The 75 Most Significant '32 Ford Hot Rods
A committee of automotive and hot rod experts today revealed its list of the 75 most significant '32 Ford hot rods. An earlier first round of balloting resulted in 474 individual '32 Ford hot rods being nominated for consideration. From that list, the committee voted a second time to select the 75 most important.The 1932 Ford was a watershed vehicle for Ford, the automobile industry and American culture. Combining the innovative engineering of Henry Ford, in the form of the first mass-produced V-8 engine, with the styling sophistication of his son Edsel, the '32 Ford brought a new level of performance and flair to the general public. Years after its introduction, the '32 Ford played a major role in another revolution - the development of the hot rod. Built from cast-off cars in backyards and small garages, and assembled by young men with remarkable ingenuity and intuitive engineering, these cars performed far beyond their original capabilities and often rivaled the performance of the best in the world. The hot rod also dramatically changed the direction of many forms of motorsports and became the foundation of today's $31 billion aftermarket industry.
"The '32 Ford continues to have a tremendous impact on many aspects of the automotive world and contemporary culture," said Larry Erickson, chief designer, Ford Motor Company. "The '32 Ford is the definitive hot rod, nicknamed the `Deuce.' This list of 75 recognizes the best of the best. The selection committee has members from around the country, even from overseas, and represents all facets of the hot rod world. The process used to gather the initial nominations, research the cars, reconcile differing descriptions and break ties for the last few spots on the list was really exhaustive and precise. This list is an important piece of hot rod history. These are the 75 greatest."
Announced at the 57th Grand National Roadster Show during its annual Hall of Fame luncheon, the list of "THE 75 Most Significant '32 Ford Hot Rods" is the first in a series of activities and events marking the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford, and its innovative V8 engine nicknamed the "Flathead." Ford will participate in celebrating the `32's impact on automotive enthusiasm and culture with a display of the 75 most influential and important 1932 Ford hot rods, sponsored by Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Powertrain. The display will premiere at the January 2007 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, Calif., the nation's oldest annual hot rod show. Ford will utilize the anniversary of its iconic 1932 model to celebrate the company's heritage of innovation, performance and styling leadership.
"The next step is to locate and contact the current owners of the 75 cars so that they can begin making plans to bring them to the '07 anniversary exhibit," said Erickson. "The whereabouts of about 20 percent of the cars is unknown. We're not even sure if they've survived, but we're launching a major effort to find them. A primary reason for assembling the list is to publicize the historic importance of these cars with the objective of encouraging people to come forward with information on where they are or what happened to them. We want to tell the complete story of every one of the 75, and have them all together in one place at the 2007 Grand National Show."
Here's the list in alphabetical order:
American Graffiti 5-window
Milner's ride exposed millions of people to the coolness of hot rod ownership
Boyce Asquith Roadster
No street rod, this is a hot rod. Street legal but did 9 seconds/156 mph in the quarter mile. B&M blown. Built by Hanson & Magoo. Immaculate yellow killer.
Lloyd Bakan 3-window
Hot Rod cover, Oct. '57 - classic poolside photo. DeSoto power, chopped, cycle fenders.
Balchowsky /Vogel Roadster
Hop Up cover car. Body work by Jimmy Summers. Began road racing in '52, competing against European sports cars. Channeled with v-windshield, modified grille. Ran LaSalle flathead, Olds, Cad & Buick engines.
Banker Bros. 3-window
Featured in '61 HRM. Full-fendered.
Gray Baskerville Roadster
Classic roadster from a classic guy. Resurrected race car became a daily driver. Its visibility/impact is undeniable. "Nothing special but it's great."
Jeff Beck 3-window
R&C, March 2000. Built by Brizio in the Neal East tradition.
Berardini Bros. Roadster
Highboy racer with lots of history and great scallops.
Bill Breece 3-window
Hot Rod cover, Aug. '56. Chopped, purple. Driven from Ohio to '55 drags. Raced, shown. Won Motorama. Dash stripped by Von Dutch. Great car, great story.
Andy Brizio Roadster
Highboy, purple w/flames. Driven 100,000 miles and still clicking. Four-wheeled ambassador for hot rodding. "Looks great and is used for what a rod should be - a driver."
Roy Brizio Roadster
Blue highboy with maroon scallops.
Ray Brown Roadster
"Hot rod pioneer." Beautiful, green lakes/street job with early racing records. "A milestone car." "A tribute to Ray's talents." AACA pioneering "hot rod" winner. Restored by Kirk White.
