Born to be a Hot Rod – Shane Sonnevelt’s Angry A
No Goodguys Hot Rod of the Year competition would be complete without an “Angry A” from Hilton Hot Rods. These guys know how to build ’em and they’ve got several Hot Rod of the Year titles to prove it!
The latest contender to roll from Hilton’s shop is Shane Sonnevelt’s just-right ’30 Model A coupe. It’s built on a Hilton-crafted Deuce frame employing a dropped ’36 Ford front axle located by split wishbones and a Ford axle with a quick-change center section out back. Lincoln drum brakes and ’36 Ford wire wheels – wrapped in 4.50 and 7.50 Firestones – complete the traditional hot rod chassis.
Hilton teamed up with Ross Racing Engines for the vintage Olds V8, a 394c.i. stroker topped with Ross aluminum heads and a 4-71 blower fed by Autotrend EFI and breathing through open headers. It’s backed by a World Class T5 five-speed.
A 4½-inch top chop helps define the coupe’s hot rod look, as does the Deuce grille and cowl vent. Ida Concepts shot the dark green PPG paint. Inside, Steve Thompson stitched oxblood red leather from Relicate for a traditional hot rod look, while ’36 Olds gauges and a Bell-style four-spoke wheel help complete the vintage vibe.
Classic elements, a healthy vintage mill, and well-executed construction make for a combination that’s tough to beat. As builder Bobby Hilton says, this Model A was “born to be a hot rod!”
