Ratty Roadster: 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe
This 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe is a little pieced together and has some surface rust here and there, but it does have a lot of potential. It even has original paint on some pieces. You can bring this car home in a no reserve auction that has a current bid of $6,155. A partial VIN is listed, and there is a mention of 50,000 miles on the odometer. The seller also has a clean title for the car. You can bid on it here on eBay.
The engine is said to be the original four-cylinder with a three-speed manual transmission and a factory rear end. The car is said to run and drive, but it might not quite be suitable for on the road driving until it has been properly looked over. It is fitted with the original Type 30/31 wire wheels, and it does have the spare wheel with it, although no tire is on that wheel. There is nothing mentioned about the brakes.
One cool feature is that it has a rumble seat. It looks like it needs some floors and the seller says that the seat springs are new for both the bottom and backs, but you just needs to upholster them. There is also new wood for the seats that is fastened to the frame so you can fasten the seats to the car. The convertible top is a bit tattered and torn and there is no mention if can be raised and lowered.
To me, the car looks like it is wearing a paperboy hat and looks like something that could come to life like in the movie Cars. The seller suggests it could become a car suitable for the Race of Gentlemen. They also suggest a Rat Rod. I’m more inclined to go the gentlemen route. It would be cool to get the car roadworthy and even take it on The Great Race. There are so many events that you can participate in with a car like this.
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Comments
Great starting point! Would use steel in
the floors for safety’s sake. Would also
go with juice brakes for that very reason.
I’d have the engine balanced and blue printed and adapted for full pressure oiling and cooling. Other than that, drive
it while you restore it.
I would put a four cylinder ford engine with fuel injection out of the newer Mustang.
Metal floors and put lil rollbar just under the concert top.
Update the brakes and paint it yellow with black fenders ….
Enough here for a good restoration. It shouldn’t be hot rodded, but just restored. A good one to save.
Good idea Henry! There were folks back
in the ’70’s who installed 2300cc Pinto
motors in them. Rod & Custom Magazine
did a how to story on this almost 50 years ago. Still remember reading it today. I like butter yellow with black
fenders with a black dark brown interior.
Top ‘er off with a new white top, and you
have a winner. Great car to drive on nice
days.
Love those black dark brown interiors.
What a great old Model A this appears to be. It appears to have great potential. It would be fun to restore and drive it pretty much as it is. The museum’s Model A is great fun to drive. The mechanical brakes work just fine and the engine in stock form is all you ever need. Sadly, these aren’t worth much restored, so one will end up upside down moneywise pretty quickly if they do much restoration.
The price on these are high enough to make it out of reach for younger guys trying to get into the hobby!! Just think these were between 250-600 dollars when new now the price is ten times that for one that needs restoration!! Still a great project car!!!
The weekly take home pay back then was only about $7.00 a week, and a decent house was $8,000- let’s keep some perspective hey!
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