Finding an original steel '32 Ford three-window coupe is not an easy task in the new millennium. Turning one of Henry's deuce survivors into award-winning rolling art is just as challenging. For Phil and Debbie Becker of Dwight, Illinois both herculean tasks were made easier when they turned to Dave Lane of Fastlane Rod Shop.
Together, they built a regally refined, yet hot rod-stanced Mustard yellow '32 three-window that took home the Goodguys 2011 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year award at the Goodguys 14th PPG Nationals presented by Bridgestone in Columbus, Ohio.
Lane, a throwback to the European coach builders of the 20th century has a unique build style. He only takes on one car at a time. He hires no outside help. He is truly an old school craftsmen who's singular focus is to turn out the best product possible.
Lane gave the Becker's deuce a subtle 3/4-inch chop and repositioned the rear window, leaning it forward slightly for a refined look. The hood is pie cut and the spreader bars have been curved to match the body contour which required a complete reshape of the gas tank. All four fenders were cut and reshaped to Lane's specifications in addition to handmade splash aprons. Once the metal was perfected, it was coated in a custom DuPont Mustard yellow mix. The rich dark chocolate leather upholstery designed by Becker, Lane and upholsterer Dave Shober was stitched at Shober's Custom Hot Rod Interior's in Sandwich, Illinois. Interior features include a downsized vintage Porsche steering wheel complete with an early Ford V8 horn button assembly, a redesigned '34 Plymouth gauge panel built by Classic Instruments and many other refined subtleties.
The drive train is pure American hot rod with a Tri-power 350 cubic-inch small-block Chevy, Gearstar 700R-4 tranny linked to a Winter's V8 quick change rearend. The handmade chassis features front and rear transverse leaf springs, hairpin front/ladder bar rear with Bilstein shocks on all four corners. The Dayton wire wheels (15x 4 1/2 front, 17x8 rear) were painted chocolate brown to match the interior. The throaty exhaust notes are delivered through Speedway Motors' Ram Horn manifolds and a 2 1/2-inch handmade steel exhaust system coated black by Jet-Hot.
The entire build took just shy of two years. Becker explained the build process as "One of the true highlights" of his life and thanked Lane for building his dream. It was the 3rd Street Rod of the Year title for Lane as a builder.
The top five finalists for the Goodguys 2011 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year included Dave and Sue Doll, Humphrey, NE (1932 Ford), Butch Downs, Colona, IL (1934 Hupmobile), Rodney Harris, Leighton, AL (1932 Ford), Phil and Debbie Becker, Dwight, IL (1932 Ford) and Dale Johns, Van Buren, AR 1933 Ford.