Vehicle Description
Retro rods are red hot right now, just have a look at our inventory
and note that we can't seem to keep cars like this 1929 Model A
Phaeton in stock. An all-steel car, it's got small block Chevy
power, a trick suspension, and a very cool retro vibe that will
take you back to the AutoRamas of your childhood.
Done right, the phaeton is arguably the best-looking of all Model
As, and this bright red example totally nails the right look. It
comes from the "Baron" Laurence Hill Dorcy Estate, and if you do a
quick Google search on his name you'll find that cost-no-object
restoration projects were his passion. As a result, this phaeton is
not some homemade build that didn't have a lot of careful planning
behind it. Instead, it was built to compete and drive, and it
should be no surprise that it is welcome at just about any event
with that stunning bright red paint that still looks ready to show
even after several years of enjoyment. Experts will note that it
has a very authentic look, including exposed hinges, painted
headlight buckets, and a genuine Boyce Moto-Meter on top of the
radiator. Full fenders and running boards are a neat period
alternative to the ubiquitous hi-boy look and it even has bumpers
and wind wings to make it more usable in the real world. It all
gives this car a look that's straight out of a vintage "Hot Rod"
magazine.
In the '70s, cars like this had pleated bench seats that looked
like a Las Vegas lounge booth, but today we're all about function
as well as style. With that in mind, this slick little Ford got
beautifully finished and adjustable, black leather bench seats that
were subtly recontoured and relocated to add a bit more space.
Simple vertical pleats, both on the seats and the doors, give it a
vintage appearance that keeps with the car's original era and
remains comfortable for cruising. The original instrument panel in
the center of the dash remains, but is now filled with
period-looking Ford Motorsports gauges that surprisingly work quite
well. In pure phaeton style, there is no heater, no stereo beyond
the side pipes, and the only weather protection you get is a
beautifully made black canvas convertible top that folds neatly
behind the back seat. There's also a trunk fastened to the back
which offers some useful storage space for tools and detailing
supplies.
Mechanically, the cars of the past were, like today, powered by
small block Chevys, in this case a 307 cubic inch V8 topped with an
Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor. Designed to show off, the nicely
detailed engine snarls and barks through refinished ram's horn
exhaust manifolds and a custom dual exhaust system, and with its
miniscule curb weight, performance is explosive. It also shows off
some trick fabrication, including a modified firewall, neat
plumbing and wiring, and a custom shroud for the electric fan on
the radiator. It's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission
and a Jaguar independent rear end with inboard disc brakes, 3.73
gears and lots of chrome. The front suspension a traditional
dropped I-beam with discs on the ends and you can see that the
underside is as neatly detailed as the top. Painted steelies with
trim rings and baby moon hubcaps are a period-perfect look, and it
wears skinny 185/70/14s up front and 225/70/15s in back for a
classic stance.
With a great story behind it, you know this is a quality build that
you can trust. Take a trip back in hot-rodding history and give us
a call today!