1929 Ford Roadster - The Ultimate Model A?

Shine calls this a "KISS boot" (after the shoes worn by the rock band) but it's the overflow tank for the radiator and cooling system. It's that shape because it's as large as it can be (for maximum efficiency) in the space that is allotted.

Drilling out the backing plates would have made them look too much like a race car, so it was decided small stainless steel screens (a design found on '30s-era Bugattis and Alfas) would better serve the subtle look of this roadster.

Many auto manufacturers utilized great designs in their emergency brake cable systems, and Lieb knows a lot those designs. He used the pillow blocks from a '21 Cadillac and had Shine shorten the shaft so each e-brake cable is pulled evenly.

The more you look the more you find. The headers Lieb found in New Zealand and notes each exhaust port has its own runner (hard to see in this photo), which is reminiscent of today's headers. The large brass fittings located on the frame are remote lugs for the battery (which is located under the floorboard).

Shine could have smoothed the framehorn and splash apron into one big jelly bean, but it wouldn't have looked right on this car. Instead, he extended the edge of the framerail so the splash apron had something to mount up against, and secured it with simple screws.

Lieb didn't want a cross steer design for his Model A, so Shine not only came up with a solution (running the drag link through the middle of the wishbone) but then finished the piece with some detail plates and rivets.

A rear anti-sway bar (which came from an '89 Bronco II found in a junkyard) bolts to the rear split wishbone. The riveted pan up above was built by Shine-it could have been a non-riveted piece but it wouldn't have looked anywhere near as cool!

Another Wills Sainte Claire item is the taillight but, on that car, it mounts horizontally. Lieb rotated it 90 degrees to copy the design of the headlight as well as the cover of the quick-change. The driving/stoplight is on the bottom while the backup light up top really works as it's wired into the gearbox.

The caps look like standard '36-era Ford truck caps, but they are made from machined billet and double as dust covers. They are secured to the wheel with a special custom-made wrench.

Many of the engine pieces were also hand fabricated from brass before they'll eventually be dipped in chrome. (We kinda like the look of the brass).

Lieb certainly didn't want store-bought air cleaners on his ride, so he had Shine adapt a set from a '29 Lincoln. They have small impellors inside, which not only act as mini "superchargers" due to the engine's vacuum but also centrifugally throw any small debris to the edge of the cap and out the bottom of the air cleaner.

To aid in getting in and out of the roadster (even though the cockpit was extended, the stock, narrow Model A door was retained), Lieb wanted a quick-release added to the steering column. Shine obliged and even made a smart looking hook to hang the wheel on when not in use.