how nice is to nice to hotrod

I have a friend here with a bunch of Model A in original, unrestored condition. They are drivers, but not too rough at all. His cars are a ways from showroom condiiton / museum quality. Compared to his cars though, the car in your photos is much rougher and certainly not "Smithsonian-worthy." Not to worry, there are folks out there already collecting and preserving the really good ones. So, hot rod the hell out of this one. Gary

 

Decent car to hot rod.

 

what were you going to do with it? people say stock model A's are common... well they are nowhere near as common as chopped fenderless A coupes. you can't spit at any show without hitting one.

 

if you do rod it.... I wouldn't chop it.

 

Looks like a great start. I'd do whatever to it.

 

I'm a restorer as well as a hot rodder. My criteria for rodding material is its rarity. There are tons of Model A coupes around - I'd go ahead and cut it.

 

I wouldn't feel bad at all building a Hot Rod out of that. There are tons of restored Model A coupes around so it's not like you're cutting up a Tucker. You don't have to do anything too radical either to have a cool little Hot Rod, look at the coupe Evel posted or Chris' coupe with a B engine. I'd leave the fenders and top alone though!

 

its really not stock oem nice but there is so much good that some super chopped hemi rat rod thing would be a waste you only get a virgin once rod it with respect hahahah

 

Not to digress, but you can't "build" a survivor car, can you? I think I smell snake oil. Gary

 

It's not like it's a nice, get in it and drive mom around on 4th of July type car. It would need a bunch of work to be a "Nice" Stock Model A.
Rod it, just don't do any stupid vermin type of stuff

 

Thought that sounded funny too

 

next question...

 

Apply this to the opposite ***... How pretty is too pretty? There is no such thing my friend.

 

Rod it. Keep the fenders and hood on. Lower it. Steel wheels with caps. 8 cylinder flatty. Do not repaint it. Now get to it and take a lot of pictures.

 

Oh the sweet, sweet sound of a chop saw! I'm gettin' all goose pimplly thinking about all the things that could be done with that. Screw keeping it "original". It's only really "Original" when you put your vision into it and make it a one of a kind.

 

I think your 'dilema' is understanding what it would take to make that a *****in hot.
With only 55k miles in obvious drivable condition, it don't need to be torn down at all.
To be *****in', take off the hood, fenders, leave the side aprons, hop up that 'banger or put in another motor of the late 50s, Caddy, Olds, Ford V8, or........... with new kingpins and bushings in the suspension where needed, reline the the brake shoes, new tubes in the tires, repack the wheel bearings, etc. replace the plate gl*** with safety gl***, and drive it.

 

sometimes you have to destroy to create

 

Those saying rod it don't own it. Its just there opinion. I have been there, 29 C/C Pk Up, almost like Henry made it except for a B Engine. I drove it for a couple of years and really had a ball. Then I did some things, and that was fun, the B engine was cranking out a few more horses, and now its an Old Man's Hot Rod. and its stiil a lot of fun, but nothing on the cab has been altered, no holes drilled, and its an easy return back to stock for me or who ever. Just my 3cents worth. Iceman

 

It's a great start to a terrific hot rod. Do it. Either you are a AACA guy or you are a hot rodder. There aren't too many who walk both sides of that fence.

 

no such thing as too nice to hot rod, if done right

 

I went through this with my Dodge. Alot of the AACA guys got really pissed at me but they wouldnt buy it or even make me an offer! Now !! Can you say HEMI!!!

 

nice profile pic. LOL

 

I'll go along with this...there's a lot of things you can do to make the car more fun and safer to drive without cutting it up.

 

Guess it depends. IMHO if you mean rod it with a billit laden tuned port SBC, big billit wheels and pearl paint, yeah too nice to rod. If you mean dress flathead, dropped axle, juice brake, yeah, it's perfect to rod!
Seriously, really nice as a builder but not so nice to keep stock. Lots of good parts to sell to restorers. Personally, I wouldn't paint it or mess with the body, that patena takes to long to make and it has personality.

 

You are asking hot rodders if its ok to hot rod it. If you went to the fordbarn you would probably get the exact opposite reaction:

It is entirely up to your buddy what to do with it, but if it were mine I would post it for sale and see if someone else would like to restore it then go find one already rodded to add a personal touch to and if no one wants to put their money where their mouth is rod away man, rod away!

 

Well spoken! Rod it!

 

that things beggin' to be rodded.

 

I have seen nicer coupes turned into rods.. think of it this way.. at least you dont have to put in patch panels and start with nothing.. Its a good start and 55,000 miles doesnt sound like alot in mileage today but for that cars engine its actually up there.. I say rod it..I have been in your shoes before but its all down hill once you make that first cut and get over the fact..

 

If it was a restoration, I'd say keep it stock. Since it needs work, I would "rod".

 

more depends on whether the owner wants a "hot rod" or a stock cruiser.
if i wanted a stocker,i would do the work to return it to that. if i wanted a rod,it could be straight out of the ford families personnal collection with 5 original miles,in museum quality condition,and i wouldn't hesitate a second to take the plama cutter to it.........