Jeff Bennett’s 1931 Model A Roadster is Low, Loud, Fast, and Owner-Built
Jeff Bennett’s traditional-style Model A roadster has a great back story. Jeff’s good friend, Tom Richardson, bought it as his first car back in 1962! A few years ago, Tom gave the body to Jeff to use as the basis for a hot rod project.
Jeff built the custom frame himself using 1.5×4-inch tubing and suspending the front with a 4-inch dropped axle with a transverse leaf spring and mounting a ’59 Edsel 9-inch rearend on another buggy spring out back. Drum brakes behind the 15×5- and 15×7-inch Wheel Vintiques wheels topped with Olds Fiesta wheel covers and wrapped in 5.60-15 and 8.20-15 Diamondback Classic tires.
The nostalgic engine is a 264c.i. Buick Nailhead built by Dave Fielder with six Stromberg carbs on an Offy intake and exhaling through owner-built headers. It’s backed by a five-speed transmission.
The Model A body required plenty of work and is channeled 4-inches over the custom frame. King Bee headlights and a Deuce grille shell lead the way up front, and a ’50 Ford dashboard was cut and altered to fit inside. Jeff sprayed the custom-mixed PPG himself and had David Richards do the pinstriping. Kass Auto Upholstery stitched the traditional two-tone vinyl, while Jeff topped the ’54 Ford column with a ’51 Hudson steering wheel.
Low, loud, fast, and owner-built, this Model A roadster is everything a hot rod should be!
Photos by Jason Lubken & Todd Ryden
