1929 Ford Model A Hot Rod

In the 1920s and 1930s, young motoring enthusiasts transformed their cars into faster, more stylish machines, giving rise to the hot rod movement. Brothers Frank and Manny Betes of Hawthorne, California, were among its early participants, and during the winter of 1939–1940, they rebuilt their 1929 Ford Model A into a proper hot rod. The body was mounted on now-iconic 1932 Ford “Deuce” frame rails and fitted with a Ford Model B block – enhanced with a Riley cylinder head, Winfield camshaft and carburetors, and Mallory ignition.

By spring, the Betes brothers were ready to test their hot rod and achieved an impressive top speed of 107.52 mph at Rosamond Dry Lake in 1942. Dashboard plaques commemorating this achievement remain in place today. With the outbreak of WWII, racing ceased, and Manny enlisted with the Army Air Corps, relocating to Utah with the car. While stationed there, he worked on the Enola Gay and fabricated a new hood for the Ford at the same facility. After returning to Los Angeles in 1945, Manny resumed racing before retiring the car to storage in 1952, as faster flathead-powered competitors emerged. It remained in storage for over three decades.

Remarkably preserved, this Model A remains a tangible link to the formative years of hot rodding, retaining its original black paint, wonderfully cracked red interior, and authentic period character throughout.