Brian Burnett Roadster "Deucari."
First Ferrari V-12 powered Deuce, '79 AMBR winner.
Lil' John Buttera 3-window
Launched the hi-tech movement, exemplifies the beginning of the trend for smooth lines and exotic chassis. Lots of innovations - billet, smooth, independent front and rear suspension.
C&T Automotive /Siroonian Roadster
Bonneville fame, then '81 AMBR winner. Raced with an Ardun, became a show car with a Gurney-Weslake motor.
Clarence "Chili" Catallo "Little Deuce Coupe"
HRM cover & the Beach Boys' "Lil' Deuce Coupe" album cover car. Street raced, drag driven & wild, ultimate show car in final version. Built by Alexander Bros. & Barris. Lyric in song no doubt inspired someone to build a trans adaptor ("Flathead mill - Gets rubber in all 4 gears").
Pete Chapouris "Limefire" Roadster
Contemporary take on '60s era car - pearl green w/orange flames, outside headers. Innovative. Cover of HRM and R&C. Drag raced, street driven, fast, 495 h.p. "Any parachute-equipped car works for me, and this one is a genuine 10-second car."
Boyd Coddington Boydster I
AMBR '96 winner that started a trend that's still going.
Phil Cool Roadster
AMBR '78 winner, HRM cover. Highboy, blown big-block, Halibrands, and split `bones. The car that helped bring back real hot rods.
Currie Enterprises Roadster
Ran 200+mph at Bonneville, 429 motor, show-quality.
Bill Desatoff Tudor
Mid-`70s, handmade IFS, fabulous details throughout, Borrani wires, Weber carbs.
Roy Desbrow Pick-up
Jan '52 HRM cover
Neal East Roadster
R&C cover, Aug. '61. Metallic gold, white running boards, chromed under carriage. Driven across the country. Many stories, many owners (Bill Woodward, Bill Moeller, Paul Sievers, Richard Munz). Movie appearances. Now restored. "Most photogenic rod ever?"
Neal East 5-window
April, '58 HRM.
Eastwood & Barakat Tudor
Well-constructed and built in two weeks - has looks and attitude. Ran 11-second quarters. "First primered deuce (or rod) to make the cover of HRM?" The forerunner of low buck, traditional rods.
Vic Edelbrock, Sr. Roadster
Legendary name, milestone car, hot rod pioneer...and a survivor. Lakes history, then in '72 with new owner Eddie Bozio and drastically changed, it was the first '32 to win AMBR. Now restored to original configuration.
Ells /Hansen Roadster
'87 AMBR winner, V-12 Ferrari built by Roy Brizio/Ron Covell
Dan Fink "Speedwagon"
July, '94 R&C. Won at GNRS. Made into a model. Great "phantom" woody body style. "One of the great closed `32s."
Fjastad/Von Hofgaarden Tudor
SRM March '77. Chrisman blown Hemi (Art's push car). "Bad & black"
Tommy Foster Roadster
Detroit-area car and AutoRama winner. Built in 1950, channeled, Caddy V-8, Crestliner steering wheel, baby blue. Survives. "Perhaps the best `50s example from mid-America."
Doyle Gammell 3-window
Killer chop and stance. Rochester-injected Chevy. Polished American's. Moon tank on front. "Epitome of a cool 3-window." Dec., '63 R&C. Recently restored.
Richard Graves Phaeton
R&C cover in Dec. '72 ("beater" issue). Memorable photo driving in the rain with three bikini-clad girls.
Ken Gross Roadster
Contemporary car with all the best pieces of the past: SCoT blower, Kinmont brakes, Carson top, Auburn dash panel. "Perfect example of a beautifully crafted, period-perfect, hot rod roadster." Meyer "Preservation Award" winner in '99.
Guldahl /Henderson Roadster
Built before WWII, lakes history, highboy, '35 Ford wires, flathead, blue. Perfect early roadster. Match-raced a horse! Restored.
Wayne Henderson Vicky
Built in 1973. Perfect, black resto rod with Ford Cleveland motor, polished Halibrands and checkerboard firewall. HRM Sept., '74, R&C, Aug. 92, and SRM cover.
