Al Hardstaff explores his coupes roots near Rowley in 1993

This 1929 copy of Henry’s Model A has been pretty well pampered for all of it’s long life. While it started out as a cute rumble seat coupe, and traveled the roads of Alberta for many years, a couple of fellows decided around 1985 that they would update Henry’s invention so it could be driven at today’s speeds but still maintain Mr. Ford’s vision. As a result this Model A became a street rod. I purchased the car in 1991 when most of the "Hard" work had been done. There was a Paul Horton Frame under it along with Super Bell front axle, four-bar suspension front and rear and Aldan coil-overs. An eight inch Ford rear-end with 2:79 gears spins the tires for the Chevy 350 with Turbo 350 Transmission and 1800 Stall lock up converter by Gary Savage.

As I planned on driving this car a great deal, I soon found that I was going to have to spend some time and money improving the reliability and comfort of my Model A. Fortunately, the work that had been done on the car was of good caliber so I had a great base to start with. I couldn’t believe that total lack of rust on the body and the condition of the paint. Anyway, the first thing I had to do was update the cooling system. It was just an open system and as soon as the engine got up to running temperature, the old rad cap spit anti-freeze all over the windshield. New rad, overflow tank and 7lb.system.
 

The next season, I found that the gas tank was leaking. It was the old cowl tank that Henry designed and it was starting to leak right where the steering column is welded to the bottom of the tank. I was somewhat relieved to have caught it before something serious happened – like a fire!! I was not really impressed with having ten gallons of fuel running down the road inches from my nose so I was only too glad to update the fuel system. I did that with a set of "Tanks" saddle tanks. While I was at it, I cut the bottom out of the original gas tank which gave me room to install a complete set of Night Design VDO gauges into a new flat dash. Now I could keep track of everything including speed, revs, fuel, volts, oil pressure, water temperature and the time.

During the winter of 93/94 the coupe get a new set of "Tanks".

The new dash in place and a trial fit of the Honda seats.

I finished off the upgrades with a stone-guard for my new rad. I like the looks without the guard but I plan to give myself every chance of returning from my forays around western Canada and the north western U.S. of A. I also installed a set of Honda Accord seats to make the miles pass under my old bones a bit easier. The seats were a tight fit and it took a tremendous amount of time to make them fit correctly and work well but it was just another upgrade that was worth the time and effort.

The following year I decided to install a new set of S/S Block Hugger headers. Ceramic coated of course. A B and M air cleaner was next. I also installed a 12 volt drycell battery. I was not even aware that there was such a thing. I had planned on buying a gelcell as I was planning on installing it under the frame just in front of the differential. The people at Battery World suggested a drycell and it has been a tremendous unit. Have had it for seven years and it has run flawlessly and kept its charge over long winters without use. While I was at it, I treated the 350 to a set of Taylor wires and an Electronic Ignition system. Both great moves.

The following season I decided to install a set of Specialty power windows complete with Hotronics switches to keep the resto-rod image. I also invested in a set of Lambert’s LED tail lights and lenses. Boy what a difference from a safety viewpoint. I also installed a set of Wireworks Bright Lights for the front signals. Now I can signal my intentions safely both coming and going.

A sad story occurred in May of 1999. We were out for a cruise with several other cars and I had the unfortunate luck to try and occupy the same air-space as a deer. The result was over 5,000 dollars of damage. Fortunately, I had friends in low places (like a body shop) The great guys at A-1 Autobody here in Calgary had me back on the road within three weeks for the annual Banff Rod Run. I had no hood and was in primer but street rods are quite acceptable this way, right? Anyway, I got a Rootleib hood, new King Bee headlights, new Walker Rad and a Rad Guard (didn’t help much when you hit a deer), new water pump and fan along with assorted other pieces that were damaged.
 

This past fall, I had the engine freshened up as the exhaust valves were starting to leak. I suspect that the heads did not have hardened seats for the unleaded fuel that we pump these days. Anyway, a new set of heads, new high-rise cam and lifters and a new Edelbrock Performer intake should make my Model A ready for another season . Installed a new Alpine cassette AM/FM to make the miles go by a little smoother. I suppose the younger guys would have installed a disc player but I have many cassettes so will go with old technology in this area.

The coupe may not be chopped, but it's stance is certainly "In the weeds"

My wife and I really enjoy street rods and are members of the Foothills Street Rod Association here in Calgary. It is a family oriented Club and we have in excess of one hundred families with the membership growing at a hectic pace every year. We have about 60 cars on the road and the rest of the members are building or planning. We have a very active social life within the Club and organize and attend runs pretty well every weekend from the end of April through until the snow chases us off the highways in the fall. Being one of the largest clubs in the province, there is always someone going somewhere, and we cover the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia as well as the states of Montana, Washington, Oregon and Idaho regularly. We help with the World of Wheels here in Calgary and also work very hard throughout the year to raise the awareness of the sport of street rods. We donate many thousands of dollars at the end of every year to charities that are picked by the members and are very thankful to have the health and ability to do this.

The members of the Foothills Street Rod Association are very fortunate to have you Mike with the ability and desire to put together "Foothills Kruizin" every month and keep our Club up-to-date on the Internet. Both of these items put us on the leading edge of the sport of Street Rodding. Sorry I took so long to get an article together on our car for you. I know how hard it is to get members to put pen to paper and help you out. Maybe this article will jog the memories of others to do the same. Many thanks for your efforts.  Al and Ida Hardstaff