Swap to Street 2016: Which would you choose?
Last year’s what-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into “Swap to Street Challenge” came about rather quickly, so we were in no position to be choosy when deciding which vehicle we should rescue.
Oh, the project went just fine. We actually pulled it off. Starting with only a chassis, cab and new brakes (for safety reasons), four Hagerty employees rebuilt a 1946 Ford half-ton commercial pickup in four days from parts that we sourced at the AACA Hershey (Pa.) Fall Swap Meet. Then we drove it 750 miles home to Traverse City, Mich.
This time around we considered three vehicles before handing a rose to one lucky gal. (Or guy? Who can tell when it comes to cars?) We thought we’d ask you, “What would you build if you were us?”
Below are the pros and cons that we considered for each of our three finalists. Present your case in the comment section for which one you think is best. A panel of Hagerty judges will select the best argument, and the winner will receive a 2016 Swap to Street t-shirt.
1937 Plymouth
Pros – Not only is it super-cool looking, it’s a bit out of the ordinary. Plus it seats four. Last year’s build team couldn’t all fit into the Swap to Street truck, so they had to take turns riding in it.
Cons – Finding Plymouth parts at the Hershey Swap Meet raises the degree of difficulty. Ford parts? Plenty of those. Chevy? Fewer, but still available. Other brands aren’t as plentiful. The same holds true if the car should break down on the drive home – it will be tougher to find parts.
1956 Chevrolet wagon
Pros – Tri-Five Chevys have mass appeal, which means there will be more parts at Hershey’s massive swap meet, along with lots of valuable information. The car would be easy to work on, and the team would rest better knowing Chevy parts are readily available on the route home.
Cons – While Chevrolet parts can be found at Hershey, they aren’t as abundant as Ford parts. That means what’s there will be scooped up quickly. Can we get what we need before it disappears?
1930 Ford Model A
Pros – The Model A is an icon – a gamer changer – so building one would be a memorable experience. Model A Fords are also comparatively easy to work on, and starting with only a chassis offers a clean slate when it comes to choosing a body style. Finally, considering that nearly 5 million of them rolled off Henry Ford’s assembly lines, there will be no shortage of parts at Hershey.
Cons – Model As are everywhere in the classic car universe, so good luck standing out in a crowd. They also have mechanical brakes, which are questionable at best. And that drive home is going … to … take … a … while.
Pick your favorite and present your case. We’ll announce the winner on 9/21. Stay tuned for the latest Swap to Street news at www.hagerty.com/swaptostreet. If you’re planning to attend the Hershey Swap Meet, we’d love for you to stop by and watch the build. For those of you watching from home, we’ll stream the entire process beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4, at noon. Subscribe to the stream here: www.YouTube.com/Hagerty/live.
