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Mar 28, 2004 | 09:43 PM

#16

King Triton

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From: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Lamkin

Worth considerably more when it is original, you DE_VALUE the car by hot rodding it, and again why. By a hot rod no need to ruin a vintage car.

Im with you on this one,a guy I know took a almost perfect 56t-bird that his grandfather had left him,and ruined it,I mean he cut out the wheelwells,yanked the original motor,interior,everything,just to make a streetrod.It literally made me sick,there are way too many kits or common every day dime a dozen cars to make into hotrods,to mess with the ones that are becoming rarer every day.just like what they are doing to the old fastback mustangs.

Mar 28, 2004 | 10:05 PM

#17

IB Tim

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From: 3rd Rock

It is too easy to buy fibergalss cars and build a hot rod..........to hard to find good iron

You are correct King T

Mar 28, 2004 | 10:14 PM

#18

parks911

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From: Georgia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Lamkin

Worth considerably more when it is original, you DE_VALUE the car by hot rodding it, and again why. By a hot rod no need to ruin a vintage car.

I was more or less saying that I wouldn't settle for a 4 cyl. I would push a V-8 to the limit & put her in there.

I probally would keep the original parts to put it back to original if needed.

I wasn't stating to tub the thing out or chop the top.

I don't mess with things that old though. I've got a offer to purchase a 67 Fairlane GT/A with the 390 FE which is a rare car but I may pass on it. The build tags seem to be missing so I can't gaurentee that it is a original GT/A.

I'm currently working on getting my wrecked F-150 back on the road. Hopefully soon that will happen & then after that project is over I'm going to be taking a 84 T-Bird fox body & dumping the 302 & stuffing a 460 in it.
Yes, I can say if it can't make me crap my pants it aint fast or tough enough.

Mar 29, 2004 | 09:27 AM

#19

ggarrahan

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From: Saratoga USA

I agree with Tim. I hate to see old, and sometimes rare, cars being made into street rods. With the aftermarket support today, you can build all kinds of street rods with all new parts. And, with the modifications a lot of people put on their street rods, they are almost impossible to return to original. Besides, a Model A was never designed for a high powered V-8. Ford completely redesigned the car when they installed the V-8 as stock in 1932. They continued to offer the 4 though, called it the Model B.

Mar 29, 2004 | 11:37 AM

#20

MrOldV8

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From: SouthWest Ohio

I don't agree

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Lamkin

Worth considerably more when it is original, you DE_VALUE the car by hot rodding it, and again why. By a hot rod no need to ruin a vintage car.

Sorry...I don't agree with you. Street rods, if built properly are worth way more than stock. If you don't believe me...just watch the Barret Jackson auctions. Stock Model T's and Model A's have more or less topped out...one reason is that the guys that grew up with them are all dieing off. Plus Ford made so many of these, that for the most part they are not rare nor unusual. A properly rodded T or A is a much more streetable car than the stockers ever were. Ford made over 15 million Model T's...and restoring one today is a losing propsition. Even when a T is restored, it's difficult to take any kind of a road trip in one. They are slow-moving vehicles made for poor unpaved roads. Also, their cruising speed isn't fast enough for the interstates. I know...I own one. If all you want to do is putt to the next town, or go to a car show or enter a parade, they're OK, and they certainly are fun...but not as an investment. Stock Model A's do much better on the open road, but a good street rod is worth more. Take a look at the auto trader papers and see for yourself. Now...I wouldn't rod a Peerless or a Duesenburg, but that's a different league of car.
I'd box the frame on the Model A and rod it if it were me. Better yet...snag the '36.

Mar 29, 2004 | 05:44 PM

#21

IB Tim

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From: 3rd Rock

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrOldV8

I did not compare the two...to dollars .ie. My statement “Buy a hot rod no need to ruin a vintage car.” means just that. Which one is worth more….it devalues the care if it is a half breed Model A with a flathead.
If you make a complete hot rod then yes, it will be worth more.

Mar 30, 2004 | 05:31 AM

#22

MrOldV8

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From: SouthWest Ohio

I agree

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Lamkin

OK...Perhaps I misunderstood you. However, putting flathead V8's into Model A's is one of the ways hotrodding got started. If 90ebbronc was to do that, as well as pull the fenders and install the later style Ford dics or wire wheels and flat black primer, he could easily make a rat rod for not too many bucks. Just doing the engine swap...I agree with you.

MR

Mar 30, 2004 | 01:45 PM

#23

90ebbronc

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From: Pocahontas, AR

Well for one i dont want the 30 hp 4 cyl. Whenever im able to get a Model A or T or even something as new as a 36 then it will be driven on every nice weekend and every once in awhile on a very pretty day to go to work in. I want a flathead 8 well because i love the looks of them and its very rare to see someone doing that. Most of the time they are with a chevy v8 or a regular ford v8 (302, 351, etc.). I want the old hot rod look. I dont know if id do the highboy look or not (no fenders or running boards).

As far as money value, originals are very cheap compared to hot rods. But they are both only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I wont be just doing any engine swap and i wont be tubbing or cutting anything out. The only thing id probably cut, is id probably chop the top a few inches. Ive always liked that look and that style, and customizing something is for the owner of the car not for the general public.