The 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford will be celebrated by Ford Motor Co. and all known life forms beginning at the end of 2006 through 2007, which is the actual 75th anniversary year. Yep, this may very well be the closest to reaching heaven, or at least nirvana, for any Deuce lover while residing on planet Earth. And for those of you who have seen the last Deuce you ever want to see, well hang on-it may be a rough year. Look at it this way: You will have plenty to bitch about when writing to "Rodder Mail."
For starters, a little background is in order. An undertaking of this nature will surely take a small army of enthusiasts and volunteers coupled with countless hours of migraine-developing effort, but for our sake, Larry Erickson of Ford Motor Co. is the chief, cook, and bottle washer for this effort. Under Larry's direction, a nominating committee was put together that identified 474 individual cars, and then that number was pared down to the 75 most significant Deuce hot rods. The 1932 Ford (a one-year off design) combines several firsts, such as the first mass-produced V-8 engine and a noticeable "leap" in styling brought to fruition by Henry's son, Edsel Ford. The Deuce, as it is affectionately nicknamed, was and is a significant representative of automotive history as a race car, show car, and museum piece. Whether you are a Deuce lover or hater, you cannot deny the significant role played by the Deuce in the development of the hot rod. The 1932 Ford is the first icon, and the cornerstone for the foundation of a $31 billion aftermarket industry that all of us bask in. When all is said and done, these "75 Most Significant '32 Ford Hot Rods" will be on display for all to see. If you dream of attending the Grand National Roadster Show, have gone once, or you are a regular, then you do not want to miss the show in 2007. You will be treated to an annual West Coast winter rite of passage with the season's first tremendous indoor car show where you will see as many of the 75 Deuces that can be gathered.
I have just come from a free meal (well!) at this year's Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame luncheon where they announced that the 57th annual show in '07 will host the first in a series of activities and events marking the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford. 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.
For those who must know now, here is a list of the missing Deuces and, should you happen to know the whereabouts of any of these cars, please drop me a line. According to Larry Erickson of Ford Motor Co., only 20 percent of the 75 cars have been located, and to make the event a huge success, they are trying to find as many as possible.