Old time rodders will remember this 1931 Model A roadster from the covers of Hot Rod January 1961 and Rodding and Restyling February 1963. Nowadays the roaster resides in the garage of Roddy Moore of Ferrum, Virginia yet still has the looks and "personality" that made it popular 5 decades ago. The car was restored in 2003.
The car was originally built by Bob Bateman of Roanoke, Virginia in 1956 and raced it until 1960 when it was turned into a show car which it performed this duty admirably until 1965 when it was taken off the circuit.
Mechanically the car has been channeled 8 1/2 inches, the grille was shortened 4 inches, and sports 121 cabinet knobs to make the distinctive grille. The frame is the always popular Deuce 'rails Z-ed 6 inches with Model A crossmembers. Bob built the '51 Olds V8 runs q Chet Herbert roller cam and kit, Jahn's pistons, Thomas high-lift rockers, Offenhauser valve covers, W & H Du-Coil distributor, Crager intake topped with six Stromberg 97's, with ported and polished heads. The tranny is a '37 La Salle with Shiefer aluminum flywheel and Weber clutch and pressure plate.
The candy red paint was first applied in 1960 by Johnny Knox of Portsmouth, Virginia with the second go around in 2004 by Wooding's Paint Shop in Roanoke. The bright work is still the original efforts plated between 1956 and '60 by Roanoke Plating. The diamond-tucked Naugahyde interior is another piece of handiwork by Bob.