark, I think maybe you are thinking GM discs up front, which could be done, but it would create as many problems as it would solve. One being the hub caps are “not almost moons” Dolphin, whatever that means, they are 50 Mercury, and only fit 49 to 51 Mercury Wheels, which means it has to have 40 to 48 Ford or Lincoln brakes or 53 to 56 F-100 brakes, which are a 5 on 51/2 bolt pattern and would not work with GM calipers and disc brakes, wrong bolt pattern and they won’t clear the calipers. Actually a Model A Roadster P/U, would stop very well with good drum brakes on all four corners, as Mark said ,but you either don’t know the difference between drums or disc brakes or your under the assumption everything Chevrolet is better than Ford, like the other comments, being surprised it looks so good , wish it were not a Ford! Then of course the SBC haters, it should be all Ford. Easy to say until you do the installation, a SBC fits like a glove, you would think it was designed for it, a SBF is twice as hard, water pump, oil pan, length, and which one really performs the best ,in this type of car “Quien Sabe”. The louvers on the rocker panels, 68 custom, are really what we call splash aprons, and they are a re-pop item, originals were plain, as the louvers are only for looks. The article says a 12 year old build, could be but the steering column and steering wheel, along with the floor shifter, were much more popular with cars built in the 70’s to eighties , don’t see that much anymore. The bumpers are 32 Ford, the taillights 50 Pontiac and the horn is 34 Ford, out of all that, I would personally have to loose the 34 horn, it really looks out of place. The dash panel , not sure, I think maybe jeep, or a P/U truck. I am sure anybody that is reading this is thinking what a JERK, I know! It is just that I read allot of the comments on Barn Finds especially on makes and models, I know nothing about, and then I read comments on cars I do know something about, and I realize the people talking like experts don’t have a clue! They are just repeating something they heard and they have no experience so they believe it to be true and then repeat it. So I wonder how much of what I read about other cars from so called experts really is what they say it is. “Quien Sabe”. ( Thats Spanish- Who Knows)
I agree with much that you have stated, especially the interior… too much mixing of eras…. a 39 Ford floor shifter, a banjo wheel and column and removal of the “Ford” on the gauges would go a long way in corrected the era confluxtion.
I wouldn’t put a Ford engine in a Chevrolet product just as I wouldn’t put a Chevrolet engine in a Ford product….Just sayin’.
I just put a set of disc brakes on a 48 F1 from Speedway. They are 5 on 51/2 and fit the 15″ wheels. Calipers are said to be from an Impala. I would think they would have a kit to fit this axle, once it was determined exactly what it is.
I’d like to know if it comes with a top & side curtains?
Is that a 2 or 3 speed Powerglide?
All Powerglides were 2 speeds, offered in cast iron or aluminum cases. Turbo 350 & 400 are 3 speeds
I like it. I especially like 283’s, they run forever and other than regular maintenance items, they’re built like a tank IMO.
Hope whoever gets it drives like it deserves to be driven.
I really like that you went with a late 50s, early 60s, hotrod look and parts approach.
Does it have a top
Most of the complainers probably do not have a hot rod or one that isn’t a nice! Come on folks, enjoy it for what it is,nice and reliable! Everyone has their little changes to do, that’s hot rodding, personalize it for your taste! Don’t knock it for the way he wanted it! As they used to say,”Drive a Chevy to the junkyard but you have to tow a Ford to a junkyard.” No haters, I have had and due have both makes and I love both!
I’ve towed many chevy’s to the junkyard with a ford. I’ve put small block fords in hot rods without any issues and don’t need to pull the motor if you have to get the distributor out. But this ride should have a 53 flathead in it.
Agreed. Just towed the next door neighbor’s Blazer to the bone yard two weeks ago for him….with my 84 SBF F150 and a built Flatty would sit pretty in this one :)
It isn’t mentioned in the copy, but from looking at the Brookville catalog, I think when you buy a body from Brookville you get a complete body. Thus I would expect this probably came with the louvered hood sides and I’m wondering if the owner could comment on whether he happens to have them sitting in his garage.
I might have missed it, but I couldn’t see where one could buy these separately from Brookville if one wanted that look.
Personally I think this is lovely and the builder did a really nice job.
I to think it is a well built HR putting something like this together is and do it as well as this is easier said than done, and I like the colour too.
Until I build a hot rod the way I want, everyone else’s vehicle is just all right with me, exactly as they created the vehicle! I love it..Would love to owni! Bert.
Beautiful car. Great for show or go.
Nice car , I love the 60s vibe its got going on. Looks like one built back in the day, not a dozen or so years ago. One question though, how do you change the distributor cap/rotor, does that require the body come off or engine removal? Thats the stock A frame, not much real estate for all that machinery.
Nice build. No one mentioned the air cleaner. It fits this roadster’s theme perfectly. I don’t think I I’ve ever seen one like this. Anyone know what sort of vehicle it’s from or if it’s an after market? It sure stands out in the photos to me. Would love to own this little pickup.
Air cleaner is a re-pop of a accessory Air Cleaner Company from the fifties, can’t remember the exact name of the Company, they came for 2 and 4 barrel carbs, we just called them Helmet Air Cleaners. Up until a few years ago they were available after market, So-Cal had them, I have one on my car. Lately, I have searched for them , and I haven’t been able to find them anywhere, 2-barrels , but not the larger one.
Cool ride!! Wish I had the space for it.
Everyone has an opinion about what to, or what not to. Buy it and you can build it the way you want!