West Coast Classics are proud to present and absolutely exceptional example of this beautifully customized with no expense spared nuts and bolts restored 1929 Model A Soft Top Roadster Pick Up Truck. Titled as a 1929 Ford and all original Henry Ford steel but with all modern drive components for modern day freeway driving! This was a fastidious multi year build to complete with two picture books documenting the process!
Features of the build include the following:
4.1L Buick V6 'Kenne Bell' engine.
200 R4 AOD Transmission with 'Lokar' shifter
Power Disc Brakes
'Heidts' Rear Axle Independent Suspension
'Heidts' Stainless Front Suspension
Rack & Pinion Front Suspension
Ford 9" Rear End with 2.0 Ratio
Two Tops - Convertible & Custom Hardtop
'LeBaron Bonney' Convertible Top
Tru Spoke Wire Chrome Wheels
Tilt Wheel
In May 1927 Ford announced that the Model T production lines were being halted in preparation for a new model, although it was not quite ready yet. In fact it was a full seven months before the new Model A was unveiled. Crowds formed outside Ford showrooms and mounted police were called in to keep order! The company received a half a million advance orders. As it happened the new Model A was by no means radical, but it was up to date by the standards of December 1928 and thus a huge advance on the Model T. When it came to the truck line up, unlike the Model T, the A had a commercial variant from the start. It was mechanically identical to the car, based on the same chassis, engine and transmission, although the pickup box had actually been carried over unchanged from the 1927 T. As before this was a wooden load bed with metal runners, now painted in the body color. The actual wood varied but included beech, birch, oak, pine and maple. Color choices were down to two, Rock Moss Green or needless to say, Black.
Another way in which the Model A differed from the T was that until August 1928 it was only available as an open cab, with a non retractable soft top of canvas and mica providing protection from the elements, though a closed steel cab, the bodywork of Briggs Manufacturing, was offered from August for an extra $50! Despite its mid year appearance, sales soon overtook those of the open cab and over 47,000 were sold in 1928 and by 1929, in typical Ford fashion, production was rapidly increased with well over 100,000 pickups built, split about two to one in favor of the closed cab, and with Ford offering more body styles than before including the snazziest of all, the soft top roadster pick up, like this particular example!
By 1930, with the depression now on the horizon, Ford sales of truck began to decline with the vast majority sold being closed cab pick ups, with production more than halved from its peak in 1929. Standard equipment in 1929, whatever cab was chosen, included a six volt electric system with a starter, a hand operated windshield wiper, a tool kit and fender mounted spare wheel. And in uncharacteristic concern for driver comfort, Ford provided a comfortable seat covered in artificial leather!
This particular custom is one very rare and unique and stunningly frame off restored and documented example with every nut and bolt replaced, and with no expense spared, over a multi year period on a previously all original 1929 Henry Ford steel pick up with absolutely no signs or history of any accidents or rust truck, as can be seen from the two albums of the restoration.
This truck is one of the finest examples of any such custom truck anywhere with a fabulous stance and which must be seen and driven to be fully appreciated - the rebuilt 4.1L V6 'Kenne Bell' engine is extremely strong and responsive and the rebuilt Turbo 200 R4 transmission smoothly through all the gears.
In summary, this is one of the very finest example's anywhere of this increasingly collectible and desirable and tastefully customized 1929 year of the legendary Henry Ford all steel roadster pick up in rare turn-key ready, daily appreciating, daily driving and daily head-turning condition and an all time classic American truck!
