From day one, the Ford Model A was the go-to car for anyone wanting to build a hot rod. Over the years, hot rodding style and customization have changed wildly but one thing has remained, the Model A. Over the past few years, there’s been a surge in interest for period correct style hot rods. This one isn’t a ’40s style build, rather a ’60s build, but it’s still really cool and is correct to that period of time because it was actually built in the ’60s. It’s been parked since the ’70s and is going to need some work to be ready for the road, but it sure would be sweet to get going again! You can find it here on eBay in Scottsville, New York with a current bid of $4,850.
The seller states that it needs to be fully redone, but the body and frame actually look to be in decent shape. Obviously, it would look better with a new paint job, but I could live with it as is. What would need some redoing is the interior! As much as I appreciate the ’60s style, the carpet and seats need to go. An original style bench seat and bare floors would look and smell better! So what would you do with this interior?
In the ’40s and even into the ’50s, most hot rods were powered by flathead V8s, but once the small block Chevy V8s started to readily available they became the best go fast option. This one is packing a 275 horsepower 327 from 1965. That’s a lot more power than a flathead and had to make this a thrilling machine to drive. There’s no word on the condition of the engine, but it sounds like it was still running when it was parked.
There’s work to be done here, but this hot rod could be a fun project to take on. It’s definitely done in late ’60 style, but the beauty of these cars is their barebones simplicity. Change the wheels, redo the interior and you can have it looking more like a ’50s hot rod or just clean it up and rock the ’60s style. It’s really up to the next owner and their style. So, if you were to buy it, what all would you do with it?
Home-built rods from this era tend to be a bit rough around the edges, which some would argue is part of their charm. A buddy and I built a rod in the late 50’s as teenagers which was lacking in the quality of its execution, but we had sense enough to give it a good paint job. Photo shows me and my little brother ready to head to church on a Sunday morning in 1960.
Very cool pic, IkeyHayman! And you hit the target-little weight as possible, biggest motor add-o s that you could afford and voila, the recipe for hot rodding copied around the world., as in Cunningham, Shelby & Chapman to name just a few.
You guys had the good sense to keep a Ford mill in it.
I guess you could say we were “old school” long before that terminology was invented – plus we found a good 21 stud flathead from a wreck that fit our modest budget.
Ikeyhayman, “Rough around the edges “, that’s what makes them real hot rods.
Love them.
Sweet!! Tops not chopped, body’s not channeled!! Cars just waiting to have someone smoke the tires!!!
Needs a Lincoln motor that’s really souped up, that Model A body makes it look like a puff…
Could benefit from a chop top and having the rear axle narrowed. The engine is sweet but a mid-60s 289 would be appropriate (to me at least). But no American Grafitti clone, not that anyone does that anymore (do they?) Nice ride regardless!
Would swap out the grille for a ’32.
Love it wish it were still in Calif where I live the shipping is $1600 ouch!
Fix wiring clutch brakes make it safe and run it like it is.
Great Car Fair Price I think?
From back when rods like this were built from scratch, not kit form. These progressed mechanically with the times, any number of hopped up V8’s could’ve found their way in this. The 327 almost seems generic nowadays.
Very cool.
Coming from someone who appreciates restored-to-original Model A’s as much as, if not more than the next guy, I think the original roof height on this vintage hotrod makes the car look absurd. Like if Mr. Magoo were driving it too fast around a street corner, it would tip right over.
It looks like a good start though. For my money; chop the top, change the color, narrow the rear end, install a ’32 grille shell and a batwing air cleaner. That would get the party started.
HA! What a fun start this would be… there’s enough stuff on it to use, and simple changes with simple stuff could make it cool… Hmmm… let’s see… Change the rear wheels to a centered offset with narrow & tall tires would remedy the rear… get a nice set of reversed eye springs for the front and rear to get it out of the clouds, the grille shell is O.K., but loose the hardware store expanded metal thingy… a 3″ chop would definitely help… as would a Lime-fire style set of headers. The rattle-can paint job needs to be, at least, a different color like Washington blue or maroon. As far as the interior goes, anything would be an improvement… stock looking would work. At a little over $5k, it wouldn’t take much to get this rig up to “Cool” standards and remain affordable!
Love it. My Dad has 1929 roadster that he built as a kid. Hes 82 years young now. He put a 327 with the camel back heads in it. Wish he would of dropped a flat head in it(what he had in when 1st built). We will hopefully be driving it out to back to 50’s this weekend at the Minnesota State Fair grounds. Would love to post a picture but can’t see how to do it.
That thing is a time capsule. If you want to change it look for a different one, or an old shell and build it your way. This one captures a moment in time. Granted the cloth surfaces would need to be replaced, the rest needs to be washed, refurbished and then driven. The unchopped cab is practical for the taller among us, I can embrace it, drive on! daylatedollarshort