1931 Ford Model A Roadster 2016 "Hot Rod of The Year" Blown Ardun Flathead

1931 Ford Model A Roadster

The car started out as an original Ford Model A Roadster. From there the body was heavily fabricated with pieces hand formed by the body guys at Roseville Rod and Custom, who reshaped the rear wheel wells for the Deuce 'rails, and modified the firewall and cowl. Classic traditional hot rod elements include a DuVall windshield frame, 1953 Pontiac taillights, and a pair of original E&J Model 20 headlights updated with Halogen bulbs.

The shell was chopped 2 inches with a Custom Pines Winterfront Grille

The body sits on a 32 frame from SO-CAL Speed Shop. Lots of little details lie in the frame and suspension including the drilled dropped I-beam axle, early Ford-style spindles and leather-sheathed front and rear transverse leaf springs, plus front and rear 1940 Ford Houdaille lever action shocks. Stock steering was replaced with a Mullins cross steer setup. The Winters quick-change rearend features a limited-slip differential with 3.50:1 gears. The rear radius rods were fabricated from a 1947 Ford split front wishbone. Brakes are 11-inch Ford drums in the back with SO-CAL concealed discs in front, plumbed to a SO-CAL master cylinder underneath the car.

The wheels are appropriately understated—simple black 16-inch smoothies provided by Rally America with 1941 Ford caps. Firestone Deluxe Champion skinny rubber from Coker was chosen to complete the look; front pie-crust bias-plies are 4.50/4.75-16 and the rears are 7.50-16.

The Ardun-converted Flathead is a 59 AB block, bored 0.125 inch, stroked 0.375 inch, balanced, and blueprinted at H&H. Ross pistons and Scat H-beam rods on a Scat 4-1/8-inch crank displace 296 ci. A pair of Stromberg BIG97 250-cfm carbs with Speedway air scoops, an H&H S.Co.T. blower, and a Ken Austin intake feed the Flathead with rolled copper fuel lines delivering gas from the aluminum tank built by Ben. Custom stainless headers were built by RRC and direct exhaust into 3-inch custom pipes. RRC built a shroud for the copper and brass walker radiator and Spal electric fan. The Powermaster PowerGen alternator maintains a nostalgic look. A Chevy TH350 transmission was built for the Flathead by Jim Galatioto at ATO Performance Transmission Operations. The driveshaft is from Driveline Specialties.

RR&C painter Joe Vaca used PPG products to mix a custom shade they call Midnight Blue. It's a little darker than the roadster's original finish, and looks great in the California sunshine.

Midnight Blue carries over into the interior where it is contrasted by the brown leather upholstery stitched by Dave Putnam of Orangevale, California. The amount of detail in the small roadster interior is impressive, from the door panel pockets to the additional storage case under the dash. The bench seat frame was constructed at RR&C and upholstered by Dave Putnam. The frame was also partially wrapped in leather. Lifting the mat-sized panels of German square-weave carpet reveals the teak wood floor, which is also visible from underneath the roadster. The 1932 Ford dash features an unusual gauge insert from a 1929 Chandler. Classic Instruments restored the rare original gauges and modernized the workings. The steering wheel is from LimeWorks with custom touches from RRC. The column is from a 1937 Ford, and has been modified. The trunk is nicely finished, with more German square weave and a pair of leather cases. Even the fuel tank manages to look elegant. The car was finished January 2016.

In addition to multiple builder's choice and local show best in shows here are some of the cars more Notable awards:

Grand National Roadster Show Best Rod

Sacramento Autorama Best Rod

Portland Roadster show World Cup of Hot Rodding

SEMA FORD Designers "Best of Show"

Street Rodder Magazine 2016 "Street Rod of The Year"

GoodGuys 2016 "Hot Rod of The Year"

2016 Goodguys HOT ROD of THE YEAR

1931 Ford Roadster,Heavily modified sheet metal to make this car a one of a kind award winning Hot Rod. a Ardun Flathead motor.The car was built by Roseville Rod and completed in January 2016