AD Number 1265

'31 Ford Blown Model A, Full-Fendered Roadster


About the builder: Tommy Shaw's name most likely comes to your mind as being tied in with "AA" fuel rails in the 60's and 70's. In fact you may remember while the Mongoose was setting the NHRA fastest ET down south Tommy was up north at the old Arlington Raceway setting a top speed record of 227.85--hey that was a hair raising speed for 1969!


Tom has been building and running Nitro rigs since the late 50's. Before retirement he spent 30 years 'mechanicing' for high end sports car dealerships and in his later years working as a heavy equipment mechanic. Yes we can easily say he has spent a lifetime building cars for the fast lane.


Who did Tommy build this blown A-bone for? That's the beauty of this car, Tommy built it for himself. Yes it is a one owner/builder car. Now he wants to move on and sell this work of art. By the way if you've spent a lifetime racing down the quarter mile track at over 200 mph what kind of engine would you put in your street rod? That's right, a whapping-big blown Hemi with over 700 hp. And get this it is a daily driver that gets 15 mph on the road. Hey how does he do that? Wow, power and mileage all under one hood, so to speak since this car is hoodless.


AND, here is the punch line, he drives this car long distances without the aid of a trailer full of tools. "Now that's a died-in-the-wool hot rodder." In fact he told me on the phone the other day, "I once drove this car 12,000 miles in 7 weeks and NEVER put a wrench to it!" You've got to take your hat off to Tommy and his wife...


Let's start off talking about that engine and drive train.


Powerhouse? Tommy started with hot rod basics, a '57 Chrysler 397 c.i. (.030 over) with stock polished rods-rebushed and resized, with ARP bolts and nuts tied to a stock crank std while pumping Smith Brother push rods to Venola pistons 7.0-1cr and rod main and cam bearings by Clevite 77 with Speed Pro rings +.035.


Some additional details: double roller timing chain, bronze valve guides, stainless steel intake valves 2.125", stainless steel exhaust valves 2.020" with both intake and exhaust valves having 11/32 stems. Finishing off with ARP head studs and ARP main studs.


To keep that 671 Weiand blower fed he used an Iskenderian "280-Mega-hyd" cam tied up with an 8mm drive belt 5% overdrive and Enderle carb-linkage. Pumping is done by 2 Holley 750 cfm carburetors. MSD distributor, MSDA box and a 22 gallon aluminum gas tank.


Drivetrain? The transmission is a T-56 with 2.66 1st gear ratio, 5th gear 25% overdrive, 6th gear 50% overdrive. Out back we hit the pavement with a solid built 9" rear end from a '79 Lincoln Continental. Tied to the frame with, rear panhard bar, ladder bars, posi-traction 4.56 rear gear, 31 spline Mosher axles, aluminum driveshaft, Aldan coil over and the brakes have new calipers, rotors.


What about the chassis construction? Wheel base 110" with front end at a 5" dropped axle (tube) with Batwing brackets, hairpin radius rods, spindles, brakes, GM metric style calipers on 11" Ford rotors, mono-leaf front spring, reverse eye with a manual rack and pinion steering set up.


All steel and full fendered car has an original body and frame (boxed and upgraded) along with Gaslight steel fenders and running boards painted with single stage PPG "Concept Yellow". The car comes with a well-fitted black convertible top to offset the paint and interior.


Important driving information! This car runs just a little over 2000 rpms at 77 mph down the road at 15 mpg!!! It stays cool with a Griffin Radiator and a 3000 cfm electric fan for a constant temperature of 160-170 degrees.

On the ground you have front tires: Cooper 185-70R14 and rear tires: Dayton 255-70R15 on 6X15 front and 8X15 rear Vintique steelies with beauty rings and Ford caps for the final touch.


Sales details: Sale by owner. Please contact consultant Don Burdge for questions at 619.804.8033 and/or see additional photos and information at www.DreamRodLocator.com. Tommy's asking price is $47,000.


Location: Wenatchee, Washington where it is and always has been tightly sealed in a garage.

Body Style: Roadster

Mileage: 20,000

Transmission: Manual

Engine: 8 Cylinder

Doors: Two Door

Fuel Type: Gasoline

Exterior Color: Yellow

Seller Information

Seller Information