Rod & Custom Feature Car
Larry Roller
Owasso, Oklahoma
1932 Ford coupe
Chassis
Starting with a cherry original chassis, the Rolling Bones team removed the framehorns, Z'd the rear to bring it down so the rear tires perfectly filled the wheelwells, and pinched the 'rails just ahead of the firewall to tuck 'em behind the grille shell, before adding Model A crossmembers-all subtle stuff that gives the coupe its unmistakable stance. The drilled I-beam is an original Model B item, with '46 Ford spindles, Wilson Welding brakes with Lincoln drums, Houdaille shocks, and a POSIES spring completing the frontend specifics. The Hot Rod Garage supplied the pedal assembly, hooking up to a Mustang dual master cylinder with no power assist. The lack of power also features in the steering, with a cowl-mounted Schroeder Sprint Car 'box taking care of business, which is hung from some great drilled I-beam mounts.
Drivetrain
Asked about his choice of motor, Larry told us, "If you didn't have a 327 and four-speed back in the day, you weren't anyone." Well, they weren't his exact words, but it means the same thing. He built up the motor to look like a 327/350-horse clone, all decked out in Chevy Orange like a Vette motor, but received such a ribbing from fellow HAMB members about its '60s appearance that he re-detailed it in Ford Flathead Green using a Powermaster alternator and cloth-wrapped HT leads. The last motor built by Carbone Racing in Tulsa before the owner's death, it runs a COMP cam, double-hump heads, TRW pistons, and sounds just fine, thank you, through that open exhaust system. A Hays flywheel and hydraulically operated 11-inch clutch hook the motor to a Richmond T10 four-speed, before transmitting the power back to a Winters quick-change. "I wanted a quick-change," Larry told us, "but didn't want to be breaking those old parts, so I opted for the Winters with custom Dutchman axles." Pete & Jake's ladder bars locate the axle, with a Model A spring taking care of the bumps.
Wheels & Tires
Early Ford rims and 'caps suit this coupe perfectly, with '40 Ford 16x4s wrapped in 4.50 rubber up front and 7.50-clad F-100 16x5s out back. The blackwall tire, black rim, and black body choice look way better than any other combo could in this instance.
Body & Paint
Skalnik Hot Rods out of Skiatook, Oklahoma, laid on the PPG Vivid Black and clearcoat, but not before tackling a little bodywork. The body was found on its side in a creek, so there was the small job of repairing some damage before filling the roof insert hole or the 5-inch chop with leaned-back A-pillars could be tackled. This called for replacing the driver-side half of the roof and a section of the left fenderwell. Original Ford sections were sourced on eBay, meaning the car is still all Ford-well, with the exception of the Brookville floor and dash. For a creek find, it was in remarkably good condition. Guide 682-C headlights and '37 Ford taillights illuminate all four corners, while all the exposed steel inside the car and in the trunk was painted in speckled trunk paint to complement the military aviation theme.
Interior
The Zero Bomb Company from Sand Springs wired the coupe, which features no fuses but employs aircraft circuit breakers instead. There are all sorts of cool aircraft switches used throughout the interior, all of which serve a purpose but don't necessarily do what they're labeled to do. For instance, there are no bomb bay doors, but there's a switch for 'em! Scott's Auto Trim in Tulsa took care of the canvas-trimmed rear firewall, seat cushions, and pop-off floor mats. The drilled and nickel-plated pedals (there's no chrome on the car at all, just tarnished nickel plate) are bell-flanged just like the seat risers, tying in nicely with the drilled three-spoke steering wheel and underdash bracketry for the steering box, while Stewart Warner Wings gauges in a Knecht/Mariner insert look great with the column-mounted tach.