Ford V8 Special

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The American Hot Rod culture emerged in California in the 1930s where outlaw types would race their modified cars on the vast dry lake beds northeast of Los Angeles under the rules of the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).

Most cars were based on the Ford Model Model T, Model A or Model B, stripped to the bone to save weight and fitted with highly tuned flathead V8 engines and massive wheels and tyres. The movement really took off after World War Two when returning veterans, many of them given mechanical training in the military, craved excitement, taking over abandoned airfields across the USA to stage drag races or just taking to the streets for dangerous and illegal road races.

Reaching its peak in the 1950s, the movement waned in the 1960s as production cars became ever more powerful and it was no longer necessary to build your own chopped and channelled Speedster to get your fix of adrenaline. Nowadays though, the Hot Rod culture is enjoying a revival as a new generation embraces the Old Skool outlaw spirit of their forebears.

This particular V8 special was built in America in the 1950s, no doubt inspired by magazines like Mechanix Illustrated which produced guides on how to build your own Rat Rod or Speedster. It is based on a ‘zedded’ (lowered) 1939 Ford chassis fitted with a tuned 1950s Ford Mercury 255ci (4.2-litre) V8 flathead fitted with an Iskenderian cam, rare 3.51 ratio Ford diff, a Ford 3-speed gearbox, 6v battery and hydraulic brakes all round.

Discovered languishing in a New Hampshire barn about 10 years ago in a partially dismantled state, it has since been partially rebuilt and got running with new Ford Model A wings and spare wheel cover sourced but not yet fitted, and a new bonnet. The original nose cone was damaged and a new one will need to be sourced or fabricated. Originally red and white, it has been re-painted matt black for a Rat Rod look. A pair of recovered seats are also included but are not yet properly fitted.

The vendor states that: “The car starts and runs very well with no smoke or unusual noises. The gearbox is smooth with the clutch working well, being nicely light for a V8 clutch. The car drives well and accelerates very quickly. The brakes, although of 1939 design, bring the car up well. The next stage was to change the tyres and perhaps the wheels as the style doesn't look good or handle bumps or tramlines well, but you do have to remember this is based on a 30s car and is fairly crude. It is certainly better than our Model A and fine when you get used to it.

"Perfectly usable as it is and road registered, once properly developed it would be perfect for the VHRA events, especially Pendine Sands where it's engine, axle and power-to-weight would make it very competitive. It is also suitable for Flathead Hillclimbs or Flathead Meltdown drag races and several other classic events”.