Award Winning Roadster 350 V8 TH350 Ford 9"

The cool thing about hot rodding is that it’s timeless. There are cars being built today that look like vintage roadsters with a modern twist, and share not one original component. On the other end of the spectrum, you have ultra-traditional rods like this one, which takes no liberties with the original Deuce shape and was inspired by the earliest hot rods of the ‘40s and ‘50s. This car has already won national awards, and is even featured in a book about 1932 Fords, so you know it’s highly accurate and exceptionally well built.

Don’t worry, purists, that’s a high-quality Wescott body, but it sure had you fooled, didn’t it? You can thank the excellent workmanship at Wescott, as well as the spectacular prep and paint work done during the build for the illusion, because this is one tidy little Deuce. The Royal Blue paint is an ideal choice for an old school rod like this; contrary to most stereotypes of the era, they weren’t all primer black with hand-painted flames. In fact, many rodders adopted the latest luxury car colors for their rides because that was where the coolest paint showed up first, so this dark blue is highly authentic. This color also means no corners were cut in the prep department, because dark blue is just as good as black at showing imperfections. Excellent panel gaps and a supremely smooth finish give this low-tech rod a high-tech paint job that will last virtually forever.

But it’s the details that make hot rods special, and this one takes all its cues from the early days of rodding. Up front there’s a full Deuce grill shell with a correct stainless insert and Ford oval, along with a set of low-mounted Guide headlights that retain the original grille bar and V8 emblem. The hood sides have been removed to show off the engine, and the ceramic-coated headers dump out the side and feature removable caps to bypass the exhaust system. The door handles are the original type, as well as the handle for the deck lid, and the chrome windshield stanchions carry original style wind wings. A pair of 1941 Chevrolet tail lights were selected, another period-correct trick that’s been popular since, well, 1941. Finally, a chrome spreader bar between the frame rails serves as a bumper and finishes off the car with a flash.

While there are some who say that a flathead is the ultimate retro engine, in the ‘50s, the small block Chevy made it obsolete almost overnight, and the 290 horsepower 350 cubic inch GM crate motor in this car is dressed up in correct ‘50s regalia. There’s a chrome air cleaner atop the Edelbrock 4-barrel, and the entire block has been bathed in Chevrolet Orange paint, as if it had just been yanked from a new Corvette. The finned aluminum valve covers are beautifully polished, and work well with the ceramic-coated headers underneath. A chrome alternator sits right about where the original flathead’s generator was mounted when it was new. Stainless bolts were used wherever they are visible, and it’s clear that a lot of thought went into making this a clean, well-designed engine bay without a lot of extraneous wires and hoses. Even the fuel filter is a cool stainless canister mounted on its own bracket by the passenger’s side valve cover.

The chassis is by Flatlanders, and the frame is finished to the same standards as the body. A TH350 3-speed automatic delivers the power to a Ford 9-inch rear with highway-friendly 3.25 gears. The front axle is a super traditional dropped I-beam style that has been chromed to match the radius rods and brake hardware. The rear axle hangs on a set of coil over shocks and features drum brakes. Speaking of the brakes, those aren’t original Buick finned aluminum brakes up front (which cost about as much as this whole car these days, if you can even find a set), but a set of Wilwood discs cleverly hidden inside reproduction drum housings. Traditional looks, modern performance! Flowmaster mufflers give it a hearty rumble, and finish in a set of polished trumpets under the rear valence panel. For the finishing vintage touch, 16-inch steel wheels with Ford hubcaps sport a set of matching Firestone dirt track tires.

The crimson red interior is the ideal compliment to the Royal Blue paint, adding a lot of flash in a very traditional way. Stitched up using the same style pleats as the original upholstery, even on the door panels, everything is beautifully finished. A custom set of carpets were stitched up for the floors (1932 Ford roadsters came with rubber floor mats originally), and the kick panels have handy map pockets for storage. A reproduction dirt track style steering wheel has been mounted on a Borgeson/Mullins steering column and looks awesome framing the column-mounted tach. An engine turned panel holds a full array of Stewart Warner gauges, while the Lokar shifter is stopped by an 8-ball knob. And hanging under the dash is a real treat—an original TrueTone radio that has been upgraded for modern sounds. Flip up the deck lid and you’ll find an identically upholstered rumble seat for two more friends, and I’m thrilled that it wasn’t converted to a trunk. Overhead there’s a complete tan canvas top assembly for inclement weather—again, a nice addition that most hot rods omit.

This car brings a lot of documentation, including a full stack of receipts on the build. It is titled as a 1932 Ford, so there won’t be any problems down at your local DMV. It has also appeared in the book, “Deuce, 75 Years of the ’32 Ford” by Robert Genat. The list of awards this car has won is extensive, including the “Real McCoy” award at the 2002 Goodguys Del Mar Nationals.

For fans of old school hot rods, nothing is more traditional than a fenderless ’32 Ford roadster. Most of the cars built in the ‘40s and ‘50s were nowhere near this nice, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t an inspiration. With a positively gorgeous color combination, a nice-running small block under the hood, and a traditional suspension, it’s a trip through time that still delivers a lot of smiles per mile. The build quality is exceptional throughout this car, and though it was finished several years ago and has been driven, its condition is proof that this car was cherished and pampered since it was built. This Deuce is highly road worthy and always draws a crowd wherever it’s parked, so if you’re a fan of the traditional, this might be the car for you. Call now!