I hot rodded an Art Deco 30 years ago, and now wish I'd have kept the truck. Not kept it stock, but kept it as a hot rod.
You don't sound clear as to what you want.
Think about how you want to use it. You can show a stocker at a lot of shows, but not all. You can show a rod at a lot of shows, but not all. You can drive either a stocker or a rod locally or long distance.
If you want to run down the freeway at the speed limit going up and down hills both, you probably need to rod it. If you like travelling on secondary highways, and don't mind slowing down going up hills, you might be happy with a stocker.
I think its a mistake to restore or rod either one to make money. If that's your goal I'd say sell it now.
If it were mine it'd be a hot rod. I think a big jimmy six with a 5-speed sounds right. Modern brakes on both ends, retaining the straight axle up front. Modern electrics. Modern upholstery. Modern tires.
That would retain most the original look, but would create a very drivable rod.
But that's what I'd do. You should follow your own ideas.
