To cut & hack or not

[pistolpete]

I am currently having a debate in my mind and I guess would want to look for some insight from others. Little background...

I have been looking at Model A Sedans and all of a sudden there are several within a reasonable drive from my place that it is becoming quite feesable that one may end up in my garage. 3 of the 4 cars I have talked to the owners about are farely complete cars, 2 of those 3 are coming with new wood kits and freshly rebuilt stock motors. All are within a price range that I can live with.

So to my final thought is it a horrible thing to buy a car that is almost complete and restorable to turn it into a rod? I know it's been said to buy the best car you can to start with to save yourself in the long run, but at what point is a car beyond the point of turning it into a rod? (don't want to pull a Boyd Coddington and buy a completely restored Model A pickup and turn it into a rod, as I see that as a crime). I know this is something I need to decide for myself, but thought I would ask for some opinoins.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Do it, there's plenty of nice restored ones out there collecting dust and when sold don't bring near as much as a nice rodded one.

 

[hotrod preacher]

well if the car was already restored i'd say it would be a little weird to cut it up, not to mention an investment that may be more than a guy wants to start with to make into a rod.......

.....but if its "fairly complete" but unrestored then do with it as you wish....
and BTW where are the pics of all these nice cars at?

 

[Flipper_1938]

If I ran across a complete A, I'd be tempted to build a 40's era hot rod....mostly stock model A with a hopped up motor and hydraulic brakes.

If you are going to build what everyone thinks of as a rat, just buy a cheap trashed body (less guilty feelings) and go for it.

 

[bullet]

Set your mind at ease. Yes it's a fine example of an A, yes it's in primo condition, has new wood kit and all and it has the potential to be restored to original condition, but you can find plenty of those in museums. I say buy it up, you don't have to cut it up [ to make it into a rod. Leave the body alone if it's that nice, someday you may sell it and the new owner can then decide whether to restore it to original. Keep all the original parts from it, frame, running gear, suspension, etc. you never know what the future holds for the car.

Maybe you're just the custodian and you've been chosen to keep it safe from the elements while you enjoy it as a rod. [S

Oh crap ..... [ddd what a bunch of malarky.

 

[Tripper]

Do you need to borrow my hacksaw?!

BoB

 

[Sam_Fear]

All stock. ....minus 4+".

Or go full cab and rod it.

 

[pistolpete]

If I ran across a complete A, I'd be tempted to build a 40's era hot rod....mostly stock model A with a hopped up motor and hydraulic brakes.

This is actually my train of thought with it. Would love to go with a 8BA as they seem realatively easy to come by or even just through some speed parts at teh 4 cyl... small chop 2-3". I know next to impossible but part of the stipulation from the Mrs, it needs a back seat for the kid, so won't be extreme by any stretch.

And since someone asked so nicely, these are two of the rougher ones... for some reason can't seem to find the nice pics at the moment.

After the comments above I am not questioning myself nearly as much. I guess there will always be that guy who thinks rodding a car as such is sac-religeous... but there'll be 5 more behind him that love it.

 

[pistolpete]

All stock. ....minus 4+".

This car is awesome, simple and to the point, and has such a great stance... I could see trying to take parts of that for my own... thanks for the picture.

 

[cycledog]

If one of them is that nice, leave the body as is and put in the running gear of your choice.

 

[the reverend muddy grimes]

do whatever, I personally like the idea of keeping all the stock stuff in your garage, leaving the body as is, and putting it on a hotrod frame with a big v8. then u can undo it if u feel the need

 

[42chevy]

Keep it stock bodied and upgrade the rest. I would like a stock appearing one with your choice of V8 and better brakes and suspension.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Well don't tell the restorer guy you are going to rod it. Model A purists hate hot rodders. It isn't like you are hacking up a Duesenburg or something, there are lots of model As. I have a good friend who does a lot of model A work and most of the "restored" ones that come into his shop have hack job rebuilds on the engines, brakes ect. Don't just take some guys word the engine is rebuilt. That being said, a healthy, juiced up banger can be a lot of fun. My aformentioned friend has a mostly stock 31 coupe he drives everywhere and it will cruise 65-70 all day long and stop on a dime.