Ive been looking forward to making this post for close to 5 years I think. The day when I would post my pics and sum up the project of my Model A. So here goes... A few years back I sold my 53 Buick Roadmaster and wanted to get into a more traditional hotrod type of project. With the money in my pocket from the Buick I started my search. I was pretty new to cars older than the 50s models and was pretty sure I wanted something 36 or earlier. After a few weeks of browsing around I stumbled across a post here on the HAMB classifieds. I think the add was pretty vague but mentioned something about model As and had a phone number. I make contact with the guy and he says he has many models As that vary in price. I didnt waste much time, the next day I take off work me and my buddy Jeff are of to Ft. Worth to see whats up.Turns out some old guy south of Ft. Worth had passed away and the family was selling all his stuff. We meet the guy in town and follow him off to the place, a bit out of town and in a rural area we arrive at a little house tucked away down a gravel road south of town. As we walk around we see probly 6 or so complete models As and many other old cars and various partial cars. We are getting pretty excited as we are the only ones there and we pretty much have first dibs on anything. I quickly pick out the best looking A in the yard. A very clean,1930 coupe, little rust complete car. Like kids in a candy store we are overwhelmed by this place and all the cool parts and cars scattered across the guys property. I ask how much for the A I picked out and he says $ 3500. The other cars where all a bit cheaper but this one had the best body by far, so after a call to the wife (and some smooth talking) I made the deal. Give the guy a deposite and arrange to come back the next day to get the car. The next day I ditch work again to go pick up the car. Jason ( Modern Beat)came to town that weekend so he and Jeff pick me up with a trailer and we head out. When we arrive at the place it is crawling with people. People are digging for parts and trying to make deals, luckily the guy honored my deposit and we drag the A out and onto the trailer. I was totally stoked and proud to pull out the best car of the lot and at the same time afraid of the project I have in front of me. Never have I taken on anything like this. But with a handfull of friends with good taste and knowledge and the Hamb at my side I forge ahead. the project starts... So to get this car back on the road I was way out of my league, I'm no welder, so I phone up dad in Houston ( a retired pipe fitter ) and make sure hes onboard with the project when I made the deal for the car. I get the car to Houston and we start to go thru it. I know in my mind what I want, A low channeled traditional car that I can drive daily and most of all I'm on a buget. I had done a bit of reseach and thought I could build the car for around 10k or atleast that was my goal. So right from the start I was 3500 into it and still needed a lot. In retrospect now I know where I made some mistakes.Working on such a tight buget and never really having the 10k up front I had to buy parts as I could afford/find them. I started building the car right away and didnt have all of the parts yet. So things like mocking up suspension and engine height, ride height,wheel and tire height and body positioning with the frame where very diffucult. Some things had to get moved and redone several times throughout the project once I aquired the parts, but the end result Im pretty happy with. I didnt take alot of pics during the build unfortunatly but this I can tell you. This entire car was build in a back yard, under a carport, with nothing other than a crakerbox Lincoln arc welder, some basic tools and a vision. Several weekends streached out over the course of over 4 years. We built pretty much everything, chopped and Zd the frame and built all of the rear and front suspension rods as well as modifying most of the store bought items. Without my dad I would never had been able to build this car. I owe everything to him and this project brought us together more than we had ever been. I tried to keep a fairly detailed list of parts,the source, and cost as I progressed toward the 10k mark. Here is a list for the basics. Frame and Body 3500 Axel,Spring,Shackels,etc. 600 Speedway Ford spindles and Brakes 200 ebay F1 mounts 50 Jason Valve covers 100 Jason Steering box 100 Swapmeet Wheel cylinders 100 Kanters fnt shoe reline 50 Dallas Brake and Clutch Shifter 200 Lokar Gas pedal 30 Speedway Throttle cable 30 Speedway Master cylinder 120 Speedway Brake line kit 100 Speedway Engine/trans 500 Ed Blasingame 327/t350 Rear end 75 swapmeet/camaro Steeringwheel 120 ebay 40 ford guages 40 local auto parts Wiring harness 160 Speedway EZ-wire Headlights 270 Speedway 34 commercial Taillights 80 Speedway Pontiac Rims 160 Jason Ford Tires 600 Wallis Wade Headers 425 Sanderson Radiator 400 Local shop Adapters 160 Ed Groeske Listed here is about 8k plus the other nickle and dime paint, steel, about a bazillion cut off wheels and other misc. junk that you need and I would guess im pretty damn close to my 10k. Some stuff on the car is borrowed from dad to get it on the road that I have to replace still, coil, dist, batt and plug wires. Some other parts where donated from him, seat, tank etc. Im guessing now that I could drop another 5k to really get the car where I want it, but for now im on the road. The car is on the road now but still very incomplete. Im aiming for the Nostalgia Drags in Temple as my target date to get some details worked out so hopefully I make it. Other than dad I would like to thank Jeff Keller, Tom Bitros and Jason McDaniels for helping me find parts and offer guidance throught the project. Without the HAMB and the people here I would not have this car. It has been because of the HAMB and others that have paved the way with techs and builds over the years to teach and enspire me to build this car. I can not thank you enough. For inspiration I thank Bass, the Dirtys,Rolf,Bleed,60s Style and many others. Long live the HAMB!!! Pat Jones
Nice stance: good size tires, body not too low or high, channel and no chop look awesome together. And really like that bench seat, I don't what it is, but integrates quite well with the interior. This is a car to be proud of.
DAMN AWESOME CAR! Great story and build up. Hopefully I can make it to Day of the Drags and see it in person.
I like what you have done with it! I wish more builds would post real build cost info like that. Did you sell off those fenders? Are you interested in doing so?
Sweet car to be proud of, now just drive the tires off of it.Did you ever think you would see the day when 8,000, to be a hot rod, was not a lot of money.
That is a very rad car...nice job...makes me want to get going on my car...if only it wasnt 1200km away right now.
Very cool car, mabybe I'll see you at a few local events. I too was wondering about those valve covers...
The valve covers on the car are the ones that where on the motor when I got it, the ones in the price list are finned aluminum Cal Customs, but I still need breathers so they arent on the car yet. Before the drags I hope to have the Dist, coil, valve covers and new air cleaner all on the car. I do still have all of the fenders and I would probly be interested in selling them to help fund the other stuff I need. They are in pretty good shape with just a few splits in the rears I think.
I couldn't agree more. The way the rear tires fit the cuve of the body (deck lid) is perfect. You did a great job PatJ! And it's good to hear your $100 valve covers (not pictured) are Cal Customs - good choice. Malcolm
Whew! I have heard nothing but good stuff about Jason... so I got confused... The new covers should finish out the ride just fine!
Pat, Jeff told me about the first run. Lots 'o fun. Keep it up. He may want a hot rod for himself. And get the valve covers and windshield on the car.
You have built an awesome ride. Yours shows that the right ideas, and determination will always work out. I love it.
It looks great and I really like how you stuck with the A radiator shell. Looks great with the lights mounted like that. I love to here stories like this and goes to show you that desire and persistance can overcome money and arrogance, anytime. Great job!
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