1933 Ford 'Lakes Modified Hot-Rod'

Goodwood Revival: Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia|13 September 2025, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1933 Ford 'Lakes Modified Hot-Rod'
Registration no. ED8541
Chassis no. 18-403231

• Built over a 16-year period
• Back on the road in 2023
• Vintage Hot Rod Association (VHRA) compliant
• Cadillac V8 engine

This unique creation is best described as a 'Lakes Modified Hot-Rod', built in the style of many of the cars raced on the dry lakes of California back in the 1940s and '50s. The body and chassis are based on original Ford components; the axles and brakes are approximately 1940 Ford; the engine is a 346ci (5.7-litre) Cadillac flat-head V8; and the gearbox is a Hurst converted three-speed LaSalle manual. The only significant non-period major component is a 1960s Land Rover steering box. Many of the other components are one-off fabrications that cannot be bought off the shelf.

With the help of some very talented friends, the vendor built this car on-and-off over a period of around 16 years, with it finally hitting the road in 2023. The engine and final build was handled by the well respected Jim Turnbull at Royal Kustoms near Bournemouth, while much of the body modification and paint was completed by Kelvin Dunn at Flying A Speed Shop in the Forest of Dean. Described by the vendor as in 'A1' condition throughout, the car is fully compliant for membership and use at Vintage Hot Rod Association (VHRA) events. Fully functional and on the road, it is correctly registered as a 1933 Ford Roadster and has a current V5C document.

According to our vendor: "It's a very individual car, loud and raucous and a handful to drive, but a whole lot of fun. I've covered probably fewer than 1,000 miles since completion, the biggest chunk of which was a 300-mile round trip to the VHRA Throttle event at Bicester Heritage last summer, a good few of those miles being on track where the car performed extremely well. I haven't taken it to many static events as they're not really my thing, but its won a trophy at every one it has attended. The reason for selling after such a long build time is over that time my priorities and interests have shifted slightly and, enjoyable as the car is, I'm not sure it's quite for me these days."

Some unused spare parts are available to the successful purchaser and may be collected from the vendor post-sale.

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