In a field....what exactly and worth pursuit?

all right guys, my uncle tells me that his friend has an old ford in the field at his house (this guy when something breaks just puts it in the field and leaves it, no joke. there's a 70's chevy truck, two or three tractors, a race trailer, a horse trailer, big dump bed truck etc.)

anyways, I ask the friend about it a couple months ago, turns out he had two model A's out there, but just gave one to a cousin who hauled it off. his wife cuts hair so I got a peek at it a few weeks ago when I went for a trim. today I went again, took a camera and got close.

My questions are two:

1. what exactly is this?
2. is it too far gone to be worth anything or should I try to make arrangements for it to be around when we finish the F1?

I wouldn't be thinking fancy with the bells and whistles like the truck. I'm thinking more like building a chassis, do a great power train (olds rocket engine maybe) make it family safe (blast and prime or paint, but definitely get rid of the rust) and simple interior. no air/heat, radio, just simple hotrod but step up from rat rod (meaning I don't dig the whole "must carry tetnis vaccine" stuff).

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela5.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela4.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela6.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela7.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela8.jpg

sorry so many pics guys, but figure you all love this stuff and wouldn't get too upset with me.

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela10.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bsantagata/images/modela11.jpg

Red

Looks buildable to me, but the cutie ridin' shotgun is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Looks buildable to me, but the cutie ridin' shotgun is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

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I agree with that. The car looks to be a Model A two door sedan, year wise, someone with more knowledge than me can answer.

It's a 28 - 29 with the narrow cowl. Also the wide single band for a character line 30 - 31 has a 2 line one wider the top one and the wider cowl .

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/86...500x500Q85.jpg

Good thing i just seen looks like the garnish mldg's are there . They can be hard to find and a bit pricey if you have to locate them . Seems during the depression and long after cars were stripped for any steel to sell This car on a norm could fetch 1 to 2 K but with economy down may get it cheaper if they want to sell it . If they don't want to sell think bigger .

I dont know exactly what it is but I can say YES grab it and build it.
Its totally saveable. Looks to be in decent shape.

And if you dont want it..............:rolleyes::D

looks good to me, even dent free!:D And the little one is very cute!

I agree with Bluestang being a 28-29 for sure, looks pretty good. I paid $800 for my '31 and up here things are really expensive. I swore the next car I pick up will have doors that are lined up and yours look pretty good.

Sean

like the car and the dog! Looks like Pretzel!(my dog)

Thanks, that's my 2.5yo sidekick. she's something else, great talker let me tell you, and funny. she likes painted nails, pretty shoes, fake tattoos and working on the hotrod!! what a combo. look out danica! and she has those BIG baby blues. she was asking me for something the other day and I said "you're gonna be trouble when you get older, no boys going to say no to you." know what she says? "I not trouble, I Riley" :D

Yeah I didn't see any dents on it, the damage on the cowl on drivers side pictured, rest looks pretty good. I don't know anything about the model A's, but thought it would be worth talking to the guy, have it blasted and primed and set it aside till the trucks finished.

Let me tell ya guys what I'm thinking, and tell me if you think I could do it for under say 10k?

build the frame (can't be that hard right? I've got all the MIG stuff, and the guy that has this actually has a TIG we could use but I'd have to learn it first)

probably IFS with power steering (that might be a big price tag though)

most importantly a great drive train. I'm thinking an Olds engine, I just read an article on them, sounds cool and would be different. maybe a 4speed trans. 9" rear end, but would love IRS like a jag or something.

probably have to chop the top. interior basic, places for 4 people. no fenders, steel wheels.

basic paint to keep it from rusting up again.

of course all mental excercise at this point. but as far as projects go, for something that would let me take the wife and girls to local shows, burger joints etc., would there be anything making this less of a good project than say a 50' ford, (probably higher cost of entry there) or other pre-55?

Red

Nah, definately not worth saving. BTW, what's the guys address?;):3dSMILE:

Looks like a great find, but let me share with you what my buddy thinks of his 30 A sedan. He loves the car, but there is no place to carry anything except in the back seat. He actually got a trailer to tow. So think about chairs, cooler or luggage if you ever go overnight. Just something to think about before you tie up time and money in something that might not be as useful as you want.

Pat

Yep, 28-29, one of the cooler Tudors made IMO. They also have less wood than the similar Fordors, which is a big plus.

