Donny -- Good points!
I "wanted" an exterior fill cap (Moal version) because I HATE putting fuel in the trunk... it's just dangerous and annoying. But the way the lid opens on the Speed '33 - there's no place to put it. And personally I think the pop up "hidden" type are too small and just invite paint damage...
I had actually forgotten all about trunk space in the '33 -- and had I been at the shop and seen how little space is in there - I think I would have asked them to be much more creative with the fuel tank! There is space "under" the folded top directly behind the seat - and with that capacity utilized the portion of the tank extending into the trunk could have been far less. It's a game of inches!
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Having now owned and driven the '32 for a couple of year... there's not a chance in hell I'd build another true roadster. There's just too many downsides to it.... While I love to drive it "top down" -- I'd far prefer to be able to put a top up and windows up when the weather turns too hot or too cold. I'm too old to freeze my hinnie off during the early morning drives in September and October.... Or suffer the heat of August pounding down the highway after a few hours of it - I'm done! Thus the '33 with it's drop top and windows.
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I think the most critical factor to decide FIRST is how a guy wants to use these style of cars. That will lead you to build a car with the right body - and components.
While I'd love a rowdy little flathead -- I don't want to deal with it's foibles... and as above - I love the little roadster - for about 2 hours.... and I love the RIDE of the IRS / IFS -- I hate the stance that it mandates. Even though it truly rides like a dream.
If I was SMART - which I'm not - I'd have built the '33 with IRS/IFS - and fenders to hide all that nastiness.... it already has the venerable LS motor and auto and A/C and heat... and I'd have been more creative with the gas tank but if it had fenders i'd have left it in the stock position.
Now let's see what I come up with for my patina'd '40 Ford P/U....
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