Unless noted, all photos from Jake Headlee.

Automotive design and engineering has grown incredibly fast ever since the beginning. When the Ford Model A popped onto the scene in 1927, it served many purposes and showed many advancements for the era. By the time the 50’s rolled around, however, it was severely outdated. With millions of them still around, the Model A became a perfect candidate for a hot rod.

The Model A was cheap, many of us have heard stories of “old timers” purchasing a Model A for $5-15. Being so cheap gave enthusiasts an opportunity to have something of their own that they could do whatever they wanted with. Many of the hot rod movies of the 40’s and 50’s were loaded with Highboy,  meaning fenderless, Model As. Many hot rodders did a conversion known as “A-V8”; dropping a flathead V8 to get more speed out of the little cars.

Dick Flint’s Model A is one of the most iconic Model A hot rods ever built.

There are a vast amount of famous Model A’s. From movies, magazines and the drag strip. One of the most iconic is Dick Flint’s 1929 Roadster. The custom bodywork and design broke out of the typical mold of the post-war era and took the world by storm. The custom nose piece sets incredibly far apart from the rest of the pack. Another famous Model A is Boyd Coddington’s Silver Bullet. Coddington pushed the limits of the car and had nearly every piece of it modified.

Boyd Coddington’s Silver BUllet represents the pinnacle of the hot rod culture. Image from Boyd Coddington’s Garage.

The Model A is an iconic car in many aspects and the perfect fit for our number two slot of our countdown. Stay tuned for the LAST installment of our Top 9 Cars To Turn Into Hot Rods!