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When one thinks of the automobile in Americana lore, a few key models springs to mind: the Ford Model T as the car that democratized the automobile; the 1957 Chevrolet as the pinnacle of the good times of the 1950s and 1960s; the 1965 Ford Mustang as the car that was aimed directly at the Baby Boomer market right as they came of age. These are the cars you see everywhere, and for good reason. The 1932 Ford is another one of those icons: the car that many people immediately think of when they hear the term "hot rod". Used up Model Bs and Model 18s found new life with those who craved speed and had the mechanical know-how to build with their hands. War veterans who had tasted adrenaline found them affordable and easy to craft into something that could bring that thrill to them every day, if desired.
Over time, basic jalopies would morph into gorgeous, detailed builds. While a real racer would still have the grit and grime, a street-going build didn't need to be rough and raw. Custom builds with as much thought put into appearances and comfort as had been placed into the chassis, suspension and engine would bring these once-discarded machines new life, one that enshrined them into the American lore of cars and the high times of the 1950s and 1960s. The hamburger stand cruise-in scene wouldn't be right without a Deuce parked up, engine exposed, sitting amongst the Bel Airs and Belvederes.
This 1932 Ford Model B roadster that is currently up for auction on Hemmings.com is a great example of the type. It's simple in appearance and detailed in execution. Nearly six figures were spent to bring the Ford to what you see in the photos. but the car isn't busy and over-wrought with frivolous extras. The House of Kolor Lime Gold Pearl is only accentuated by the Ivory-colored chassis and areas in the engine bay and interior. On the body, some tasteful pinstriping work can be found, as well as custom touches like the 1939 Chevrolet tail lights and 1940 Packard headlight buckets. American Racing "Salt Flat" wheels are wrapped in Coker wide-whitewall tires. The dashboard is a narrowed unit from a 1940 Ford. The body is from Rod Bods Down Under, is channeled over Dearborn Deuce frame rails and features a working cowl vent and stock door hinges.
Hot rods of this nature used any engine that the builder could find that would provide the power. A built Chevrolet 350-cu.in. V-8 does the trick nicely without breaking the budget, but efforts have been made to keep the classic appearance up, which is best shown with the Edelbrock triple-carburetor manifold and Rochester carburetors. The power is sent through a four-speed to a Curries 8-inch rear axle with a Trak-Lok.
A 1932 Ford roadster isn't going to be an everyday driver. This is a fair-weather machine, the car to bring out just before the sun begins to sink into the West. This is a cruiser, a pleasure machine, a car you want to be seen driving. You want streetlights and neon signs reflecting off of the paint. You want people to ask you about this car. That's the idea behind many of the icons of American machines: they were enjoyed as part of a social interaction - like a cruise-in, for example.
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