I'd grab it for sure, and the frame too.

Don

Don, is that what it could potentially look like? I like it man. I talked to my uncle, I think he isn't enthused because he doesn't want me distracted from the current project, I just don't want it to get away.

let me ask one last question, after it is blasted and primed, since the entire surface is rusted, will it all be pitted after blasting? what is done about that, filler?


Thanks

Red

Red depending on how bad it is , may get alot out with some 8o grit or may have to get it some with some 60 first . But be carefull to keep moving heavy grit will heat warp sheet metal . Then you can use a heavy fill and sand primer . Multi coats usually will fill light pitting.

Here's some inspiration.....

[QUOTE=Dago Red;335491]Don, is that what it could potentially look like? I like it man.

Yep, that is what a 28-29 looks like on stock rails with a little chop. Pretty cool, huh? I love that one. Here are some more to get you thinkin'. :D:D

Don

That '29 Model A Tudor would be a great project. I looks like you have a decent body and frame to start with. I have owned 3 Model As since 1986 so I keep up on current pricing. I have seen Model A bodies and frames similar to what you have in the picture going for 1200.00-1500.00 and up. This stuff isn't getting any easier to find. The nice thing about rodding a Model A is that you can get repop stuff for the entire car...so no scrounging for old rusty parts (unless you are one of those purist.) I wanted to put my guesstimation in on what you will spend.....1. Full fendered resto rod---20,000.00 2. Fenderless Tudor Highboy----17,000.00 3. Lowered fenderless ratrod----??????? These prices are you building the car yourself, and not farming anything out. I am hoping you can build a sweet rod more inexpensive that that, but you wouldn't belive what you can put into one of these.

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Yep, 28-29, one of the cooler Tudors made IMO. They also have less wood than the similar Fordors, which is a big plus.

I'd grab it for sure, and the frame too.

Don

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Don that is one beautiful hotrod. You must have quite the archive of old classic rods! Dago go for it!

It looks like it can be saved and it is definitely a '28-'29 Ford Tudor. Although not exactly streamlined, the back seat has a lot of room and a closed car can be air conditioned more realistically than an open car. Adding a steel roof insert adds strength but maybe a green plexiglass insert would be interesting? Go easy with sand blasting, it can remove metal as well as rust!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Grab that thing and build it! The cost of building a hotrod depends entirely on how much of the work you do yourself. My coupe was in about the same condition as that sedan when I got it. I fabricated my own frame and scrounged parts from 27 different cars. I did 100% of the work myself including all the body and paint work, upholstery (I didn't stitch the seat covers; I bought them online and installed them. I covered the door panels and headliner myself with pre-pleated vinyl material), and engine assembly. I have had it on the road for almost 4 years and have driven it almost 30,000 miles. The total cost so far is just over $7600. I probably had about $4000 in it when I started driving it unnfinished. It has no heat or A/C; it's just pure hotrod.:cool:

The first two pics below were taken the day I brought it home. The last pic is how it looks now.:D

Since this is becoming a picturefest for inspiration I'll post my favorite '28-9 sedan pic. But then, I'm a sucker for a '28-9 on Deuce rails...........

Super jealous! That is a great body to start with on a project. If that were near me I would not be able to get there fast enough with the $$. Some pics for inspiration. Don

Nice '28-'29. Before I got the bright idea that I wanted a roadster, this is my nmostly disassembled '31 A Slant Windshield Fordor body on my current TCI chassis. (There are days when I wish that that bright idea had faded into the sunset:whacked:)

Dave it looks like a great project, and nice to start with a frame that's ready to go~!

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Originally Posted by stovens

Dave it looks like a great project, and nice to start with a frame that's ready to go~!

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Unfortunately..........someone else has the body now......:CRY:

But - I STILL am using the chassis:D

Hey Dago,
I agree with your uncle, finish what you have now, there's alot of bodies in this valley to be had, some in better condition to start with. Sure it's save-able, just depends on your capabilities and patience. Please don't do what so many others have,get burnt on the current project. I totaly understand looking forward to the next great thing, maybe snag it and put undercover,but I tell you, your attention will stray. Then you will have 2 projects working, parts everywhere etc....Your at the Hot Rodders crossroad, a platau of sorts, finishing your truck will define you as a true rodder, not a poser...JMHO...