1931 ford Pick up hot rod - Alexander brothers - Grasshooper -

The Alexander Brothers, Larry and Mike, are amongst the most well-known builders and customisers from the golden era of hot rodding. At Mecum Auctions’ November 21 – 23 Anaheim auction, the Alexander Bros. “Grasshopper” 1931 Ford Model A pickup, one of their best-known creations, will cross the blocks.



Founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1957, the Alexander Brothers soon established a reputation for quality workmanship and impressive individuality. Amongst their better-known creations are the 1932 Ford “Silver Sapphire” coupe which became famous as The Beach Boys' “Little Deuce Coupe”; the “Alexa”, built to Harry Bradley's design for the 1964 Ford Motor Company’s Custom Car Caravan, and the “Victorian”, a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria named in Car Craft Magazine's Top 10 in 1960.



Soon after setting up their car customising business, the brothers were looking for a ‘shop truck’ to promote their business. The pickup they eventually found a year later was this Model A, purchased for the sum of US$100.



As you’d expect, the Model A didn’t stay “stock” for long, the brothers treating their proposed workhorse to a 2 ½ inch roof chop, ’29 Model A guards, roof panel fill, ’42 model Dodge headlights, new tray bed and grille, to name a few

A dropped front axle and modified rear crossmember gave the pickup its desired stance, while the powerplant for the rolling advertisement was a reasonably mild ’51 Ford 239ci flathead V8, hooked up to a 3-speed manual transmission.



Finishing touch was the striking ‘Glade Green’ metallic paint, which led to the Grasshopper nickname, and scored the Alexander Brothers the ‘Best Paint’ award at the 1958 Detroit Autorama.



How much actual work the Grasshopper did is debatable, but the pickup was a show circuit regular, until the Alexander brothers closed their business in 1969. Prior to this, the Grasshopper had been sold to an Ohio-based enthusiast who continued to show it, with the next owner hanging onto it for thirty years before selling it back to Mike Alexander in 2001, who then commissioned a restoration of it, inspired by the 50th Anniversary of the original Detroit Autorama in 2002.

As part of the restoration, Alexander replaced the original frame with a reproduction 1929 chassis and had Motor City Flatheads prepare a 1948-vintage V8, fitted with Offenhauser finned high-compression heads, an Edmunds high-rise intake manifold with dual Stromberg 97 carburettors and modern electronic ignition. The original 1939 Ford manual transmission was replaced with a Ford C4 automatic.



Metalcrafters, Inc. in California restored the bodywork and resprayed the Grasshopper’s new Sikkens Emerald Green enamel paint. The green and white vinyl upholstery was replaced, the original handmade instrument bezel (with Chrysler gauges) was retained, as well as the banjo steering wheel, with a further touch of originality provided by Paul Hatton, the Grasshopper’s original tailgate letterer and pinstriper, who reprised his work for the restoration.



At the back, the Bell dropped rear axle was rechromed, with the pickup bed lined in polished oak timber and capped by a white hard tonneau cover.
Following completion, the Grasshopper was shown at the 50th Anniversary Detroit Autorama in 2002, then sold at auction in 2009 for US$143,000. Now consigned with Mecum for its Anaheim auction, the Alexander Brothers pickup will join a few other hot rods, including a chopped and dropped 1940 Cadillac, radically chopped 1953 Mercury and Grand National Roadster Show trophy-winning “phantom” 1949 Cadillac 2-door wagon.

Mecum’s Anaheim auction is scheduled to take place November 21-23, with the Grasshopper to be auctioned on the 23rd. For more information, visit Mecum.com.