1934 Ford Pickup Street Rod with a Chevy 327 V-8

Old school is a sliding term used by street rodders to describe building styles and techniques from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties. New rods can be built in this style, but survivor hot rods that retain this look really define the term. This 1934 Ford pickup street rod was thought to have originally been built somewhere in the Midwest during the Fifties or Sixties. It was acquired thirteen years ago at the Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In the ensuing years it has received a frame-off restoration. Very few parts are newer than 1965. There are no visual clues that suggest this pickup wasn't built when Elvis was still king, the Beatles were still working small venues and the Beach Boys were still boys. The restored/refreshed powertrain makes it possible to commute in modern traffic or cruise down memory lane. - When purchased this pickup had a '57 Chevy 283, '39 Ford transmission, original '34 Ford rear end and 16-inch wire wheels. A fully rebuilt 1965 Chevy 327-cubic inch V-8 looks like the 283, but puts out a more robust 300 horsepower. A 9-inch Ford rear end with 3.25:1 gears replaced the original rear end. The GM Turbo HydraMatic 200R4 four-speed automatic transmission is the truck's most contemporary component, but it's unseen and allows the truck to travel easily at 70-plus mph highway speeds. The engine has cast-iron exhaust manifolds along with a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor. - the truck starts easily and idles smoothly. There appears to be a small oil leak from the oil pressure sensor fitting. The transmission is reported to shift smoothly. All Henry steel with zero rust is how the seller describes this body, which was completely stripped prior to painting five years ago. The top was chopped approximately two-inches sometime in its past.- the workmanship was excellent with leaded seams. The paint is rated as high quality, , with only a few small chips. The yellow finish is accented with green on the body styling lines. The pinstriping is orange. All new tinted glass was installed at the time of the body-off restoration. - A lot of custom woodwork highlights the cozy interior. Most metal surfaces are body-colored. The bench seat was reupholstered in green cloth. All the gauges are classic Stewart-Warner units, but the speedometer uses a modern Speed Hut GPS sender. The upholstery, headliner and carpet are all new with very low use. A unique touch is the vintage clock mounted on the steering wheel, a nod to the seller's many years as a clock maker by trade. - The frame is 1934 vintage, but the suspension components and brakes were new at the time of the restoration (approximately 300 miles ago). The larger (11-inch drums) hydraulic brakes are from a Ford F-1 pickup. The '34 Ford axle has new kingpins, split wishbones and tubular shocks. The steel wheels are from a later model Ford pickup. The black wheels with thin whitewalls and no wheel covers are a true period touch.- the tires have very little wear, but date from 2008.- that the truck drives well at highway speeds with no pulling or wandering. - it stops well, too. This 1934 Ford street rod pickup comes with some receipts and a bed full of old school charm and legit V-8 American hot rod get up and go.