1931 Model A Roadster
This roadster is an original surviving 1954 Hot Rod. It was built in Ashland, Nebraska. The fella was hurt in a motorcycle accident so he sold the car in 1958 to Frank Schaffer. Frank drove it to work everyday year round (in Nebraska!) until 1973, and then stored it in a barn in northern Nebraska. In the early 1980’s, his sons hauled it back to Lincoln and it was stored covered outside for many years.
John brought the little roadster home and stored it in the barn. Life was hectic. We were busy building a 1933 Coupe and he was still racing the streamliner at Bonneville, so the roadster patiently waited in the barn for almost ten years.
In November 2013, John hauled it out of the barn with the tractor and cleared the dust away. He worked on it nearly every day from December 2013 to July 2014, with a goal of firing it up July 4th weekend.
He had two goals:
Take Frank for a ride in his old roadster.
Take the roadster to the Hot Rod Hill Climb in Georgetown, Colorado, and drive it up Guanella Pass in September 2014.
For the 1950’s it was nice. Flathead V-8, ‘40 Ford transmission with column shift, 1936 steering gear, ‘32 Ford axle, spindles and wishbones, hydraulic brakes, unique dash with what appears to be ‘32 speedo, e-brake lever under the dash, ‘40 ford radio and a gasoline after-market heater. He received the continental kit and complete top and side curtains, which are still folded in the attic.
The boys thought the transmission was locked in gear... It actually had a stuck engine and the side shift 1940 Ford transmission linkage was messed up.
With Hot Rod Hill Climb on the brain, my dad decided this would be the proper place for a souped-up engine built by Dean Robertson, a mechanical wizard from South Dakota. Original but improved Crager head that dad bought in Milwaukee, B block and crank, aftermarket rods, Jim Brierley cam, Chevy pistons, Stipe flywheel, T-10 5-speed. He built the V-8 quick change (mostly spare parts and broken housing from the now retired Bonneville streamliner.)
He put two 6-volt Optima batteries under the floor accessible from underneath. And built an 11-gallon aluminum fuel tank on the other side of the drive shaft. He used an aluminum radiator from AFCO and changed the outlets to accommodate the B motor. He eventually repaired an original radiator and installed it.
In the words of a friend, “It’s only old once…” so the body will stay in this condition for the time being. There are a few body spots that need attention eventually. Under the cream paint (originally white house paint) there’s a grey layer and then the original black paint with a red pin stripe. The overall appearance may be an acquired taste, but it is a survivor.
He’s since taken it to nearly every Hot Rod Hill Climb. He has a blast driving it up the hill with his family and friends.
