1929 Ford Roadster Pickup - Traditional Hot Rod With Shelby 289 Hipo on 2040-cars

LOWER RESERVE! Reluctantly up for sale, just finished 1929 Ford Roadster Pickup, Traditional Hot Rod. Dave Bonin of Bonified Customs in Fairborn, Ohio just completed the truck.  I don't know of another like this one and I have searched damn hard to find one. Truck is new, top to bottom, with many traditional and one off custom parts. Never shown and has been driven less than 10 miles since completed. I purchased this unfinished from the widow of the late Joel Burkhardt of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joel started collecting parts and building the truck in 1980. He documented everything and saved all the receipts, notes and hand drawn engineering diagrams from years of searching and collecting the correct parts for the drivetrain, chassis and body. There is so much to tell you not sure where to begin so let's start with the mill. It is a 1965 K code(5R09K150609) 289 hipo 5 bolt donor from a totaled 1965 Shelby GT350 4 speed car from northern Oklahoma. Story is the GT350 owner cut his teenage son loose in it and the fun lasted about 4 hours, back in the mid 70's. The son lived, the car did not. Joel collected all the correct parts and prior to assembly the mill was inspected in July of 1981 and 2 cracks (#1-1/8” & #2-1/16”) in the #7 cylinder wall were identified. Engine was sent to Moritz Automotive Machine Shop in Tulsa and was rebuilt. Block vatted, cleaned, magnaflux and then honed, bored .030 over, new Perfect Circle chrome moly rings and TRW .030 over pistons and the assembly balanced. The rebuilt motor was placed in a 64 ranchero and ran for a few months until low oil pressure convinced Joel to pull the motor and have it inspected. This time cracks were identified on the main bearing surface, the rod journal bearing surface and the rod journal extending from the oil port. In June of 1982 the 2nd rebuild began and back to Moritz Automotive Machine Shop in Tulsa she went. Crank magnafluxed twice, turned .020, oil holes chamfered & polished, TRW .020 under rod & main bearings and the assembly was balanced.  It retains the original reconditioned hipo heads, camshaft, connecting rods, crank, flywheel, harmonic balancer and water pump. The hi rise Cobra intake is the original to the engine, the Cobra valve covers and Cobra oil pan are correct number stamped original parts but not original to this engine. The Cobra air cleaner is from Tony D. Branda. Also has yellow top coil and dual points distributor that has been updated with a Petronix electronic ignition for reliability. C-6 transmission with a scatter shield and tranny cooler to get down the road. I have the dated receipts for all the parts and work. The engine components that are not Shelby correct as far as I know are the carb, fuel pump(now electric) and the exhaust headers. Originally it had a 715cfm Holley and it now has a 600cfm Edelbrock with manual choke. Re pop 715cfm Holley will set you back $1300. Walker radiator. Hand fabricated and chromed custom headers and exhaust pipes. Chrome alternator & bracket, water neck, fuel pump cover, crank pulley and fuel log. Runs great, no leaks, no shakes, very healthy engine.

The chassis is a boxed Model A frame painted satin black front to rear with rear step up and 32 frame ends, Chassis Research motor and transmission mounts, 32 spreader bars front and rear, stainless tie rods with Moog ends, period hand dropped & drilled front axle with new king pins, chrome Lincoln brakes and 45 fin Buick drums supported by a Posie’s Superslide front spring, chrome Pete & Jakes shocks front and rear, custom made chrome hairpins and drilled rear trailing arms,  40 Ford rear brakes and axle tubes connected to a period Halibrand V8 quick change center section with a 917-12-4 gear set (3.54). Flaming River Vega steering box and pitman arm. Wilwood brake pedal assembly and brake hoses, Model A spoon style gas pedal, new brake and fuel lines, 10psi residual valve, dual reservoir master. New 14 gal. gas tank mounted between frame rails under bed.

The body is an all steel 1929 Ford Roadster Pickup that Joel purchased in 2003 from Fred Nolan in New York that came with a clear New York title. Basically it was the cowl section and passenger compartment with average doors. Subrails were in great shape so the entire body was blasted and primed and a new custom fabricated sheet metal floor was installed along with new doors and a new shortened bed from Brookville Roadster. The body has no rot, dings or dints and was painted gray primer (U-Pol #5) so the new owner can paint if they wish. (I like the primer look against the black). Body also has louvered frame rail covers, hood top, rear tailgate and roll pan all done in Salt Flat style oval louvers. The bed has new wood and polished hold down strips. Firewall is painted black and looks great except for an area above the right (drivers side)support rod that looks ok but will need attention before paint. Not bad but I’m a perfectionist and wanted to make mention. New SS 2” chopped windshield posts and new polished windshield frame and glass. Polished SS radiator support rods and 32 drivers side mirror. New radiator and cowl lacing. New one off custom black leather hood straps from Hot Rod Leather. Chrome 1929 Ford grill shell with chrome 1935 Ford Truck V8 grill emblem and drilled grill insert from Cornfield Customs.  Doors have been shimmed and aligned, open/close nicely. The body has been shimmed and reinforced to prevent any shifting or twisting during normal driving. Very solid, no disappointments.

The interior and top are brand new, less than two weeks old and are absolutely beautiful. All custom, done by Dennis Gamble of Sewwhat in Dayton, Ohio. His work and craftsmanship are impeccable; let the pictures speak for themselves. Although the design is simple and kept with a period feel, it finishes the truck nicely. A 6’ person will fit comfortably. The top is one off, custom fitted with new irons and black Stayfast Hartzcloth with a new polished mail slot rear window with tinted glass. The top can be laid down or completely removed, it’s up to you. I prefer the top up. There are no side curtains. The interior is black roll-n-pleat, very clean and double stitched. The floor is covered in a period style ribbed rubber mat. The firewall, body and floor have been insulated with materials from QuietRIDE Solutions. Door opening has stock Ford sill plates and black leather check straps with chrome footman loops. Black 32 style dash with aluminum engine turned insert with Model A top rail that displays 8 working original Stewart Warner Green Line gauges and 65 mustang ignition switch. Manual choke mounted under dash on right side of the wheel. Headlight, turn signal switch and courtesy light mounted under dash on left side of the wheel. That’s right, switches are hidden out of view to keep it clean. No hanging wires or bread ties. All electric goes thru a Ron Francis harness mounted on passenger firewall. Original 40 column/shifter and wheel painted black and mounted correctly to the floor, with rubber floor collar, supported by a 4” polished column drop and Lokar column arm. Bottom of seat is removable to allow for under seat storage and easy access to the recessed battery box.

This project began in 1980, that’s 34 years ago! I have a 3 ring binder that contains all the receipts, drawings, notes, blueprints, photos and the clear Oklahoma title. It is finally complete and ready for some fun and enjoyment. My goal before I actually paid for the truck was to complete an unfinished project owned by a traditional hot rod guy that was never able to finish it and do it the way that he envisioned it completed. I hope Joel is looking down with a giant smile on his face and I have made him proud. Rest in peace brother.

If you can find another like this one, please let me know so I can see how it was done, very curious. Otherwise, here is your chance to own a truly unique and very desirable period styled hot rod powered by an iconic drivetrain with a fantastic history and story. Questions? Call Chris 937-238-7019. Reserve the right to end the auction should the truck become unavailable due to being listed elsewhere. Thank you and good luck!