The body is a good old Model A. It’s a 1930 Ford vintage that has undergone a 5-inch top chop utilizing a 1957 Ford sedan delivery roof while maintaining an operational windshield. The steel grille shell is also chopped 4 inches. The driprails were shaved, the rear wheelwells smoothed, a bodyline was added to the bottom edge with a slot to fit the axle, and a rear bodyline was added to bring the sides together. You will also see a Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop fuel cap assembly added to the rear driver-side quarter-panel when looking more closely. You might pick up that the taillights are mounted behind the rear glass. Additional touches include using 1932 Ford door handles, custom-made floorboards, interior panels, and a complete custom firewall. The body also has a 4-inch channel over the personalized frame. All the body’s sheetmetal work was performed by Mykals Custom Autobody and painted in a PPG DBC line of paint, Hot Pepper Red tri-coat, by Mike Lee. It should also be noted that all the sheetmetal joints were lead-filled.

Dale whittled out the chassis, a made-to-order frame derived from 2×4-inch rectangular tubing. The front portion of the ’rails has four custom detailed oval holes per side, matching the style of the holes on the Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop radius rods. The front axle is a plated Magnum 5-inch drop I-beam and spindles, with a mono transverse leaf spring, chrome tube shocks, and Vega cross steering. The brake system is based on the Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop Kinmont Safety front brakes that wrap around Wilwood calipers and rotors in front, while in back, the same Kinmonts appear, but inside it is made of Ford 10-inch drums. The rearend is based on a Moser 9-inch with 3.89 gears within an aluminum centersection. The rear is located via a triangulated four-link with custom mounts. The rear air suspension is comprised of a Ridetech ShockWave. The custom chrome-plated wheels are from Wheelsmith in 18s and 20s and are then wrapped with Coker/Excelsior Stahl Radial Sport measuring 6.50/7.00R20 in the back and 5.50R18s in the front.

The power is supplied via a 1966 Buick 401 Nailhead (now bored and stroked) with a smoothed block, a Powermaster alternator with a custom bracket, and A/C pump mounts. Jimmies Motor Machine handled the machine work and assembly, and part of the recipe includes TRW 12.1 pistons, a Crower TA25 cam, iron heads, and polished Fenton valve covers. The North West Speed polished intake accepts six Stromberg 97 carbs while a Holley fuel pump. Firing the “load” is a PerTronix electronic Ignitor, a Flame-Thrower coil, and Ignitor plug wires. The exhaust system is based on Sanderson Headers Lakes-style with internal baffles. Taking all that power and working its way back to the rear falls to the responsibility of a 1966 Buick TH400 that Indy Trans modified and from here a Lokar shifter is employed.

Inside, there isn’t much, if anything, that a hot rodder would call “Model A.” The custom-made interior features the 1953 Studebaker Commander gauges (that Dale and Tom restored, and the bezels chromed) that were then wired to the car’s main circuitry supplied by Painless Performance Products, all handled by Tom. The steering column is an Ididit topped with a Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop Modern Vintage 16-inch four-spoke wheel, reminiscent of Sprint Car hardware. All the seating, center console, headliner, and remaining interior panels are freshly fabricated. Tucked within the center console is a Lokar shifter with a noticeably “tall” handle—ordered as such from Lokar. The upholstered appointments are done in a Moss-hue. The leather material is stitched by Dale’s Hot Rods Interiors (Dade City, Florida).”

This unique hot rod is no stranger to the highway, having been to multiple NSRA, Goodguys, Starbird Rod & Custom Show, and Pigeon Forge Rod Run, among others. It has also captured its share of recognition, having been selected for an NSRA Pro’s Pick by Classic Instruments, Goodguys Award of Excellence, Starbird’s Fine Nine, and an Ultimate 5 award. It’s an extreme build and well done.