A parking lot is a parking lot is a parking lot—unless it’s the Summit Racing parking lot. On any given day or time, the lot outside a Summit Racing store can turn into an impromptu mini car show, depending on who’s stopped by the store. Each Wednesday, we’ll share our parking lot find of the week—another benefit of being Powered by Summit Racing Equipment.

That thing got a HEMI in it?

Yep—but it’s not what you’re thinking. This 1931 Ford Model A is packing an old DeSoto hemispherical engine, which came in DeSoto’s Firedome model from 1952-59. The DeSoto HEMI V8 was a cousin to the more popular HEMI made by Chrysler, which produced DeSoto-brand vehicles. It was available in a variety of sizes starting with a 276-cubic-inch version—all better than the four-cylinder engine that came standard on original Model As.

The DeSoto powerplant is just one of the cool things about this 1931 Model A, which we spotted a while back outside of Summit Racing Equipment. Check out the photo gallery above to take a closer look and let us know what you think.

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Author: David Fuller

David Fuller is OnAllCylinders' managing editor. During his 20-year career in the auto industry, he has covered a variety of races, shows, and industry events and has authored articles for multiple magazines. He has also partnered with mainstream and trade publications on a wide range of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped establish OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and racing.