The Vault

Words: Alan Mayes; Photos: Roy Varga; Model: Jasmine Knox

There is much to be said in favor of restraint in many aspects of our lives. Building hot rods is one of them. Justin Morter’s ’31 Model A Tudor is a textbook example of that philosophy and it shows why traditional hot rods never go out of style. There are no flashy gee-gaws competing for attention, no mechanical “look at me” command, and we cannot keep our eyes off it.

Jeff Tygret at Stay True Kustoms in Tipp City, Ohio (just north of Dayton), built the car and he did it just right. Starting with a chassis of STK’s own creation, they added a 5” dropped Super Bell front axle on a transverse spring. In back, custom ladder bars accompany the spring. A Ford 9” rear hangs from there. The engine is a Bob Vore built 283 from a ’64 Chevy. It’s topped by a Holley carb and lakes style headers extract the gasses. That’s all backed by a Turbo 350 transmission. Black 16” steel wheels are wrapped in Firestone blackwall bias-ply tires from Coker Tire.

The body was only slightly massaged, though it was channeled over the frame by 4” and the top was chopped 4”. A custom made hood sits between the cowl and the chopped and narrowed radiator shell that has some essence of the original one, but is obviously different. The drip rail area was filled and the top insert left out, so it’s an open air sedan.

Inside, a custom instrument panel that looks like it’s always been there is filled with Stewart-Warner Wings gauges and there’s a Limeworks ’40 Ford steering wheel. A bench seat was wrapped in white vinyl tuck-n-roll by Dennis Gamble. The office looks as inviting as the exterior!

Credit for the chrome and polishing goes to Shane Masters. Justin offers special thanks to Mike Haer, Shane Masters, Joe Marker, Matt Nixon, Brandon Fiessinger.

TECH SHEET

Owner: Justin Morter

Occupation: Designer/Filmmaker

Location: Dayton, OH

Builder: Jeff Tygret (Stay True Kustoms)

Vehicle: 1931 Ford Model A Tudor

Chop: 4”

Channel: 4”

Other Body Mods: Filled drip rail

Grille Shell: Chopped & narrowed 4”, custom grille insert

Color: Yellow Gold

Painter: Jeff Tygret (Stay True Kustoms)

Engine: 1964 Chevy 283 (built by Bob Vore)

Transmission: Turbo 350

Intake & Carb: Stock intake w/Holley carb

Ignition: Points

Exhaust: Handmade lakes style headers

Rear End: Ford 9”

Suspension: F- Super Bell 5” dropped axle on transverse leaf spring; R- Custom ladder bars w/buggy spring

Wheels: F- 16×4.5 steel; R- 16 x 5 steel

Tires: F- 4.50-16 Firestone/Coker bias-ply; R- 7.50-16 Firestone/Coker bias-ply

Seats: Custom

Upholstery: White vinyl tuck-n-roll

Upholsterer: Dennis Gamble

Dashboard: Custom

Steering Wheel: Limeworks Forty

Taillights: Stock