Hugh Nutting's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster

The roadster as it appeared after Hugh had been working on it for about a year. "The original purchased 29 Roadster had no front clip. I could not find a good 29 radiator or hood, so I used 1931 parts." Photo courtesy of Hugh Nutting.

Hugh's roadster was the only roadster in the Throttle Tamers Club. "The summer of 1957 I worked for a DeSoto dealer. The owner was a family friend, and he let me work on it in his body shop after hours. I drove it to work every day." When Hugh started working at the DeSoto dealership, he stripped the paint and primed it dark gray. Photo courtesy of Hugh Nutting.

The black and white photos of the car were taken with a 127 Kodak Brownie. Photo courtesy of Hugh Nutting.

A photo of the car taken after Hugh had painted it red in 1959. "By then, I had found a 29 hood and radiator plus rebuilt the stock windshield." Hugh sold the car to a Midland, Michigan gas station owner in 1961. He owned it to 2020, and Hugh believes it was sold from his estate to someone in the Cadillac, Michigan area. "I heard it is now in the Cadillac, Michigan area with SBC power." Photo courtesy of Hugh Nutting.

1929 Ford Model A Roadster owned and built by Throttle Tamers of Midland car club member Hugh Nutting of Midland, Michigan.

From 1931 Pickup to 1929 Roadster

"My A roadster was my second one," Hugh told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2021. "My first car was a fenderless 1931 big box A pickup which I took apart. Got it for $25 in Hemlock, Michigan. When the club started member Russ Benedict’s grandfather lived in Mapleton, Michigan. He was a retired plumbing contractor with a shop building he no longer used. It had a dirt floor. He made us a deal. If we put a cement floor, it would be rent-free. My pick up chassis went there, and I bought a 29 roadster body from Jim Hughes for $8. I bought a 41 Merc engine from the Hemlock Junkyard." The original purchased 29 Roadster had no front clip. "I could not find a good 29 radiator or hood, so I used 1931 parts. The 31 pickup had a 32 front axel I used with 47 juice brakes. The master cylinder and swing pedal were from a 55 Ford sedan. The windshield was not great, so I cut the posts off about 3” and a 1934 Dodge sedan windshield just fit."

A Better '29 Located in Mt. Pleasant

I then found the better 29 in Mt. Pleasant Michigan for $35. John Brooks towed it to Midland, Michigan with his folks 49 Mercury on January 3, 1956. I was wrapped in an Army blanket for the 30 mile ride. John’s dad was an electrical engineer and car guy who thought old cars were great for kids to learn mechanical skills on. John had a 29 Tudor which we later put a 30 coupe on which cost $10 in Hemlock. We made many junking trips on Saturday afternoons in a 30 mile radius of Midland," Hugh recalled.

The Build Progresses

The Mt. Pleasant roadster had been wrecked, and John gave Hugh his 29 Tudor front fenders. "I used some of the ex-Hughes body to build a pretty good car. John Brooks gave me his 29 sedan fenders. Ray Alby, the best bodyman in town, bobbed them and put them in primer. I made the dash out of ¾” Cherry with a 49 Merc speedo and gauges. The steering wheel was 47 Ford. The rear bumper was stock 29, with some NOS parts. The taillights were NOS Henry J from the local Kaiser dealer. It had a Sears 4 banger rebuilt with a Simpson Super Power head. Plus dual carb Intake bought at Hank's shop in Saginaw." Hugh's roadster was the only roadster in the Throttle Tamers Club. "The summer of 1957 I worked for a DeSoto dealer. The owner was a family friend, and he let me work on it in his body shop after hours. I drove it to work every day." When Hugh started working at the DeSoto dealership, he stripped the paint and primed it dark gray. "The wheels were 15” 48 Mercury with roadkill 55 Chevy caps. It would go over 70 mph with the 4:11 29 rear end."

Olds Power and Shiny Red Paint

Hugh took the roadster to Tech School in 1958 and put a 1951 Oldsmobile engine with a 1950 Oldsmobile 3 speed in it. "At that point, I found a better frame for it." The car was painted a 1954 Chevrolet red in 1959. At the same time, a rebuilt 1951 Olds V-8 engine was also installed. "By then, I had found a 29 hood and radiator plus rebuilt the stock windshield."

Sold

Hugh sold the car to a Midland, Michigan gas station owner in 1961. He owned it to 2020, and Hugh believes it was sold from his estate to someone in the Cadillac, Michigan area. "I heard it is now in the Cadillac, Michigan area with SBC power."