Alan & Chris Newton own this very rare, "'31 A-400" Ford. Alan thinks it is a great pity that the convertible sedan body didn't get utilised more as in his opinion it offers the best of both worlds of enclosed and open cars as a street rod. One of the real thrills of hot rodding is to have a car entered at the US Nationals. Alan & Chris managed that in 1992 & 1993, with their 1931 Phaeton, and in 1994 at Louisville with both the Phaeton and the A400. The Phaeton is currently undergoing a total freshen up. The Newton's entered the A400 in the 13th Nationals at Hawkesbury, where its unusual body styling was a topic of interest for rodders.
The unique body style of the A400 was only manufactured by the Ford Motor Co. in the USA in 1931 and 1932. It was never produced by any other American auto company, making it one of the rarest American autos produced. It was the last of the Model A's, and actually crossed over into the 1932 range, which introduced a new chassis design, as well as the first V8 engine offered from Ford. Units produced records vary somewhat, but somewhere around 5000 A400's were built in 1931, and only around 420 B400's in 1932. The main difference between the two models being the adoption of the "Deuce" radiator shell in the '32 model. Only a small number of vehicles from both years are known to exist today, and only five or six in the world are believed to be street rods.
This model was marketed as "top of the range", with an excellent design for the convertible fold down top, and fully functioning rear windows. It was the first Ford to have ash trays fitted. This particular car was purchased by a restorer around 1970, in the New England (US) area, and remained in storage for the next 17 years in Minnesota. It was built into a street rod over 3 years, and was completed in 1990. Alan purchased it in 1993, and shipped it to Australia in 1994. At both the 1993 & 1994 US Street Rod Nationals, out of 12,000 plus street rods, it was the only one of its type entered.
CHASSIS: TCI with 4 bar dropped front axle, Chevelle disc brakes. Camira rack & pinion, Buick tilt steering column topped with a Grant steering wheel. Rear suspension is 1982 Corvette independent and disc brakes. The Lokar handbrake operates stock Corvette brakes. Fuel tanks are dual saddle types, located behind the running board valance panel. Wheels are Halibrand 'Sprints', with Halibrand knock offs, front 14x6, rear 15x7.
ENGINE/TRANS: A 355 Chev '010' 4 bolt block, fully balanced, with stock conrods, TRW forged pistons and hi volume Mellings oil pump, make up the bottom end. Crane Hi intensity camshaft, Crane lifters and Magnum roller tip rocker arms make up the valve train. Late model Corvette aluminium cylinder heads and valve covers result in a compression ratio of 10.5:1. An Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, topped with a 750CFM Holley, a Mallory twin point distributor, and Sanderson exhaust headers, complete the engine. Engine dyno's around 400ft lbs of torque, and 380 BHP. Transmission is a T/H350, with a Lokar shifter.
BODY: All steel, and original, including all guards and original window mechanisms. '32 style hood, '32 style dash. Chrysler LE Baron front seats, original rear. A 'Vintage Air' air conditioning/heating unit is fitted.
