There are traditional rods, there are rods that dare to be different, and then there are the rods that combine familiar things in brand new ways to create something truly unique like this 1932 Ford roadster.
If you’re going to build a street rod, there’s just no point in being subtle. These guys took a Pete & Jake’s chassis and a RodBods steel body, then drenched it all in bright Corvette Torch Red paint. Brilliant, right? It almost seems like a law these days that ’32 Fords had to be primer color or black with flames, but if you show up in this one, you will be The Man from the moment you arrive. First, it’s a steel body, and it has been expertly prepped and finished, with shaved door handles and hinges and a grille shell painted to match. You can forget about hood sides, but with that hulking big block, why would you ever want to hide it? Out back, the traditional looks continue with 1950 Pontiac taillights and an exposed gas tank, while up front commercial-style headlights and a stainless grille insert give it a very clean look. Obviously someone was sweating the details when this one went together.
The completely custom interior uses a fabricated bench seat to maximize legroom in the compact roadster body. Wrapped in sumptuous tan leather, the pleated seats have a traditional look that dates back to the days when this car was new, but the beautifully stitched door panels are quite modern. Matching carpets give the open car a finished, luxurious feel and help control heat, too. The dash is a simple aluminum panel filled with cream-colored gauges from Classic Instruments, and they cleverly hid both A/C and an iPod stereo system in the tiny cockpit, so it’s awesome for cruising. More leather has been wrapped around the banjo-style wheel, which lives atop a polished billet column, so it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. And yes, that’s a manual gearbox with five speeds, thank you very much. The trunk is upholstered to match, and it includes a removable convertible top, should you need it.
If you’re building a roadster, why not go all out and stuff it full of 454 cubes’ worth of Chevy V8? With an .020 overbore, the internals were fully rebuilt, then the block and heads were painted Torch Red to match the bodywork. Topped by a Weber carburetor on an aluminum intake, it is a fantastic choice if you want to make a big statement. A lot of polished aluminum dresses it up, and things like the A/C plumbing and electrical system were neatly routed so they don’t call attention to themselves. The frame is boxed for strength, the front suspension consists of a traditional I-beam axle with coil-overs, and out back there’s a fabricated Ford 9-inch hanging on a 4-link and another set of coil-overs. Very cool aluminum wheels achieve the traditional look using 225/45/17 front and 285/60/18 rear BFG radials.
Gorgeous, fast, and unique, THIS is what hot-rodding is all about. Next time you see a generic 350 Chevy with a 4-barrel, you’ll remember this car, and if it isn’t yours by then, you’ll probably regret it.
Price: Auction
More info: Listing has ended. Click to search on eBay for similar Ford Highboy Roadster (Affiliate link)