Herbert /Gaskin Fordor
First famous (in cutaway) as Herbert's 12-port Jimmy on propane, then as Gaskin's Flathead V-8. Chopped, channeled, highboy, Dynoflow trans with hand controls (because Herbert had polio), Von Dutch striped "gremlins." Lost?
Ermie Immerso Roadster "Orange Twist."
Full-fendered, Ardun-powered, great detailing. 1988 AMBR winner.
Jackman Bros. Sport Coupe
Chromed everything, clear plastic floor boards, eight full-length pipes from a Ford 312 Y-block, wild cherry paint, white tuck `n roll. Rare body style. HRM Aug. '59 and April, '62. Sweepstakes at '61 Winternationals. Where is this car?
Andy Kassa 3-window
Radical chopped and channeled coupe with "Cyclops" nose by Barris. East coast show car with many wins and featured in magazines. Lots of history. Restored. "Definitely archetypical hot rod."
Kendrick /Beck Tudor
Chopped, orange w/Tommy the Greek stripping, Halibrands, quick change. Now owned by J. Beck and dubbed "Super Prune."
Gary Kessler Roadster
Great Midwest example from the early `70s
Jim Khougaz Roadster
Lakes/street, channeled, bellypan, tonneau cover and streamlined front. Immaculately restored. 2002 Pebble Beach Concours "Hot Rod Class."
Bob Kolmos Phaeton
Epitomizes the early billet look, smooth as they come. Coddington-built yellow highboy.
Jerry Kugel Roadster
R&C, Aug. '72. Full Jag suspension (not the first but the "real progenitor of IFS/IRS hot rod suspension, especially Jag."). Ford small block under beautiful resto-rod exterior. Participated in historic "shoot out." Still a driver today.
Jerry Kugel Bonneville Roadster
Also known as the "Holmes /Kugel" car. Red highboy Bonneville racer. Was originally a 5-window owned by Marland Sefton.
Dennis Kyle Roadster
Highboy, fiberglass body. Was first Tom Senter's project and subject of his Ardun articles. Kyle's orange version with louvers and striped and Senter's Ardun version both count. Lots of magazine coverage. "A hot rod, plain and simple." "Classic."
Tony La Masa Roadster
Heavily channeled, cycle fenders, green, lots of striping. Originally Ray DeFillipi's (R&C, Aug. '53). Built to challenge the sports cars of the day. Driven by Ricky Nelson on the `Ozzie & Harriet' TV show. HRM cover. Restored.
Lobeck /Bauder /Coonan /Meyer Roadster
Lobeck-built, classic highboy that was originally burgundy, then painted black with checkerboard scallops by Bruce Meyer. Also owned by Bauder & Coonan. Great stance. "Blueprint for roadsters from 1970s up." Many magazine features. HRM Top 10. "Personifies the `right stuff.'"
Harry Luzader 5-window
Pure `60s, gasser-style drag strip look - tough competitor but beautifully finished. Injected S.B and 4-speed. "One of the most beautiful, successful drag cars."
Dave Marquez Roadster
HRM cover car. First lift-off body. Day-glow scallops, all chrome, well-detailed. Ardun-powered. "Best Appearing" at '55 NHRA Nats. Motor Monarchs club.
Mike Martin 3-window
Yellow highboy with Ford 427 SOHC "cammer" motor and 5-spokes. Steve Davis bodywork. "Hot rod!"
McGee/Scritchfield Roadster
HRM Oct. 48 & April '62. Two great histories. Built by McGee, it was famous for its unique, trend-setting features - shortened frame horns, peaked spreader bar, hidden hinges, one-piece hood, one-off trunk lid. Classic, milestone highboy - with or without its roof. Car was in movies & on TV, raced at Lakes & Bonneville. Used as logo for L.A. Roadsters club. Was Bob's driver. Pebble Beach Concours "Hot Rod Class." "The perfect red roadster."
Tom McMullen Roadster
Moon tank, blown SBC, black with flames, Ed Roth stripping, parachute. Many magazine covers (e.g. HRM '62 - One of HRM's best cover shots" & others), album covers, at least two clones. Street Rodder mascot. Recently restored to perfection.
Bruce Meyer 3-window
R&C, Feb. '91. Originally built by Tim Benish. Traditional highboy coupe with great rake, chop and proportions. Lots of old parts. Blown Ardun. Whitewall bigs & littles.
Ak Miller Roadster
Hot rod pioneer. IFS
Bob Morris Roadster
The "Nickel Car." April '93 R&C cover. Traditional approach with special flair. Exquisite detail. Nickel plating. Some exotic components. Fantastic design and workmanship. "A work of art."
