For Sale: 1931 Ford Coupe in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Gorgeous Award Winning Custom - Rebuilt '38 Ford Flathead/3 Speed Manual - Original All Steel Body - 3.54:1 High Speed Mercury Banjo Rear End - (If you happen to be viewing this vehicle on a website other than our main website, it's possible that only some of our many photographs are presented due to website limitations. To be sure you access all the photographs, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors) 1931 Ford Model A Coupe The Class of '59 Built as a tribute to early traditional hot rods of the 1950s, this national-award-winning custom is a work of automotive art. Its beautifully hand-painted name and... er, um... figure gracing the car's flanks, and tasteful-but-intricate hand-painted pinstriping only hint at the overall quality here. The high-quality black-and-maroon paint scheme complemented by matching custom vinyl interior, meticulously executed flathead V8, and show-stopping stance further establish this as a one-of-a-kind automobile. It's no wonder the car was chosen by Street Rodder Magazine as a top-ten finisher selected from 100 candidates in 2015 (and wears this distinction on a front-window decal). And not long ago, the car was included in the nationally recognized Gilmore Auto Museum's display honoring original hot-rod creators, George Barris, Gene Windy Winfield, and more. It is no exaggeration to say that Wow! is the most common expression heard when this beauty rolls into view. The approach to this 2013 build was to create a tribute to early hot rods originally brought to life by returning Word War 2 vets in the early Fifties. (The artistic influence of combat-aircraft nose art is evident.) Parts and component-sourcing concentrated on only the best-available choices. The builder was a multi-award-winning shop and began with a perfect-condition, rust-free 1931 Model A Coupe acquired from the estate of a college professor. The front axle was dropped four inches while the car's original 1931 frame was kept intact. The motor is a smooth-running (be sure to watch-and listen to-the video at GarageKeptMotors) rebuilt 1938 Ford flathead V8, stock except for the two chromed carburetors and a few other tastefully chromed engine bits. The 3-speed manual floor-shifted transmission, originally from a 1939 Ford, is married to a 3.54:1 high-speed Mercury banjo rear end. Steering and front brakes came from a 1951 Ford F1 pickup. Outside, the body is stock with the sole exception being the chromed and beautifully pinstriped Chevy headlights. The body and fenders are original steel. Inside, the maroon-and-black vinyl upholstery would have been a hot-rodder's dream. Black carpet, chromed garnish moldings, an Art Deco 1941 Plymouth dashboard featuring a vintage tachometer, lovely Ford V8 period steering wheel featuring burled-wood accents, and complementary, multi-colored, intricate hand-painted pinstriping across the dash and window sills all make for a stunning driver's compartment. All lights-including the turn signals-function as they should. Since it was built, this hot rod has traveled fewer than 1,000 miles. A labor of love, it has never before been offered for sale.