Frame Off Built Roadster Supercharged 383 V8 TH400

While the phrase “traditional street rod” may conjure images of hacked up rat rods made of speaker wire and old refrigerators, it can also stand for something great. The hot rodding tradition is full of amazing custom work, impressive engineering and horsepower in huge quantities. With those three characteristics in mind, this awesome '32 Ford Roadster is a prime example of that scene. In a past life, this car was known as the “Dreamer” and earned itself a feature in Rod & Custom back in 2001. Today, fresh out of a complete rebuild, the car is once again poised for the spotlight. Featuring a blown 383 stroker, fresh custom interior and in-your-face paintwork, this is a car meant for anyone who loves attracting attention and having a hell of a lot of fun in the process. If you're ready for a one-of-a-kind street rod, take a closer look at this Ford.

In its first incarnation, this '32 wore a coat of HoK Oriental Blue candy paint with a graphic of the Milky Way trailing down the side. Definitely a distinctive look but the new owner had something a little brighter in mind. The Speedway Lo-Boy fiberglass body was stripped to its bare essence, sanded smooth and shot with a base coat of PPG Oh So Orange metallic paint. A strong choice by itself, the orange is complemented by a coat of PPG Key Lime metallic green paint used for the traditional flames that cover the grille shell and firewall while extending onto the doors. There is a ton of flake in both colors and the car absolutely glows in natural light. Show quality paintwork doesn't come cheap and this job set the builder back roughly $25k according to receipts. If attracting attention was the primary goal, that was money well spent. The cars distinctly west coast flavor is refreshing in the sea of monotone high-tech rods. Panel fitment is impressive for a fiberglass body and every panel is laser straight.

Accenting that eye-popping paintwork is an array of well-chosen pieces that do a great job of making this roadster stand out in any crowd. At the front, a polished custom grille anchors two round headlights above fully polished custom front suspension. There are no bumpers to be found and, for this car, that was a great choice. The hood and side panels were scrapped in favor of chrome support rods and a better view of the snarling small block that lives between the frame rails. At the top, a custom low-profile wrap-around windshield adds a unique touch that's sure to start conversation at any car show. Naturally, there are no door handles or any other trim pieces to break this rod's clean lines – only a set of small round rear view mirrors for a safer driving experience. At the rear, flush-mounted LED taillights on either side of the license plate frame add a modern touch to the otherwise purely vintage ride.

With the traditional hot rod look and attention grabbing paint, a subpar powerplant simply wasn't an option. A 383 stroker was commissioned for the job and topped with a lengthy list of speed parts. The centerpiece is a polished Holley roots style blower that force feeds air through two Holley carbs. A B&M boost gauge keeps track on the blower's output. Atomized fuel is divided by a Holley intake manifold mounted between a pair of World Products Sportsman II heads that have been polished, ported and blueprinted. Ignited by a billet distributor that sends spark through MSD wires, the engine fires immediately and sounds brutal through a set of coated headers. Supercharged motors produce a good bit of head but, thanks to a custom radiator and electric puller fan, this one keeps it cool at idle. Visually, the bay looks great thanks to an assortment of polished parts including finned aluminum valve covers, polished pulleys and an awesome shotgun scoop that fits the cars look perfectly. All major wiring is hidden and the smoothed firewall provides a great backdrop for the engine.

Underneath the car, a detailed chassis provides impressive handling to accompany the small block's output. Smoothed and sprayed with a coat of metallic gray, the frame looks Behind the 383, a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission handles gear selection before channeling power down the driveshaft to a polished Ford 9-inch rear end. The suspension remains traditional up front with a polished solid drop axle and cross spring with polished hairpins. Out back, coilovers support the back end while polished traction bars help keep it stable. Braking comes courtesy of a powered four-wheel disc setup with the master cylinder tucked away under the driver's side of the car. Steering remains manual but, in a car this light, the difference is barely noticeable. At the corners, smoothies in sizes 15x6 and 15x10 are wrapped in classic Coker whitewalls for the perfect vintage look.

Between the doors, the interior is fresh out of an extensive rebuild that took it from a tan and brown to white with more period correct touches. Seating for two is provided by a reworked bench seat wrapped in white vinyl with green piping. The seat back is one piece but the actual seat is split into two separate areas by the transmission tunnel. Below, fresh black carpet ties in perfectly with the black semi-circle pattern found on the brand new door panels. From the driver's seat, a smooth orange dash feature a white inlay with custom Classic Instruments gauges that keep tabs on oil pressure, fuel, voltage, temperature speed and revs. The gauges have white faces with green flames that tie perfectly Into the exterior paintwork. Connecting the driver to the car is an polished Ididit tilt column topped with a billet steering wheel wrapped in white leather. New Lokar pedals operate the throttle and brake. There are no modern conveniences or distractions to be found here – just a pure driving experience. Behind the cabin, the surprisingly large trunk is covered with black carpet and white vinyl panels to match the interior.

Documentation for this roadster includes a copy of its old Rod & Custom feature, a specially designed t-shirt with the update car on it and a pile of receipts that document every piece used during the rebuild. There is also a three-ring binder with a few build pictures and a manual for the Classic Instruments gauges.

With its awesome west coast look and brutal small block, this is a well-executed street rod with a past and future in the limelight. If you're ready to start taking home trophies and making a lot of friends at car shows, don't think twice about putting this awesome 1932 Ford Roadster in your garage today.