Readers may know Mäkelä Auto Tuning (MAT) from their race team or their high quality rally and race car restorations. One of their projects is this 1929 Ford Model A project completed around 2007. They said it was the fastest Model A then and it probably still is today.
Mäkelä Auto Tuning started off by boxing the frame and then adding cross-bracing to strengthen the chassis. The front suspension was strengthened along with adding a Panhard rod. The rear suspension was a custom parallel four-link with a Panhard rod. They choose to keep the buggy springs in front and back but modified them for a progressive rate and used shocks from an Aston Martin DP4.
Under the classic hood is a 1981 Ford Cosworth BDA series 122 ci inline-four that produces 250 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 200 ft-lb of torque at 7,200 rpm. The engine was built to compete in European Group 4 rally and Mäkelä Auto Tuning kept the engine pretty much stock except for a little port and polish on the head. Behind the engine sits a ZF quick-ratio five-speed transmission from a Group 4 Escort rally car. The rearend was completed replaced with a Toyota 4×4 van diff from a 1985 Toyota Celica rally car.
There are many little tweaks in this car such as the custom hydraulic hand brake and even a secret misfire switch built into the shifter that makes the engine sound like a factory Model A engine.
The car weighs 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) helping it reach 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) in five seconds and a top speed of 200 kph (124 mph). If you are interested in more of their work, please visit their projects section. They do a great job of including a lot of images of the build process.
Source: Mäkelä Auto Tuning (build gallery) and HotRod
This is what genius looks like. The suspension is beyond anything I could have dreamed. The video is a work of art. I wish I could have been on the filming crew. What would the artist think about a similar project with a 2.0L eco-boost? 250 HP at 5500 RPM and 250 Torque at 3000 RPM.
I think it would be a great idea. I would love to see someone try a similar project.
I have been driven in this exact car when i was 3 years old
That is great to hear. Do you remember how it felt?
It was build for Juha Kankkunen, some you might know who he is.