This 1929 Ford Model A roadster, currently listed on eBay, isn’t being presented as a stock survivor, it’s something very different. According to the seller, it started life as a real California barn find discovered in Chico, where it had reportedly been sitting since 1971. From there, it was transformed into a traditional hot rod built in the style of the late 1940s and early 1950s, and it now carries a clean 1929 Ford roadster title.
The build centers around an original 1932 frame, which the listing says has been modified with boxed rails, a C-notch, and a Model A rear crossmember. The original K-member is still in place, and the setup includes rebuilt ’32 pedals converted to hydraulic operation. The seller notes a number of suspension and steering upgrades, including a modified Nash steering box, a dropped SoCal axle, original 1939 spindles with updated components, and a reverse eye spring with friction shocks up front.
Braking comes from 1940 Ford components, and the rear end is described as a 1940 Ford unit with 4.11 gearing, paired with shortened 1946 wishbones and a custom driveshaft. The listing also mentions rear tube shocks and a modified torque tube. It’s the kind of combination that points toward a traditional-style build rather than something modernized or overcomplicated.
Powering the build is a 1940 Ford engine that the seller says has been re-ringed and has less than 100 miles on it. It’s equipped with a Winfield cam, Edelbrock heads, and a pre-war Edelbrock intake running dual carburetors. Supporting pieces include a rebuilt distributor, headers, and a converted 12-volt electrical system. A rebuilt 1937 transmission and 9-inch clutch round out the drivetrain.
The exterior and finishing touches follow that same period-inspired direction. The listing notes a genuine 1932 grille shell, Yankee Owl headlights, and 1940 Ford wheels with caps. Inside, there’s a 1932-style dash and a custom dropped seat riser designed to accommodate taller drivers.
The seller states that the car stops, tracks straight, and has been driven in events including RPM Nationals and Neal’s Hotrod Run. It’s also described as something that tends to draw attention wherever it goes, which isn’t surprising given the mix of early Ford parts and traditional styling cues. This isn’t a project in boxes or a partially assembled idea, it’s a completed hot rod with a clear direction and a long list of period-style components. For someone who appreciates early hot rod builds and the mix-and-match engineering that defined that era, it checks a lot of boxes.
Would you keep it as-is and enjoy it, or start tweaking details to make it your own version of a traditional rod?
Love the car but not the 35K to buy it.
At least the builder avoided all the cliche “modern” hot rod stuff. It’s really tempting, assuming all the “t”s were crossed and the “i”s dotted, as it appears they were.
But for $35 Large, I’d build my own. And probably paint it gloss black, with some very subtle red striping.