Like race cars, most hot rods evolve over time, changing colors, wheels and tires, engines, and other parts to suit a succession of new owners. This 1930 Ford Model A in Aguanga, California appears to have changed little since the days of Engineer Boots and Poodle Skirts. Opportunities to buy authentic hot rods with documented history occur rarely. If you can picture yourself as this car’s next caretaker, perhaps cruising the local circuit with a pack of smokes rolled up in your sleeve, cast the final bid here on eBay where it will take more than $9500 to crack the Reserve.
With the front fenders attached it’s less aggressive looking, but removing them is an easy fix if you like the rod look. The word “patina” ranks among the most overused in the automotive ecosystem, but let’s admit that this car has earned its faded glory, and folks should think twice, or maybe a thousand-and-twice, before spraying over this rust-etched black.
The simple bench seat makes it easy for your significant other to cuddle up close. Seat belts? Nope. Air bags? I don’t think so. Instead of a collapsible steering column the Model A gives you a metal spear… aimed at your heart. Those were simpler times, folks, when driving was a raw experienced not to be savored by the fearful.
The old Flathead V8 will need more than a tune-up before it’s running again, but parts are plentiful for these quintessential hot rod motors. It’s believed to have been off the road since the 1960s, when you can be sure that stabbing the throttle elicited squeals from tires and passengers alike.
This angle shows the relief cut in the rear fender to tighten the radius compared to a stock rear fender, leaving little doubt that this is the car from the earlier pictures. Picture this: you’re the new owner, cruising your favorite street, and you see someone you’d love to slide up next to you in this iconic coupe. You hang an arm out the window and holler… what?
Very cool find, and pretty intact from it’s form in ’65. If you haven’t done it, follow the url to the oldbug site, many more pics and added description.
The engine is an early 21 stud, pre ’37. If salvageable it would be great if it were the late ’36 with insert bearings, but if rebuilt correctly the Babbitt bearings aren’t a negative in a low stressed engine. Not much speed parts available for 21 stud engines. Repop heads are fairly pricey, a cam and intake are easy enough, ignition likewise, just have realistic expectations.
Since it hasn’t sold by word of mouth in the hotbed of hot rodding it would seem logical that the ask is very aggressive. Can’t fault a seller for fishing for big money, but if no fish is hooked let’s hope it goes to a sympathetic owner (that “caretaker” notion always struck me as pretentious) once the serious selling occurs.
A car like this is one that dreamers will say something like “Jay Leno should buy this”. Well, Jay probably has heard about it already and presumably isn’t a taker. Likewise any of the other historic collectors. This one may not have enough provenance for those cats, despite it’s neatness.
Rebuild the juice brakes – Okay
Replace bearings, bushings, gaskets, and seals as required – Okay
Rebuild the original (hot rod V8) Engine – Okay
Replace original wiring with original type cloth covered – Okay
Clean and scrub – Okay
NO new paint.
NO new upholstery.
NO new chrome.
NO new steering wheel or shift knob.
NO “updating” of any kind.
Don’t even THINK about it.
Drive it, use it, enjoy it, show it. ABSOLUTELY.
Engine heads look like the aluminum ones on a ’33 flat bed truck engine we took out as kids and put into a Model A coupe. That engine was glass smooth and wound up to 7,000 rpm. ’39 box, stock rear with small diameter dirt track “slicks” and this car really moved. This car could be a ton of fun for someone to rebuild and drive.
Might have been a faulty tach you had there. Stock, peak torque was around 2200 and peak hp at around 3700. Factory didn’t recommend over 4000 max rpm. Good story though, bench racing is traditional.
U’ Bob… We couldn’t believe the rpm either. My ’48 Merc engine in my ’32 coupe would get to 4,200 with dual carbs and high compression heads but that was it. Had to put good size tires on the rear to even make it good on the highway. The truck engine had to have been modified somehow to get rpm but the extreme smoothness of it was what we had never seen.
Whassa matter with you guys, this the 1st thing I thought of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R7l7nDuj1o
Some interesting choices of vid clips there, especially got a laugh from Mutt and Jeff inspecting the ’36 Chev, “uppsy daisy”. Von Franco with the Kookie Klone looked good too.
Here’s a pic of Charlie Ryan’s actual car that influenced the song, never much cared for the elongated nose.
I hear ya regarding the extended nose but don’t forget that car went from 4 cylinders to 12 cylinders and ya gotta put them extra 8 cylinders someplace.
Uncle Bob is ” Dead Nuts On ” , he gets it, I have nothing!
Thanks Joe…………I think…………….but I wasn’t aware my nuts were dead. :)
It was found and posted awhile back on another site. Not sure about the upcharge.
Photos of this car and it’s discovery have been posted elsewhere but this is the first and only time it has been offered for sale
I am a big believer in keeping MOST things stock, if I had this car I am afraid I would have to sell it quickly to somebody else who could actually leave it alone, I could not be trusted with this beauty. I always know the right thing to do but sometimes get carried away with making it BETTER!
Hello, I’m Nico the Rods buyer. I’m from Germany .
I have given the rod back to life.
hope i can upload a picture