1929 Ford Model A

V-8

A881055

Bringing Classic and Collectable Car Buyers & Seller Together Worldwide 1929 Model A Tudor Flathead Rat Rod (written by owner) Here is the story of this car from an abandoned body left in a field for over 75 years to the “best of show” winning creation in the following photos. After having collected classic and muscle cars for over 35 years they all began to look the same to me and I was bored with the hobby. Then in June of 2011 I went to an event called the Road Rocket Rumble in Indianapolis, Indiana that changed my perspective and ignited my passion for the car hobby again. What I saw were these creative, one-of-a-kind, crazy, cartoonish, totally personal vehicles called Rat Rods. Not one of them were the same and they all reflected the builder’s personality. Instead of rows and rows of the typical Camaros, 57 Chevys and Mustangs, that to me became “white noise”, I saw these vehicles that were raw with unique powerplants, weird wheel and tire combinations, bizarre interiors and fabricating techniques and materials. These were individual works of art and moving sculpture that used raw, rusty metal as their clay. I immediately put up for sale old our beautiful, restored 1966 Shelby Cobra and set out to create the rolling tribute to my life you see before you in this article. I found just the right canvas for my project not far from my home in Northern, Indiana. A gentleman named Ed saw an abandoned 1929 Model A Tudor body in a field near his home and built that base car. It was chopped 7" inches and channeled 6" on a new 2 x 4 boxed frame. It was Z'd front and back. For even more uniqueness it was converted to be driven from the right side of the car. The rear suspension is a ladder bar set up with a panhard bar and a 1940 Ford buggy spring. The front is a 4” dropped axle. The engine is a 1953 Ford Flathead V8 with a Fenton intake and dual Holley 94’s. Resting on the Holley’s are a pair of functional Model T horns acting as air filters. It uses a Chrysler starter and the exhaust is handled by a set of Lakester headers complete with removable motorcycle baffles. The transmission is a Turbo 350 with a manual Hurst 4 speed shifter powering the 10 bolt Chevy rear end. Stopping the beast are finned Buick brake drums with 1940 Ford brakes inside. It has chrome reverse wheels with rare Coker inner and outer whitewall tires. To make it truly personalized and one of a kind I added these personal touches from my lifetime. The Radiator cap is a 1940’s Boys’ Club Bumper clamp. I’ve been a member since 1966. Roof is an actual sign from my Mom’s 1960’s Warsaw Dance Hall Included is another roof that is pearl vinyl with the Old School Ford V8 Script cut out and backed with smoked plexiglass Transmission boot is my very first baseball mitt. Baseball shifter knob my brothers 60's. Golf head cover on the transmission dipstick was deceased father-in-law’s. Bullet casings on the door openers are from my brother’s and father’s 21 gun salute at their military funerals. Third brake light is from an old Schwinn. License plate light is an old Rayovac flashlight. Tail light lenses are modified Margarita glasses with blue dots added. Oil drain plug is a Pabst Blue Ribbon Draft Taper. Periscope is functional and came out of necessity so I can see stoplights. Coil cover is one of the very first Diet Pepsi cans. Oil dipstick is a horse syringe. Radiator grill is from a house fan. Screwdriver sticking through radiator is an old one of my Dads. Seats are school seats from a 5th grade class. Steering wheel (yes it is right hand drive) is from an old bumper car ride from the county fair, held on by an allen wrench. Steering wheel spinner is from a water faucet. Brake pedal is an acrylic encased scorpion. Gas pedal is an old motorcycle license plate. Primitive alligator clip kill switch on steering column. Boat bilge pump switch on steering column just for fun. Flashlight dash light mounted on passenger side Dome light is a modified ceramic house light fixture Dome light pull is an antique plumbing tag Pass through between the seats is an old meter cap Rear view mirror is an old lady's compact with my wife and daughters photo. Louvered interior door panels are from an old furnace. Trunk in back is an old ammo box. Blower behind the seats is an old air conditioner unit. The pair of Vise grips on the driver side frame holds the ground wire on. Large Safety pins hold the wheels on. The Odometer in the passenger side rear wheel and is from an old semi. Meat Thermometer through the top radiator hose is the temperature gauge. (Ham and pork seem to be the best temps) Antique pliers mounted on the front were found in the gas tank. The front turn signals are old drinking fountain spigots bored out and mounted on the headlights. Headlight mounts are Ford Flathead connecting rods Look for the ball bearings in the fuel bowls Door hinge pins are old nails and a couple of old screwdrivers It has been signed by George Barris and Dennis Gage The sides are painted with "God's Rods: Where Car AND Driver are works in Progress" to share my faith. Antique repo Route 66 signs on sides with nail crosses, again to share my faith. Actual 1929 license plate. Biohazard sticker on voltage regulator on interior passenger side firewall Old wrench welded as a handle for the electric access panel. Old barn wooden floorboard In back are an antique gas can, battery charger, and voltage meter. Interior door panels are the louvered access panels from an old furnace. I get a real kick out of seeing the look on peoples faces when this “beast” wins “best of show” at the car shows. I know what they are thinking. They are thinking that their car has a $10,000 paint job on it with a $20,000 engine so how is it possible that this contraption without paint and a rusty flathead beat my car??? It has 5th grade seats for an interior for crying out loud. I just smile. Thanks for looking and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to email or call. Bill Schwartz bill@topshelfreps.com 260-249-0399 Terms and conditions There is no existing warranty from the factory. This car is sold "As Is”. We reserve the right to cancel all bids and end an auction early should the vehicle no longer be available for sale. Please read my Detailed Terms of Sale before bidding. The buyer will submit a refundable* deposit in the amount that is 5% of purchase within one (1) business day of the close of the auction or acceptance of offer to secure the vehicle. Buyer agrees to pay the remaining balance due (plus applicable fees and taxes) within five (5) business days of the close of the auction if you are not going to have the vehicle inspected, or after the inspection. All financial transactions must be completed before delivery of the vehicle. In the event you decide not to buy the vehicle after inspection and we have stopped the auction for you or you have hit the buy it now button, the listing fee to re-list the vehicle will not be refunded. We reserve the right to re-list and sell the vehicle to another party in the event of failure to comply with this policy. In most cases Top Shelf Reps has not seen or inspected the vehicles we represent online. Every effort has been made to accurately and fairly describe this vehicle to you. The owner of this vehicle has tried to disclose all information known about this vehicle for auction. We welcome and recommend a buyer's inspection. If you plan to have a buyers inspection, please make sure you inspect the vehicle prior to the auction ending. Buyer is responsible for any inspection charges and fees. By bidding you understand and are encouraged to inspect or send someone to inspect the vehicle before final payment is made. If you choose to not have the vehicle inspected you will not hold Top Shelf Reps or the seller responsible. Payment Methods: Cash in hand, certified check from the bank, Bank wire transfer. Deposits may be made with a certified check, Bank wire transfer or with PayPal. Entire purchase price of a vehicle will not be accepted on PayPal Buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered in. Check your local BMV for details. *Deposit is refundable ONLY in the event that the vehicle has been materially misrepresented.