1928 Model A Hot Rod Roadster – Stored 45 Years
1928 Model A Hotrod from Texas
The Suede Palace at the 2013 Grand National Roadster Show had a couple of crusty, like-a-barn-find hot rods to enjoy. This one’s from Texas and is called, “The Waco Kid”. The story I’ll tell here is quoted from the show card.
Thanks to Tom Orren, the original owner, for preserving this hot rod! (Click any picture for full size)
1928 Model A Hot Rod – Ford Roadster
The Waco Kid
“At the end of World War II, a young soldier named Tom Orren was discharged from the military in San Diego, California anxious to return home to Waco, Texas. He bought a stock 1929 Ford Model A for $75. A week after getting it on the road, he arrived home in Waco.
While serving in the military his mechanical skills were honed, like many young soldiers, and he began modifying the stock Model A. He bought a used donor car – a 1939 or 1940 Ford – and built what you see here: A very early version of a chopped, channeled, and flathead V8 powered hot rod. With all his modifications and added power, by the late 1940s or early 1950s he had the fastest car in Central Texas.
One day in 1955 a brand new Chevy sedan pulled up next to him at a stoplight, when it turned green – this little roadster was beaten by a showroom stock family sedan.
Tom drove this roadster home, parked it in the garage, and there it sat. It had become obsolete in Tom’s eyes and he never drove it again.
In 1998 Tom passed away. In his will, he gave the roadster to a younger friend of his named Cotter Stringer. Cotter met Tom when he was only 12 years old in the 50s when the young boy came into Mercury Tool and Die where Tom worked and bought a Hornet Marauder race kart from Tom that he had designed and built. They remained friends throughout Tom’s life. In 2004, the car changed hands and the current owner of this historic piece has brought it out again, so that people can enjoy what an authentic hot rod looked like back in the day…
Because of the car’s historical value, only long-term, minimal maintenance has been done. Changes in automotive design and engineering caused an untold number of these cars to be destroyed or forgotten. We are fortunate that this one was left intact, and preserved as a period perfect example of an early home built hot rod.
While much of early hot rodding began in California – The Waco Kid is an amazing example of a entirely Texas built and raced chapter of hot rod history.”
Love it! A time capsule of hot rodding for us to enjoy. I’d love to see this on the road, wouldn’t you? Did you? Please get in touch if you new Tom, Cotter or this car. Thanks!
Need more crusty old hot rods? Check out this 1933 Ford Roadster that wasn’t far from this one at the Suede Palace. Talk of street racing, “back in the day” got me thinking about the “Silver Bullet” from Woodward Ave. That car’s got a great story too.
Tags
Related Posts
Share This
Does it still run? If it does, then the is a bad-ace find right there. I like how the body looks with the weathered style.
Not sure if it runs… Might though, but with the condition of the windshield, might have to stick your head out the window! – pikesan
What a great find and story . I knew Jack Peck owner of Mercury Tool . Jack and sons built and raced go karts in the early days . Jack loved to race and drive fast cars . I can bet he helped Tom Orrin with ideas to keep making his car faster . Jack Pecks sons Richard and Bob still are hot rodders .Willy
The Tom Orren Roadster aka The Waco Kid still runs like a scalded dog. It has been to many events like the HAMB Drags and Hot Rod Hill Climb and raced. This little hot rod can hold its own with most.
The Waco Kid runs like a scalded dog. I drive this car all around town. It has been on 100 mile reliability runs. It ran the mountains of Central City Colorado two years ago at the Hot Rod Hill Climb and performed flawlessly. Tom Orren built a car in the 40’s that has stood the test of time. The car resides in Austin,Texas and can be seen at The Lonestar Round Up almost every year and was at the Bayou Round Up two years ago. Can’t judge a book by its cover, this hot rod is runner. I also own a Hornet Marauder vintage race kart that was built at Mercury Tool in Waco during Tom Orren’s tenure there as a master machinist. Alot of those race karts were his design back in the 60’s. The Orren Roadster and the Hornet Marauder are quite a pair together. Lots of history.