How fast are the old Ford hot rods?

That, my friend is a broad question. In the world of hot rods, there is only one determining factor, when talking about the limits of speed. Money. There really is not an actual answer to your question. However. What I can tell you, is that there was a time when almost ALL hotrods, were Fords. The 32 Ford has been the most popular "hot rod" of all time. (Yeah, I am a Chevy guy, but that little 32 is universal) The most popular hot rod motor, prior to the small block Chevy, (55) was the flathead ford. And, to date, the most popular differential used in every form of racing from off road to nascar, remains the Ford 9 inch. You don't see a lot of the 60's muscle car auctions overflowing with Ford's, for two reasons. First, Henry Ford Jr. chose to battle with a little Italian guy. Maybe you have heard of him. Enzo. Ferrari. Which brings the whole Shelby thing. Which was road racing. Which did not get the coverage that drag racing was getting then. Ford really didn't engage heavily in the ndrag racing arena. And, then you had Mopar with the max wedge, (everyone thinks Mopar raced the Hemi, not so.), and Dodges were fast and cheap. Chevy, was so universal. Any small block, any car. With Ford, everything has to be matched. Chevy had the best motor. In fact, there is a way to put all Chevy components, into a Ford block. It was a trick for racing. I have not heard of the opposite. However, Mopar, and Ford, both have cars going for a million, plus. Chevy does not. Ford, certainly has cut it's place in hot rod, and racing history. The street versions of the Fords, in the 60's, were no joke. Huffin, and Puffin. They screamed. But they were just few, and far in between. C........