Keith’s roadster rolls on...
Keith’s roadster rolls on a killer wheel and tire combination, consisting of bright orange Kelsey Hayes wires, wrapped in Firestone bias-ply tires. The big ’n’ little sizing gives the pickup a perfect hot rod stance.
Timeless is a bold term in hot rodding. Because trends come and go you want to be sure of yourself before calling any hot rod “timeless.” The 1928 Ford roadster pickup seen here will likely never grow old in the eyes of any hot rodder—it simply has “the look.” While the amazing craftsmanship of high-end builds provides plenty of “wow” moments, this pickup has the same effect without trying so hard. It’s a simple hot rod with lots of traditional flavor, proving that a ’60s hot rod will never go out of style.
Keith’s pickup was built in this configuration by Paul Bos in the late ’90s. Only a few things have changed since then, but the truck certainly doesn’t show its age, compared to most hot rods built over a decade ago. The original builder/owner gets most of the credit for the build, but he received lots of help from his friends from the San Diego Prowlers Car Club. Although it was finished several years ago, it looks as fresh as ever, and Keith put it on display for the first time in over 10 years at the Goodguys Nashville Nationals. Keith’s location in Gainesville, Georgia, made Nashville the most practical location to debut the truck after its change in ownership. It had been stored for quite some time, after being sold in 2004, and after Keith bought it in 2011, he decided to put it to use. The roadster pickup drives great, and aside from a little abuse from the sun, Keith has thoroughly enjoyed his time behind the wheel.
Packed with traditional styling...
Packed with traditional styling and a host of period-correct speed equipment, Keith Colby’s Model A is a timeless hot rod. The pickup wears a slick coating of satin black, and the bright orange details offer the right amount of pop.
This timeless recipe starts with a pair of boxed Deuce ’rails, which have all sorts of period-correct equipment bolted to them. The list starts with a drilled I-beam axle from Bob McCoy’s record-setting Red Hawk roadster, fit with ’40 Ford brakes sporting drilled backing plates. Moving to the back, there’s a polished Halibrand quick-change bolted to a pair of bright orange ’40 Ford axle tubes, all of which is sprung by a Model A rear spring and located by a Pete & Jakes four-bar setup. The chassis is detailed flawlessly with painted sleeves in all of the drilled components, while the bright orange ’40 Ford wires, measuring 16x4 up front and 16x6 out back, tie the color scheme together perfectly. The traction department consists of Firestone bias-ply rubber from Coker Tire, sized at 4.50/4.75-16 and 8.90-16 for the perfect big ’n’ little combination.
Power comes from a ’65 small-block...
Power comes from a ’65 small-block Chevy, which comes in at 327 ci. Finned Corvette valve covers are a nice touch to the orange engine, while the ’68 Z/28 intake manifold and ram horn exhaust manifolds keep this hot rod mill in the correct era. Behind the small-block is a T10 four-speed.
This attention to detail doesn’t stop with the chassis, as the body features equally tasteful treatments. The satin black is basic, but the flattened PPG acrylic enamel looks great for its age. Ron Batson performed the bodywork on the pickup, making the 2-inch stretched doors and 2-inch stretched cab appear to be factory equipment. The steel 36-inch bed is a custom piece, while the hood and hood sides are made from aluminum. Ron also handled the standard bodywork routine to straighten the original panels and get it ready for Jesse Elizalde and Jimmy Schoen to apply the materials. A DuVall windshield finishes off the look, with ’34 Ford commercial headlights and ’37 Ford taillights, adding the right amount of traditional flair to the exterior.
Just in front of a checkered firewall is a ’65 Chevrolet 327ci small-block, built by Ross Zee at Autosports Performance. Camel hump heads ride atop the mostly stock short-block, while an original aluminum intake from a ’68 Camaro Z/28 draws air and fuel from the 650-cfm Edelbrock carburetor. The fuel system is very simple, as the Model A relies on a custom 17-gallon fuel tank built by Mark Delong and a mechanical fuel pump to keep the small-block fed. A GM electronic ignition lights the fire, while a pair of ram horn exhaust manifolds send the spent gases into an expanse of 2-inch piping, fit with glasspack mufflers. Power is transferred to the rearend with a T10 four-speed manual transmission, which features a 10-1/2-inch clutch and a Hurst shifter.