FOR SALE: Original 1964-Built All Steel Hot Rod Roadster Pick-up

Our friend Marc (’41 Ford Pick-up) uncovered this little gem a couple of years back and instantly fell in love. It comes from a time before the widespread availability of low cost fiberglass-bodied T-bucket “kits.” Originally built in 1964 by Kurt Neilsen of Campbell, CA, it features an original ‘27 Model T roadster pick-up body and cut down Model A bed channeled over a modified Model A chassis. Kurt chose the ’27 body because it offered a little more room than the earlier T’s often used in these builds. A ’57 Ford donated its running gear – a 292 inch V8, three speed trans, and positraction rear end. The beefy nine inch is still in the car.

SOLD

Marc towed it home and spent two years treating it to a sympathetic restoration. It’s now a great example of how a handful of subtle, modern upgrades can make a cool old hot rod safer, more reliable and more comfortable — without messing up its DNA. He has multiple other car projects going, so it’s time to move it along.

BODY: The all-steel body and bed are from the original build. So are the sectioned Deuce grille shell, headlights, and cast aluminum headlight stands. The car was originally painted black, then metalflake tangerine, and finally red. The current paint job is older but in good condition.

CHASSIS: Marc’s restored the car’s original chassis and reinforced it with tubular cross members and new motor mounts. The front end combines a ’35 axle and ’40 wishbones with a new Posies spring pack. The kingpins and tie rod ends are also new. It’s all hung from a beefy, traditional bulldog perch. The rear end is hung on a Model A spring and located by an updated, better-handling triangulated four bar set-up. New chrome P&J shocks are at each corner. Steering is via a rebuilt (reversed) Corvair box aided by a chrome P&J damper.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION:  The owner before Marc dropped a Performance Automotive 302 in place of the original Y-block. The new motor sports a mild cam, Weiand intake, new Holly 4bbl, Mallory distributor, plus new Sanderson headers and exhaust system complete back to the pencil tips. A Ford AOD overdrive transmission went in at the time of the engine swap and was serviced during Marc’s restoration.

COOLING:  A new Walker radiator was built for the cut-down grille shell; according to Marc it runs cool in all conditions.

BRAKES:  ’40 Ford up front and ’57 Ford in the rear — all with new shoes and wheel cylinders. A new Corvette master cylinder was hung on a Kugel 90 degree mount behind the dash. Easily accessed through the cowl vent, the set-up provides a bit more legroom and helps to clean up the polished firewall.

WHEELS & TIRES: The wheels are early Ford, done right. They’ve been disassembled, plated and polished, then reassembled and trued. In the rear, the Ford centers were re-riveted to 10 inch wide hoops. Tires are period-correct, too: Michelin radials upfront, Hurst recap cheater slicks out back.

INTERIOR: Marc trimmed the interior with pleated black Ultraleather with an eye to providing as much room and comfort as one could expect in a T. The body was fully insulated with Dynamat before the interior went in. Other features include a custom polished aluminum dash insert, Stewart Warner Wings gauges, a polished stainless steering column, and a super-rare 14-inch Cragar four spoke wheel.

EXTRAS:  New wiring, new battery, new aluminum Leonard Speed Equipment gas tank with quick-release cap, new fuel pump and lines, plus many restored parts and components from the original build.

It’s a great old hot rod with just the right updates. It’ll take you on a high-powered ride into hot rodding’s past — and get you home, too.

$19.5K or best offer. eMail here for more information