There isn’t much left that you can do with a Model A that hasn’t already been tried, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the single greatest hobby car ever created. And sometimes, you can do more with less by creating a great-running rod with the right look and rugged hardware without totally erasing the Model A’s inherent goodness. And that’s exactly what this 1930 Ford Model A coupe represents: a well-built rod that honors the Model A rather than trying to reinvent it. And on that front, it’s a total success.

The first question we always get about this Model A is, “That’s gorgeous! What color is it?!?” It’s from the late-model Ford color chart, something called Fire Red Metallic, and it is indeed just as beautiful as it looks in photos. Starting with a clean, straight California Model A certainly helped the final result, but there’s also a rather significant investment in the work itself, which gives the car a show-stopping look that’s hard to resist. It is all steel, including the fenders, so no worries there, and as a steel car, it fits together very well with good door alignment and a hood that latches down easily. The finish was color-sanded and buffed to give it that deep shine and with only a few hundred miles on the build, it remains in first-class condition throughout with very, very few signs of use. The goal was to maintain as much of the original Model A character as possible, so the roof wasn’t chopped, there are still rubber covers on the running boards, and all the factory bright trim was reinstalled, including two taillights out back for safety. The headlight bar is a modern piece and the bumpers have been shaved, but otherwise it is very much the Model A that we have all loved for decades. The only notable other detail is that “Dennis the Menace” graphic on the tail panel, which is airbrushed in place and looks cool—a little tribute to the builder whose name, of course, was Dennis.

The beautifully tailored Lebaron-Bonney gray cloth interior stays true to that same philosophy and doesn’t stray too far from 1930s Ford styling. The original bench seat has been reupholstered using wide pleats that would have been similar to the original pattern and the door panels still carry original hardware and map pockets. That’s a nice touch. Full carpets and lots of sound deadening materials make it comfortable inside and it feels a lot more solid and substantial than most Model A hot rods we’ve driven. Of course there are plenty of upgrades, including a tilt steering column that makes it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and a full set of modern gauges that are integrated into the original center-mounted panel. Even the original speedometer works! That long Lokar shifter manages a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission but looks appropriate, especially with that black leather boot that matches the E-brake. The ignition switch and controls for the headlights and electric fan have been cleverly stashed under the front seat and they skipped the radio on purpose to keep it suitably vintage. The trunk is still spacious and includes a modern fuel cell and battery enclosure, as well as fire extinguisher, just in case.

The hardware that makes it go doesn’t break any new ground, but that’s what you want in a rod you’re going to drive. It’s a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 with a 600 CFM Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, Pertronix ignition system, and a proper tune so it runs superbly. You’ll note the block itself was painted yellow to give it some pop against the burgundy bodywork, and we like the contrast a great deal. There’s also plenty of dress-up equipment, including finned Edelbrock valve covers and a matching air cleaner assembly. A fresh Walker radiator up front ensures that it runs cool all the time and those ceramic-coated headers not only look great but give it a nice, fat torque curve that makes it a lot of fun to drive. The carb has a manual choke, so pull that little black knob under the dash out about an inch and it fires up almost instantly, then settles into an easy idle that sounds exactly right for a hot rod like this. The exhaust system is brand new and features Flowmaster mufflers for that familiar performance sound, and thanks to the trick rear suspension, the exhaust tips stay out of sight under the car.

Speaking of under the car, it’s very nicely built with a custom TCI frame with custom cross-members and plenty of reinforcement for V8 horsepower. The front suspension is a familiar Super Bell 4-inch drop axle with trailing arms, while the rear is from a C3 Corvette, which was narrowed three inches and fitted with Carrera shocks and QA1 coilover springs. Four-wheel disc brakes are a side-effect of the Corvette rear end, and this sucker does indeed stop quite well. As you can see, it’s extremely well detailed underneath with body-colored details and bright aluminum suspension components. Ride quality is quite good for something with such a short wheelbase and it sits exactly right thanks to those staggered Torque Thrust wheels and 215/70/14 front and 275/60/15 rear BFGoodrich tires.

This car is also very nicely documented with an album of construction photos, receipts, and manuals for all the parts that went into the build. It also includes a custom bug shield for the radiator and a custom car cover.

This is one of those fully sorted, ready-to-enjoy cars that can be purchased and driven home. It’s beautifully built by people who knew their stuff and the hardware is both reliable and easy to maintain. Add in the fact that it remains a Model A and not some imaginary version of an old car, and you have a rod that’s much more than the sum of its parts. Start having some fun right away and call now!