Ian & Joan's Rejigged Jalopy

After ten years on the road as a roadster pickup, Ian Camm transformed this Model A into a coupe for more comfort...

- Larry O'toole

Having now retired, Ian Camm decided it was time for a little more comfort for his and Joan’s rodding excursions, so after 10 years on the road as a roadster pickup, he decided to rebuild the family Model A as a coupe. Living in cold East Gippsland, Victoria was another reason, along with the fact that the pickup’s engine was tired. The big rebuild commenced in October 2015 and was completed in January 2019, resulting in a closed car with heater that’s now an easy driving cruiser.

When the rebuild got underway, the pickup body was removed and sold on to another local rodder. Ian ordered a Rod Bods ’30 Model A five-window coupe with three-inch chop, four-inch firewall recess, electric windows and two inches wider rear guards. The body also features Mazda burst-proof door latches. The old chassis that had already been boxed and fitted with a 3x2 inch K member was stripped and the LJ Torana front cross member was modified for better ride. It received a set of dropped stubs, longer springs and Commodore rack and pinion steering, along with a braking update in the form of HX Holden calipers and discs. The rear of the chassis was treated to longer springs to give a better ride, original Torana trailing arms are retained and they locate a 3.5 ratio Ford nine-inch rear end with VW front shockers used on the rear. The wheels are US Indys, 7x15 on the front with 215x60 Kumho tyres and 8x15 on the rear with 265x70x15 Nankang tyres.