1931 Ford Model A “LIVEWIRE” - Piero De Luca

In 2006 Filmmaker Piero De Luca decided to build a car and document his talented friends as they build a period correct sixties show car. The Idea behind the car was to give the impression that this was a old hot rod that was recently restored. This is achieved with actual parts off of old hot rods and the details of what would of been on the car in 1958 right down to the correct plug wires. There is not much on the car that is newer than 1958.


The car was finished in 2008 and debuted at the Grand National Roadster show Suede Palace and took home 4 awards. From then on it Has been shot for several magazines including the cover of Rod and Custom. The Documentary "Mad Fabricators Volume 5.5 The Live Wire Chronicles" was released in 2009 and did very well.

CHECK OUT THE DRIVING VIDEO ON VIMEO SEARCH MAD FABRICATORS "DRIVING LIVE WIRE"

Body:

1931 Ford five window coupe was found on a farm in Texas and was a old hot rod body that was chopped 3 ½ inches back in the 60’s. It even had a few chickens living in it!

The body was completely restored replacing all the rust panels and completed in metal finish.. The chop was also attended to and made correct, doors were aligned / gapped and open and shut like a dream. visor was molded in, trunk shaved, cowl vent filled, wheel wells replaced, dimpled gauges in the firewall, Chopped and filled 1932 grille with hand made chrome mesh insert. Blue tinted glass.


Paint:


Donnie Baird of Imperial Customs 2007

Toyota light blue with custom mixed dark blue metallic fades. The body lines are slightly highlighted in pearl. Fade details around the steering column, dimpled gauges and inside of trunk. Pinstriped by Skratch

Chassis:

Bob Bleed Midwest Fabrication #3 of the popular “Acehole” frame. The front of the rails are “Swept” and the rear is Z’ed 11 inches. The rear ride height can be adjusted by the custom rear spring perch. Custom made removable cross member build by Lucky Burton Lucky’s Hot Rods.

Front Suspension:


Old chrome 1942 - 47 dago dropped axle

1942 - 47 Ford old chrome backing plates and drums (not chromed)

1937- 41 Ford round style spindles

New chrome spring, chrome shocks and mounts.

Old chrome Model A wish bones and rod ends.

Rear Suspension:

Rebuilt 1956 Pontiac rear that was in a Model A Ford in the sixties
1940 ford front spring (used in the rear) with the original setup that came with 1936 Ford wishbone spring perches that were cut off at the bones. Chromed and painted to match the front axle. Bob Bleed made the ladder bars that were Z’ed as well to prevent them from hitting the floor. The rear is painted dark metallic blue with fades.

Rear Wheels and Tires:


15 X 7 early Ford style wheels that were chromed and reversed in the sixties for a show car and never used.

Firestone 7.00 - 15,

Bullet lugs and NOS Cal Custom valve stem cover.

Front Wheels and Tires:


15 X 6 new early Ford style wheel - Wheel Vintique. Firestone 5.60 - 15

Engine:

1952 331 Cadillac with less than 5000 miles on rebuild. Board .30 over, mild Isky cam, early Edelbrock 4 X 2 intake, 4 New chrome Stromberg 97’s with polished stainless linkage, extended shafts and fuel lines. Old chrome generator and oil filter. NOS clear plug wires with Eelco distributer ends and rare white Rajah plug ends. Chromed water,oil filler and valley pan fan pulley and a Speed Eqipt. fuel log.

1965 Mustang radiator flipped upside down to fit the grille. Painted dark blue with fades.

Custom exhaust and headers built by Thom Speed @ Saltwoks in Tampa Florida. Can be changed to straight pipe or run out the back exhaust .

Transmission:


1939 Ford top loader with a offy adaptor. New throwout bearing, clutch and pressure plate. New drive shaft. 1939 Ford clutch and brake pedals. Unique hand casted brake pedal pads by Michael Grider Co.

Interior:

Dave Martinez - Martinez Industries black and white diamonds and pleats.


NOS sixties silver piping was used on the headliner and seats. Seats were hand made and the entire interior was tailor made to fit around a 6’ plus owner. The car is comfortable for a taller person.

Dash is a altered stock Model A with 1958 Edsel insert (Most asked question on the car…”What is that dash out of?”) Padded and pleated dash. Early sixties Suntune gauges and blue jeweled indicators.

Steering wheel is out of a late fifties early fiberglass boat half clear and half black and gold metal flake.

Shift knob is a NOS clear and gold metalflake Cal Custom and new chrome trans lever.

Steering:

Vega box with cross steering setup and chrome steering arms.

Headlights and Taillights:


Headlights are unknown aftermarket, chromed and reverse scalloped and striped by Skratch. Tail lights are 1950 Buick surrounded by an original old chrome nerf bar off an old hot rod.

Trunk:

Houses a new 12 gallon Model T style tank and battery. A little extra are the painted fades and diamond inserts in the stock holes of the deck lid. Trinidad carpet and diamond pleats continue from the inside.


Magazine Coverage:

Featured:

Rod and Custom March 2009 - Cover / Feature

Rod& Kustom (French) June 2009 - Cover / Feature

Kustom (Italian) October 2009 - Cover / Feature

Kustom (French) August 2010 - Feature

DicE Issue 22 - Feature

Throttle Merchants - Issue 1 2008 - Feature

Gearhead Magazine - Issue 15 2006 - Feature

Appeared:


The Garage Slab - Volume 3 Issue 1 2010

Street Rodder - September 2009

Rod & Kulture - Issue 13 Spring 2008

Rod & Kulture - Issue 18 Summer 2009

Old Skool Rodz - Issue 32 March 2009

Car Kulture Deluxe - Issue 32 February 2009

Car Kulture Deluxe - Issue 33 April 2009

Rod and Custom - September 2009

Rolls & Pleats - Issue 30 January 2009

Street Rodder - June 2008

Street Rodder - November 2014

Lowrider - July 2009

Burnout (Japan) March 2008

The Lot - Issue 3 2008

Book:


East Vs. West Showdown 2012

Calendar:

Photographer Scott Williamson Classic Street Rods 2009

Documentary:

Mad Fabricators Society Volume 5.5 “The Live Wire Chronicles” TRAILER AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

Discovery’s Outlaw Garage: Appeared racing around Austin with Jesse James


YOUTUBE :

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Driving LIVEWIRE AROUND.

Mad Fabricators Volume 5.5 Trailer