CUSTOM 'MODEL T' HOT ROD

KEY FACTS

• A unique and eye-catching custom hot rod, created by Dave Melling in the 1980s with help from renowned builder Ed Wimble, and which has been recently restored.
• It is powered by a 3.5-litre Rover V8, with a high-compression block and the cylinder heads from an SD1. This is fed via a Holley carburettor and Offenhauser manifold, and drives the rear wheels via an automatic transmission.
• This striking custom ‘Model T’ was first featured on the cover of Custom Car magazine in April 1990, and was extensively refurbished in August 2002.
• The car’s identity with the DVLA is that of a 1959 Standard Vanguard, but the chassis, body, and mechanicals are all completely customised.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• Finished with black and orange metal flake paintwork, this ‘T’ is appropriately laden with chrome trim and highly polished bespoke exhaust pipes. It rides on a set of wire wheels at the front, with wide slot-mag alloys at the rear that were donated from Ed Wimble’s original original build.
• As well as its custom-built Rover V8, it also features a limited-slip differential from a Jaguar E-Type, with the crown and pinion from an S-Type and half shafts and hub carried across from a MkX.
• The car will be accompanied by a substantial file of paperwork, detailing its history and build, with full photo documentation of the seven-year creation process in the 1980s.

CONDITION

• Crafted from fibreglass, the bodywork is free of any damage.
• Professionally resprayed to a very high standard, the gloss black and orange metal flake finish is in excellent condition, with a particularly appealing shimmer.
• All of the chromed trim is in very good order.
• The black fabric hood is also in great shape, with no rips, tears or fading to speak of.
• Inside, the bench seat has been re-trimmed in diamond-quilted Connolly black leather and is unmarked.
• There are no known electrical or mechanical faults.
• Today, the car remains in excellent running order, and the seller states that it runs and drives as it should.
• The most recent MOT test on file was on 19 September 2012 at an indicated 280 miles, which was a clean pass with no advisories.

SUMMARY

Hand-crafted as a labour of love and built around a body and chassis supplied by famed hot-rodder Ed Wimble, this one-off ‘Model T’ custom car is a truly sensational hot rod. Presented in excellent cosmetic condition and in fine mechanical health, it is sure to turn heads both on the road and on display, and will be a credit to any collection.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.