Anyone that looks at this car and doesn’t get a flashback to a T-shirt clad John Milner (Paul Le Mat) cruising through American Graffiti with one arm out the window hasn’t been on this planet for more than a couple of decades, or else saw the original movie and is now losing neural connections at an alarming rate.
Known variously at the time as the Model B, Model 18 or Model 40A, Ford’s successor to the Model A would find an eternal place in automotive history despite its short, three-year production run.
The first year (1932) gave us the Little Deuce Coupe, that when fitted with Ford’s flathead V8 engine, was sold as the Model 18. Other than the engine change, it was indistinguishable from the four-cylinder Model B.
Updated styling for 1933 brought along the classic ‘shovel’ grille – pointing down and forward – as well as a power increase for the V8 to a whopping 75 horsepower. For the following year, changes were less obvious, but another 10 hp gain for the V8 and a flatter grille defined what was now known as the Model 40A.
The current example is a fairly typical hot rod conversion, but very nicely done and ready for showtime. Posted on eBay with a Buy-It-Now price of $28,000, the seller is open to offers as well.
According to the seller, this car’s body is steel except for the rear fenders and is powered by a built small block Chevy 327 V8. Forged internals and dual quads on a Weiand tunnel ram intake manifold make for a strong and reliable motor that should have power to spare.
As you’ll see in the photos, a lot of custom work has gone into this Texas car and there is little, if anything, that needs to be completed. As mentioned in the listing, the paint is getting on in life and could be redone, but the issue isn’t critical at the moment unless you’re going to hit the “A” circuit in car shows.
As always, we recommend that an inspection be done if you cannot see the car yourself. The seller’s contact information is provided in the listing, although the car is being advertised locally, so if you’re interested in this hot rod, it would be best to get in touch without delay.