The hot rod and custom car movement, initially a West Coast phenomenon, reached the eastern United States by the early 1950s. The advent of Hot Rod magazine in 1948 by Robert Petersen was essential in spreading the gospel, helped immeasurably by a host of small pocket-sized publications like Car Craft, Hop Up, and Honk. West Coast rods, however, brought their own orthodoxy, beginning with a ’32 Ford “Deuce” coupe or a Model A roadster and adding a hotted-up Ford flathead V-8.

In the east, some were willing to bend the rules. So it was that Dick Ouellet of Newburyport, Massachusetts, set out to build his own rod in 1954. The first part was pure textbook: eschewing the “high-boy” form of hot rod, on a conventional frame and suspension, he took a 1931 Model A roadster and channeled the body over the frame. For power he chose not a flathead but an Oldsmobile overhead-valve Rocket V-8. By that time the 303-cu. in. Olds Rocket made from 150–170 bhp, depending on compression and carburetion. For the gearbox he used a three-speed unit, activated through a steering column shifter. The instrument cluster came from a 1950 Pontiac. Cycle fenders completed the motif.

Dick was a member of the Cam Snappers Club in Newburyport, on Massachusetts’ North Shore. Founded by Jere Sheehan in 1952, the Cam Snappers are still going strong, meeting monthly and participating in local shows and cruises. Sheehan retired as president only recently, having served for 60 years.

Purchased in 2006 by the current owner, Dick Ouellet’s Model A has recently been restored to its original condition, with metallic red paint and a red-and-white vinyl interior. A matching red carpet lines the floor, and the engine compartment is done in sanitary fashion. An electric fan has been added and Ouellet’s “O”-shaped nerf bar sits proudly in front. A large fuel tank occupies the space once used for a rumble seat. The car is offered with documentation of its history by veteran Cam Snappers and many historic photos.