In the face of modern technology which continues to blow our minds with OEM quality and amazing custom cars, there is still something to be said about authenticity. Sure, tons of companies create super nice fiberglass replicas of some of the coolest Detroit metal to ever roll across Route 66; but at the end of the day, they’re still just a copy of the real thing. Featured in the October 2010 issue of Street Rodder Magazine, this classic 1930 Ford coupe is a REAL DEAL, real steel street rod which combines the core strengths of its originality with a modern vision and top notch components. It is, by far, the nicest all steel street rod we’ve ever offered, and with its killer stroker motor, sophisticated suspension and completely custom interior, it’ll chew up replicas on the street just as easily as it does on the show field. Are you one of those discerning gearheads who wants the excellent driving experience of modern street rod technology AND the authenticity of a real antique car? This world class Ford coupe is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for!

This hot coupes smooth and solid steel body began life as a run-of-the-mill 1930 Ford Model A that would stay in the hands of its original buyer for almost 76 years. When the new owner took possession, he promptly shipped it to Dragone Classic Motorcars in Bridgeport, Connecticut where it underwent a celebrity style restoration that totaled $96K in parts alone. Once the classic lines were laser straight, a spectacular coat of Mercedes-Benz Glasurit Dark Gray Metallic urethane was buried in a glossy and wet looking clearcoat shell and buffed to a dynamic shine. Today, five years and 2,600 hours of labor later, the car displays solid vertical panels and a perfectly aligned profile which looks absolutely fantastic under its chameleon paint. And with virtually no imperfections, it’s a banner show piece that celebrates both 82 years of carefully calculated care by serious car guys and the integrity of Ford’s high quality products.

Everything on this 1930 Ford is exceptionally well-done. It mixes just the right amount of pre-war charm with high quality 21st century street rod details to produce gawking fans and create a lasting impression. At the front of the car, body-matched frame horns hold a polished spreader, which is complete with LED turn signals, below a correct stainless grille, a chrome headlight bar and two great looking 1932 Ford King Bee SS headlights. Behind that grille, stainless brace bars parallel full length Brookville fenders; and a chrome trimmed Brookville cowl anchors a like-new tilt windshield between chrome rearview mirrors and a small metal visor. At the top of the car, a steel ribbed roof insert hangs dark smoked glass above a Brookville decklid and lower lid panel. And at the back of the car, a familiar billet aluminum tag bracket is centered between 1950 Pontiac blue dot tail lights and a second polished spreader bar. The profile of the car combines the clean and simple look that is typical of classic fenderless hot rods with a number of traditional touches which add both style and character. Correct chrome door handles and correct bear claw hinges are present on the doors, and stylish chrome running boards seamlessly bridge the original front and rear fenders. Overall, this classic Ford street rod is in outstanding physical condition; and its top notch build integrates the greatest attributes of both old and new into a single, unifying vision which is the product of some of the best design and construction techniques in the hobby.

Take a gander behind the original stainless grille and you’ll find out exactly where this Fords tradition ends and its muscle begins. Professionally built and dyno tuned by Smeding Performance in Rancho Cordova, California this coupes 383 cubic inch extreme stroker V8 creates a stout 450 horsepower and 470 lb./ft. of dust swirling torque! At the top of the engine, four Demon 98 series carburetors, which receive fuel through a braided fuel line, blue AN fittings, a fluid filled Holley fuel pressure gauge and a chrome Edelbrock mechanical fuel pump, prop trick Mooneyes finned air cleaners above a polished Barry Grant Quadra-Deuce induction. At the sides of that Barry Grant induction, polished Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, which have been fitted with 2.02 and 1.60 stainless valves and capped with finned and polished valve covers, sit above full floating hypereutectic 9.8 to 1 pistons and high strength 5140 forged steel connecting rods. Those rods are turned by a 4340 forged steel crank which has been micro polished to perfection, and those pistons create compression thanks to a custom ground hydraulic roller camshaft with a .510/.521 lift. Fire is supplied by an MSD Pro-Billet distributor which sends spark from an MSD Blaster SS coil and MSD 6A ignition system to Accel Extreme 9000 Ferro-Spiral wires. And cooling is provided by a Walker 32 style Z-series radiator which sends water past a Walker low profile electric fan and shroud to bright blue flex hose and a chrome water pump. At the front of the block, a Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine system spins a trick 140 amp billet aluminum alternator; and at the sides of the block, Sanderson ceramic coated shorty headers send spent gases into a great sounding exhaust system. As with its fully detailed exterior panels, nothing was missed in the engine bay of this sharp ’30 Ford. The smooth and clean small block engine perfectly matches the car’s Mercedes gray fenders. And show worthy ancillary items such as aluminum red wire looms, chrome motor mounts, a billet overflow tank and a polished stainless firewall add a nice finished look.

