"Where Performance and
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The owner is pictured here with his truck in French Lick, Indiana at the Model A Restorers Club’s National Meet where the truck scored 454 points out of 500, and was awarded the Ray Matthews Award for the highest scoring commercial vehicle and it received the MARC of Excellence award.

1928 Ford Model A Pick-up

A 1928 Ford Model A Pick-up from Louisiana with an older restoration wanting to be freshened and detailed for fine-point judging.
Disassembling the body.
The vehicle had sat so long the engine had ruined.
Multiple-disc clutch & flywheel.
The sagging frame was causing cab to bed alignment issues so it was stripped and straightened.
By heating the bottom chord and shrinking the metal, the bent frame had nearly ¼” of sag removed.
Heating the rivet completely through until it is red hot.
Next a 3X Rivet Gun is used with a special bucking bar to tighten each rivet in the hole.
All rivets will eventually be heated and tightened which removes a tremendous amount of flex within the frame.
After the frame was straightened, it was painted in a semi-gloss urethane to mimic the original asphaltum-based paint sheen.
The brackets are painted with gloss paint to appear like the original dipped enamel.
A close-up view of the brackets.
The windshield stanchions had been welded on during the last restoration so they were cut loose and repaired.
The backside of the cab still had sheetmetal damage showing in the paint so this was repaired.
The doors were block-sanded smooth.
Ford originally used a dull black wood preservative on the bottom side of the wood so this was mimicked with flat-black paint. Originally the Rock Moss Green was over-sprayed onto the preservative so this was also done when the bed was repainted.
Buffing the paint was an option on most commercial vehicles during that time so the paint was sprayed to mimic unbuffed Lacquer paint.
Fenders were originally dipped in a vat of Black Enamel and hung to dry leaving the finish very glossy and smooth on both sides. Here the bottom sides of the fenders are buffed smooth.
The front fenders needed additional bodywork so they were sanded smooth before applying a slick finish to both sides.
A view of the bottom side of the fenders.
Items hung in preparation for Gloss Black paint.
Many items had minor chips and scratches and were sanded and repainted.
The rear end housings had pits in several areas so these were removed and the entire assembly was repainted.
Detailed just as original with smooth drawn steel tubes and a rough casting finish on the center section and bells.
Spraying the chassis pieces.
With the engine “freshened” and re-assembled, it was installed into the restored and detailed frame.
“Detail” even happens in the areas you cannot easily see. Everything is rebuilt back within the factory’s tolerances and specifications so that it operates correctly.
The brake shoe linings have been ground to the circumference of the brake drums to ensure the maximum amount of shoe contact to the drum’s surface.
Correctly painted cab ready to be installed onto the chassis.
Installing the cab onto the chassis.
Installing other restored and detailed items.
The engine assembly. (Even the original fasteners are cleaned and restored for the proper look.)
Installing the upholstery and the top assembly. (Once the windshield is installed, the top will be tightened and the wrinkles will disappear.)
The bed showing the contrast between the exterior being sprayed with high-gloss paint and the insides in semi-gloss paint.
Installing the Model A Pick-up bed onto the chassis. The bed wood is correctly restored and painted in body color.
Final assembly and detailing.
A view of the interior and upholstery.
Filling the vehicle with fluids and adjusting the brakes.
Shown in Metropolis, IL at an A.A.C.A. show where it was awarded its first Junior award.
1929 Phaeton, 1930 Sport Coupe, 1931 Coupe, 1930 Fordor Sedan, 1928 Roadster

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