Photography by The Authorhen is the last time you saw a hot rod Model T sedan? For most, it might be Lil’ John Buttera’s beer bottle brown ride on the September 1974 cover of Hot Rod. Nothing else since has come close to that—until now.
After finding a fairly good 1926 Ford Tudor sedan a few clicks from his home, Dave Rocha and rod builder Brent Housley took the four-hour drive to pick up the parts. They found it was in great shape for its age and even included an original frame. The frame was used for reference points as the new homebuilt frame came together.
The engine was sourced from a 1985 Ford 302ci V-8 with its overdrive transmission and rear third member. Exhaust manifolds are both lefthand Falcon sprint with owner-built exhaust. A beautiful aluminum and brass air cleaner is an owner-built item. The Brassworks brass radiator is built with a 3-1/2-inch copper core.
Solid brass features made by the owner are hood hold-downs and formed hood plates, gas tank straps, solid brass bumper mounting brackets for the stock bumpers, modified brass–era Franklin door handles, copper headlight wire tubes, a steel spoon pedal assembly, and hinge mirror brackets. The stock Model “T” Ford headlights are now filled with Halogen bulbs with the 1934-style taillights having LED innards with brass doors.
Dave’s interior has the look of a coach-built car of the era. It is upholstered in distressed Antique Whiskey and Aztec Black Buffalo leather by Jack Mayeaux’s studio in Tigard, Oregon. The exposed top of Ash and Mahogany and Jelutong back window garnish molding was all done by the owner, the dome light was crafted from 1915 Ford cowl lamp parts. A modified 1936 Ford dash has Classic Instruments and Vintage Air installed in it. Up above is a homebuilt header panel filled with map lights and a storage pocket. The steering column is owner built and topped with a restored original 1920 16-inch Ford Model T steering wheel spider with a Fordite wheel ring to give the feeling of a factory “special edition.” (Note: Fordite is the slag leftover in painting areas. As it built up it had to be removed because it hampered production. The pieces were used to make the steering wheel ring.)
The wheels are wrapped with the 500Rx16 Excelsior Stahl Sport Radials on the front and 700Rx16 on the rear.
It is very refreshing to see Dave’s perception and creativity on a body style hardly seen since the ’70s as a basis for a hot rod project. With so many wannabes these days, it’s very unusual to see this kind of design and quality from the 1926 Ford Tudor sedan from the Model T era. It’s my guess that you haven’t seen the last of this one.