Underneath this impressive car, a custom, completely polished independent front suspension and a completely polished four link rear suspension utilize adjustable coil overs at each corner and anti-roll bars at each end, to provide a thoroughly modern ride and razor sharp handling characteristics. At the center of that custom suspension, a fresh TCI Auto Street Fighter Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic, which is equipped with a TCI Auto 3000/3400 Street Fighter torque converter and a finned pan and flywheel cover, sends power to a Currie nine inch rear end which carries stout 31 spline axles and ground pounding 3.55 gears. All that excellent metal is bolted to a Total Cost Involved frame which is painted metallic blue and sandwiched between stainless hardware and fresh Bitchin floor pans. Quick stops are provided by a frame mounted Summit Racing vacuum booster which pushes fluid through stainless AN lines to polished Wilwood Hi-Tech four piston calipers and giant 12 inch rotors. And a killer soundtrack is provided by a 2.5 inch true dual exhaust system which runs from the coated shorty headers to stainless Magnaflow mufflers and mandrel bent side pipes. At the corners of the car, 15 inch Coker powder coated smoothies spin 6.70-15 front and 8.20-15 rear Firestone 2.25 whitewall tires around stainless trim rings and chrome lug nuts. And everything from this hot rod Ford’s C.W. Moss Oak reinforced floor pan to its chrome oil pan is exceptionally clean, completely detailed for show and ready to hit the road tomorrow.

Take a look inside the car and you’ll find a spectacular looking leather interior that was professionally installed by Dragone Classic Motorcars in Bridgeport, Connecticut. At the center of the car, a plush Wise Guys leather bench seat is firm, provides good support and features sturdy two-point seatbelts. And at the sides of the car, custom leather door panels, which are equipped with billet aluminum window cranks, billet aluminum door pulls, chrome door handles and integrated map pockets, hang between custom leather side panels. Below the seat, cool Mr. Horsepower floor mats ride next to a billet accelerator pedal, a chrome emergency brake handle and a stainless Gennie Commander Lo-stick shifter with a flame Lucite shift knob. And in front of the seat, the cars original body-matched dash hangs a full set of Classic Instruments Mooneyes gauges below stylish billet trim, a billet rearview mirror and a custom leather headliner. In front of the driver, a polished Mark IV steering wheel rides on a polished Ididit steering column; and behind the cockpit, a completely upholstered trunk integrates an RCI 15 gallon lightweight aluminum fuel cell behind a billet trimmed Optima battery and a Moroso master kill switch.

Included with the sale of this all metal Ford is a copy of the cars original title, all of its books and manuals, and a stack of build receipts which total $150K.

You really can’t ask for a better street rod than this 1930 Ford. With an unbeatable combination of authentic good looks and modern hot rod technology, it’s the perfect car for any enthusiast who wants a top-notch build without spending two years and six figures achieving it. If you’re in the market for an immaculate show stopper that features the best of everything, don’t let the opportunity to own this awesome, all steel coupe pass you by!