1930 Ford Roadster, AV8 Original Ford Steel Hot Rod with a Mercury Flathead V8

1930 Ford Model A

I'm selling my rough-n-ready traditional 1930 AV8 Roadster with it's Mercury Flathead V8, 3-speed manual, original style interior and it's crusty body. It's an authentic old school hot rod.The California title and registration is clean, current & headache-free. The 1930 license plates are the real plates for the car and are included in the sale.In 2006 I purchased this car as a very old, abandoned, neglected, derelict hot rod. It had not run in many decades and probably should have been scrapped. Its floor and rails were all Flintstone'd out but it was an honest-to-gosh old-timey V8 swapped hot rod with a Z'd original chassis and an original steel body. The major work was done bysomeone long as in the past. Some of the work was OK and some was downright scary. I fixed what I had to, kind of resto-repaired what I felt was the minimum necessary to make it safe to drive but in the end I wanted to leave it in as much an "as found" condition as possible rather than restore it and risk losing it's charm. To be honest, many people would say it needs an entirely new body and probably a new frame and suspension as well, but that would insult the cars character. It took it 89 years to look this good and as long as it still run's and drives then I won't be the guy that ruins this thing.The frame had been Z'd 2.5" in the front and 7.5" in the rear. It was also stretched 3" in the rear with the body mounted back that amount. I boxed the frame to give it some strength but otherwise left it pretty much as found. The front suspension is split stock hairpins with the stock front axle dropped 3" and drilled. The front spring has reversed eyes as well. The rear suspension is a stock Model A spring with split wishbones mounted to an 8" Ford axle with a 3.0 gear. New short tube shocks all around with the fronts being mounted using cut down F1 shock hangers.With the Z'd frame and dropped axle, the car sits very low but the interior floorboard is still normal. The body setback allowed the engine to fit without modifying the original steel firewall so the engine doesn't intrude on the occupant's legroom. It is really rare to have a car that sits this low and has a V8 in it, yet still has a completely stock sized interior. I am 6' tall and drive this car comfortably.The 1942 Mercury 29A engine was rebuilt by H&H Flatheads in 2007. It has been bored 0.040" over and features Manly valves, Isky springs, a 274 cam, Edelbrock heads, Sharp 3x2 intake, 3x Holley 94 carbs and a Mallory distributor. Exhaust is routed through dual cherry bomb style glass packs. The flywheel has been resurfaced and a new 10" clutch and pressure plate installed. The transmission is a 1937 Lincoln 3-speed upgraded to later model synchro's and reconfigured for an open drive line.The tires are new Firestone 8.20-15 & 4.50-16 Bias Plys on 1935 ford wire wheels.I wanted a nice interior so I had seat cushions made using new seat springs wrapped in a Lebaron Bonney foam and cover kit, as well as adding new door & cowl panels. I mounted a reduced diameter 40' Ford style steering wheel. The stock gauge cluster is still in place with the original speedometer (doesn't work, needs cable), a functioning stock fuel gauge as well as vintage oil pressure & coolant temp gauges. The stock choke rod is still used, only now it's for the Holley carbs.The car had mechanical rod brakes, and while I like originality, there is a limit. I upgraded it like they did post war by adding a clutch and brake pedal assy from an early Ford pickup along with a new master cylinder. Hydraulic brakes for the front are from a 40 Ford and in the rear from a 68 mustang. The parking brake functions via the original 1930 lever.I etched and sealed the stock 10 Gallon cowl tank and replaced the lines. I added an electric fuel pump with a low pressure regulator to feed the V8 since the stock gravity feed wasn't enough.Flatheads notoriously run hot so rather than play around with vintage cooling setups, I mounted a 4 row radiator w/Fluidyne electric fan that runs whenever the engine is running. It typically runs 165-180F unless it's very hot out and I'm in traffic, then it could see 190F.Electrical system is 12V and powered by a vintage look Powergen alternator. I put on a set of genuine BLC-904a "Percolator" headlights with high/low beams and blinkers fitted into the original running light location. They are mounted on a modified original headlight bar. At the rear there are tail lights with brake lights and blinkers. Proper relays & fuses all around. A battery cutoff switch with removable key is under the seat for added security.The body is crusty and sweaty. There are lower patch panels up and down both sides. The below deck lid and above deck lid panels are re-pops as are the inner floor rails. However, the rear deck lid, both rear body sides, both doors, both cowl sides, firewall and cowl tank and radiator grill shell are original parts. The windshield is a 2" cut down original frame. The doors latch but the gaps are hilarious. The deck lid doesn't latch but that hasn't been a problem as it's an interference fit and doesn't bounce around.It's currently running on just the center carb. I just cruise and with only a 10 gallon tank I decided that this small nod towards economy wouldn't necessarily be bad.The steering is "notchy" because the u-joints are running too large an angle. If I were keeping the car I would work on this next.The drive line has less than 750 miles on it. It loves cruising at 45-55 and gets thumbs up wherever you go.I have run it on the freeway and it can easily do the speed but the original buggy suspension will make you think better of it.
WARNING! This car is 89 years old! It's not reliable like a modern car, it rattles and squeaks. It needs to warm up when it's cold. It's not a modern "safe" car. It's not suitable to be your only car, nor for your kids to drive to school. This is a no-shit crazy fun old school hot rod that raises your blood pressure when you drive it. Maybe it's the adrenaline, or maybe it's the more intelligent part of your brain reacting to the sheer sketchiness of a V8 powered 89 year old skateboard.I recommend you, or someone knowledgeable you trust, thoroughly inspect the car before bidding and I will assist in this any way I can. Payment must be made in full and all funds cleared before the vehicle leaves my possession.

• Make: Ford
• Model: Model A
• SubModel: Standard Roadster
• Type: Roadster
• Year: 1930
• Mileage: 750
• VIN: A2627402
• Color: Black
• Engine size: 42 Mercury Flathead V8
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: 3 Speed Manual
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Brown
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Safety options: Seat belts
• Vehicle Title: Clear
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