Model A rods don’t get much better than this 1930 Model A Ford pickup. Exceptional attention to detail, great components, and beautiful finish work all add up to a show-winning piece that can be driven comfortably cross-country. This truck was professionally built to drive, with an 8-inch extension to the cab, A/C, and an overdrive transmission, and there are absolutely no compromises in the construction. With a ton of original character like cowl lights and a grille guard, it preserves all that is great about vintage Fords, while delivering a thoroughly modern driving experience. THIS is what hot rodding is all about.

The color is from a 2005 Mustang called Windveil Blue, and it’s nice to see a rod that isn’t red or yellow or black. Instead, the sophisticated two-stage blue paint job is clean, and attracts your eye by not being like a neon sign. In a sea of bright colors, THIS one will stand out. The body and fenders are fiberglass, while the bed and hood are steel, but you can’t tell the difference without touching it. There are no ripples in the ‘glass, and the steel is fresh out of the dies. The top has been chopped 2.5 inches, while the doors have been lengthened three inches, not only to improve egress, but also to remain proportionate to the longer cab. Great detailing includes a contrasting blue finish on the body moldings, just like the original paint job in 1930, and the truck is covered in high-quality hand-laid pinstripes that are not gaudy, but perfectly appropriate. You’ll spend hours admiring the workmanship and time that it must have required and it’s the kind of truck that will continue to surprise you the longer you own it.

Much of the Model A’s original chrome and stainless trim has been retained, which is a nice contrast to many of the stripped-down, blacked-out rods. I love cowl lights on ‘30s cars, and the original quail hood ornament still leads the way. I already mentioned the grille guard, which was an unusual period accessory, and the stainless grille shell is beautifully polished. King Bee style headlights make sure that you won’t mistake this one for an original piece, but the original style bumpers are authentic stainless steel items. LED tail lights duplicate the original Model A teacup style, while a third cab-mounted stop light improves visibility for inattentive drivers-a big plus in vintage iron. And that bed cover is aluminum, not fiberglass, and has power linear actuators to lift it with just the touch of a button revealing the beautifully finished oak bed.

Open that steel hood, which has removable louvered sides as original just in case you want a more traditional look, and you’ll find a 290 horsepower Chevy 350 crate motor. You know it’s dressed to show off, with lots of polished aluminum and chrome, but it’s reliable enough to be driven every day. Vintage-looking finned Edelbrock valve covers are a great traditional styling cue, and it’s hard to beat a 4-barrel carburetor for reliability and easy service. Block-hugger headers tuck neatly into the Model A’s frame rails, and the accessory drive is compact enough to allow those removable hood sides to be installed without interference. Keeping everything cool is a big aluminum radiator with a giant 16-inch electric fan with plenty of clearance. Vintage Air A/C and heat are included and fully functional, and power brakes give it impressive stopping power.

The pro-built chassis is completely detailed for show, but ready to drive, starting with the 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission. In back, there’s a new 9-inch Ford axle with 3.50 gears, 31-spline axles and Trac-Lok limited slip, making this an easy highway cruiser. The front suspension is a popular Mustang II setup with tubular A-arms and coil-over shocks, and unlike many early rods, there’s also a sway bar to help keep body lean in check. 11-inch discs and a set of matching drums out back handle the stopping chores, and with a lightweight truck, performance is impressive. Service is easy, thanks to a stainless steel drop box for the battery and remote terminals in the passenger-side front fender area, and with a 14-gallon tank, it even has a respectable cruising range on the highway. It rolls on a set of chrome Wheel Vintique steelies with baby moon hubcaps for a real ’50s look, and wears 205/70/14 front and 235/75/15 rear General radials.

If you’ve ever driven a real Model A pickup, you know the interior can be cramped at best, so the extra eight inches in this one is very welcome. With custom bucket seats by Wise Guy, it carries two people in comfort with plenty of legroom for everyone. The tweed upholstery was expertly done, giving it a custom look without losing sight that this is a truck that’s meant to be driven. The stunning dash is a masterpiece of deco design, and uses white-faced Omega instruments to deliver news from under the hood. The banjo-style steering wheel is a big upgrade from the hard rubber piece that was standard equipment in Model As, and the lovely billet hardware on the door panels is something that Ford wouldn’t have considered offering, even if it was available in 1930. Overhead you’ll find a custom-built console with an AM/FM/XM radio system as well as the switches for the power windows and locks. Three-point seatbelts make it safe, while an electrical system from EZ Wiring makes it reliable. In all honesty, this Model A has features that were exclusive to high-end luxury cars just a few short years ago.

There seems to be an awful lot of performance and comfort built into this little Model A pickup, and thanks to careful planning and a professional build, it all works as it should. You can turn the key and drive it cross-country without a second thought, and there’s nothing that needs special care or attention to operate correctly-no small feat with a custom rod. The detailing throughout will get it a lot of attention at shows, and more than a few people have commented on how much they like the color as it sits here in the RK Motors Charlotte showroom. Most hot rods are all about compromises, but this one doesn’t have many; it’s fast, reliable, well-sorted, and full of creature comforts. You couldn’t build a nicer one yourself, and if you paid someone to try, they’d probably charge you twice the asking price of this lovely little pickup. Take this one home today with no waiting.