Jerry Woodward's 1929 Ford
1929 Ford Model A Roadster owned and built by Jerry Woodward of Provo, Utah. The car, known as "Thunder Rod", was completed in 1957. The build took two years and $5000 USD to complete. Dual headlights were fabricated from 4 inch spotlight casings and fit with 5" Jeep sealed beams. The stock grille shell was retained, the grille however was made from a chromed refrigerator tray. The entire suspension was chromed, and the wheelbase was shortened to 96 inches. To utilize maximum leg room, Jerry kicked up the front of the frame 4 inches. The rear end was Z'd 14". A 1940 Ford dashboard was cut to fit the car. Dice motif was used on the gear shifter as well as the radio knobs. The steering column was from a Corvette. The car was powered by a 1947 Ford engine, bored 3 3/8", and stroked 4 1/8". C & T Automotive balanced the entire assembly. The valves got their lift from a Potvin 400 Super camshaft. Spark was provided by a Harman & Collins magneto. Once completed, the car was pinstriped by Tommy the Greek. Dean Jeffries painted a mural on the glove compartment. In 1957, Jerry won the prestigious "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award with Thunder Rod at the Grand National Roadster Show.[1]
In March of 1957 Thunder Rod was featured in Rod & Custom. Two photos of the car was also used on the cover of the magazine.
Magazine Features and Appearances
Rod & Custom March 1957
Rods Illustrated June 1958
References
Did you enjoy this article?
Kustomrama is an encyclopedia dedicated to preserve, share and protect traditional hot rod and custom car history from all over the world.
- Help us keep history alive. For as little as 2.99 USD a month you can become a monthly supporter. Click here to learn more.
- Subscribe to our free newsletter and receive regular updates and stories from Kustomrama.
- Do you know someone who would enjoy this article? Click here to forward it.
Can you help us make this article better?
Please get in touch with us at mail@kustomrama.com if you have additional information or photos to share about Jerry Woodward's 1929 Ford.
This article was made possible by:
SunTec Auto Glass - Auto Glass Services on Vintage and Classic Cars
Finding a replacement windshield, back or side glass can be a difficult task when restoring your vintage or custom classic car. It doesn't have to be though now with auto glass specialist companies like www.suntecautoglass.com. They can source OEM or OEM-equivalent glass for older makes/models; which will ensure a proper fit every time. Check them out for more details!
Do you want to see your company here? Click here for more info about how you can advertise your business on Kustomrama.
