Orvel Reichert's 1931 Ford

Dean "Mack" McLaughlin and Speed with the roadster in 1949. Photo provided by Orvel Reichert

Mac with Speed's roadster in 1949. Photo by Orvel Reichert

Orvel with his first A-V8 hot rod in 1950. Behind him is Gene Winfield's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster and Frank Winfield's 1941 Plymouth. Photo provided by Orvel Reichert.

The Roadster at Rosamond Dry Lake in 1950 were the car clocked 122.03 on gas running a 287 CI Mercury engine.

Orvel street racing his Model A illegal on the Riverbank Highway in the Spring of 1950. Orvel is on the right, and won against fellow Century Toppers member Don Gray. Speed blew an axle and had to be towed home afterwards. Photo provided by Orvel Reichert.

1931 Ford Model A Roadster owned by Modesto Century Toppers member Orvel Reichert of Escalon, California. The car was Orvel's first A-V8 hot rod, and he started to build it in 1949. He was 18 years old when he started the project, and due to lack of money the build took 17 months to complete. During the build, fellow Century Toppers member Dean "Mack" McLaughlin helped Speed build the car. Once completed the build had costed Orvel $1,700 USD. The same year he clocked it 122.03 at the Rosamond Dry Lake with the car running a 287 CI Mercury engine. In early 1951 Orvel was drafted, and went to Korea. Just before he got drafted, he blew the engine. So he stored the engine and sold the car. Orvel have no idea were the engine went, but he recognized his old front axle on a coupe a few years later, so he believes it was parted out.