Joe Nitti Roadster
HRM feature in June '50 inspired many cars. Set the stage for "show car" look and detail. Full house flathead with Evans speed equipment. Raced at the lakes. Great dash. Whitewalls and white tuck `n roll. High headlights. Deep purple. Lost for decades, now restored. "Milestone car."
Bob Tindle "Orange Crate" Sedan
Potvin-blown Olds with lift-up body channeled over tube chassis. Show and racing winner. "Beautiful, and it even ran!" Oakland winner. Model kit. "What a bitchin' car!" Still exists.
Veda Orr Roadster
First female lakes racer. Great hot rodder. She and husband Karl were S.C.T.A. pioneers.
Chuck Price Roadster
First cover car of `Rods & Customs, `May, '53. Inspiration for Paul Horning's, Brizio's and other roadsters. "Great car."
Tom Prufer 3-window
Highboy, big block, black with flames, nerf bars, Moon tank, outside headers...and attitude. R&C cover, featured in many books. Marcel, Fink and others contributed. "Timeless."
Roger Ritzow Roadster
Troy Trepanier-built green nostalgia roadster. A modern interpretation of a classic theme. Goodguy's "Street Rod of the Year," 2004. "It looks so right."
Bob Rothenberg Roadster
Dark metallic blue, full-fendered, all-aluminum big block, 5-speed. Champ quick change, very detailed. R&C, Dec. '98 and its "Best of the Best." Goodguy's 1998 "Street Rod of the Year."
Dick Scritchfield Phaeton
Hallmark of resto-rodden. Magazine "build-up" car. Built w/Australian import for Mrs. Scritchfield. Rare body style, black, wire wheels. "Probably first beautifully built phaeton."
George Sein 5-window
Flamer show car.
John Siroonian Phaeton
Built by Don Thelen in 1978. SRM, Feb. '78, "Deuces" cover. "King of the resto-rods."
Doane Spencer Roadster
Unique when first built in 1947, its current state is the result of input by all three of its owners. (Doane lost interest in '55, Wineland picked up the pieces and added to it, East put it on the street in '70-'71). Established the classic look for a highboy that is still copied today. Innovative design (exhaust, bobbed front & rear, and DuVal windshield). Spectacular craftsmanship. Lakes history. Won the first Pebble Beach Concours' "Hot Rod Class." "Timeless." One of the all-time trend-setting roadsters." "A vision of the possibilities that the '32 body style offers." "An icon." "High water mark for Deuces." "The car that started it all." "It's perfect!"
Fred Steele Roadster
Typifies east coast style - a classic channeled hot rod. Numerous magazine features. Still exists.
Ed "Axle" Stewart Roadster
Classic highboy. "Dago axle" fame - invented the dropped axle. San Diego Roadsters club. "Still a great car today." Ed's son, Bob, still has, and drives it.
Dave Stuckey/Larry Farber's Li'l Coffin Sedan
Wild, custom show car in the extreme. Made into a model kit. Hemi. Built by Dave Stuckey/Larry Farber. "Most radical '32 ever!" In the Starbird Museum.
Don Thelen Vicky
Car had two lives: 1st in `60s as metalflake /big Lincoln street racer, 2nd as beautiful early `70s restro rod. Drag version had total "Gasser" look with Peacock metalflake and flames, 430 c.i. Lincoln, six 2's. Martinez 1" pleats, M&H slicks on Americans. Featured in HRM.
Don Van Hoff 5-window
HRM cover, Dec. '55. Chopped, full-fendered, 4-carb flathead, purple, no hood, white roof insert, wide whites - excellent `50s era hot rod. "Much imitated classic." "Best Deuce by a high schooler?"
Walsh /Walsh /Cusack Roadster
Number "333" is a true Bonneville/lakes veteran with many records and good looks. Beautiful craftsmanship. "The sound of this 200 mph street roadster is awesome. "Also owned by Dennis Varni.
Tony Waters Roadster
Built with Ernie Hashim. Hot Rod pioneers. Highboy with blown DeSoto Hemi set numerous Bonneville records from the `50s on. First '32 lakes racer over 200 mph.
Lynn Yakel 5-window
Chopped, channeled, ultra-low, great stance. Whitey Clayton hood. Ran SCTA in the `50s. Whereabouts unknown.