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Chopped Top! 1930 Ford Model A Project

I’m not sure what to make of this one, it’s a chopped top Model A but more like the parts and a hulk of a Model A with a chopped top. Want more information? You can inquire but it might be more like poking the bear as the seller exclaims, “No I won’t send more photos, or answer a 1000 questions. I’m only interested in trading for older Harley stuff. Car was chopped, has a brand new subfloor, I have patch panels, and new rear wheel wells. The chassis was running and driving last year. Cool little hot rod, please don’t waste my time.” How inviting! So where does this irascible 1930 Ford Model A reside? Springfield, Massachusetts and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500. Thanks to Pete R. for this tip!

Well if you savored the seller’s description, you know as much as the next guy. So the top has been chopped and it looks like it was reasonably well-executed, but it’s still in need of a lot of finishing work. I used to think all you needed to facilitate a top lowering was a Harbor Freight Sawzall and a steady hand and with that, you were off to the races. Well, no, there is some geometry involved and the task can very easily be muffed up if you don’t know what you’re doing. There’s a lot of obvious missing parts but there are rear wheel wells and patch panels included with the sale. I hope there’s a panel for the driver’s side cowl as the bottom edge is turning to cinders. And a lot of the body, that is intact, will need some significant massaging to ever get close to a reasonable completion. Realistically, it looks like there are many more parts needed than there are parts included in this sale.

The seller claims that the chassis was running and driving last year, another creative twist on “ran when parked”. The engine, if original, should be a 201 CI, in-line four-cylinder eking out 40 HP and driving through a three-speed, unsynchronized, manual transmission. There’s no detail around the existing power train other than the claim about last year’s motoring activity so if you’re interested in more information, a further inquiry will be required (if you dare).

No interior needed, at this point anyway, but there is a brand new sub-floor. And while I guess that’s good and the welding job appears to have been professionally executed, there’s a whole lot more that will be required. The one advantage is that a new owner can build the interior as they desire; the bad news is, it will need virtually everything.

Ok, so this Model A is a build-it-yourself project and it can be whatever one envisions. I know that we have Barn Finds readers that are well-versed with the Model A and it would be great to hear from them regarding the viability of this project and the quality of the work so far performed.  And if you think $3,500 is too much, just come up with some Harley “stuff” that you can trade. Surprising that this Ford doesn’t also come with a “Get off of my lawn” warning. So, what do you think, is this a worthwhile project or is it a fuggedaboutit?

Comments

  1. bobhess bobhess Member

    Good project, but the fun factor is sort of dulled with the attitude of the seller. Walked away from a good car buy once because of a situation similar to this. Not worth it if it’s not fun.

    Like 5
  2. Avatar JerryDeeWrench

    I have a Harley gas cap hmmmm

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Chris in Pineville

    good source of parts for a Model A purist- hope the buyer makes them available..

    Like 1
  4. Avatar TimM

    It’s a good starting point bring it home start boxing the frame and sand blasting to see what you got to work with!!!

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Steve Bush Member

    Seller should at least pretend he’s a decent human to sell his car. Maybe he’s auditioning for the WWE; in which case hopefully someone chairshots him.

    Like 6
  6. Avatar Bing

    POS from an AH seller. Run away from this… crazy price as well…

    Like 4
  7. Avatar denny knebel

    seller has attitude-terrible price also–people–run away as mentionrd earlier

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Steve S

    I would have to reverse the chop top back to the factory height.

    Like 0

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