Observations In The '32 Room
It was a very strange, almost reverent atmosphere in the hall that contained many of the 75 most significant '32s in the entire hot rod universe. Most car-show attendees carry on regular conversations and are often louder than necessary to make their point and offer their opinions to one another over the din of the crowd. Not this time.
It was as if there was some kind of church thing going on. People just seemed mesmerized by the preponderance of history in this one hall. Significant '32s-beginning with the '30s and the '40s and continuing right through the modern era-were right there. Each were complemented with lengthy explanations of the reason they had been picked. It was awesome.
Entering the building, one could see the Berardini Brothers' black and white flamed roadster, the Khougaz channeled roadster, the Edelbrock "testbed" roadster, the Ray Brown roadster, and the Henderson, Guldahl (horse racing) Deuce. How's that for openers?
Continuing down the center aisle, one encounter the McGee/Scritchfield car, the Doane Spencer car, and, live and in-person, Tommy Foster sitting next to his powder blue channeled machine talking to the folks as they drifted past. Famous owners and famous builders paid their respects-it was like browsing through baseball's Hall of Fame and having Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio or Stan Musial and Ted Williams greeting each and every paying patron. I found it overwhelming, but then I get emotional at the Nostalgia Drag Races.
On the evening following the move-in, Ford Motor Company hosted a lovely sit-down dinner for special guests, participants, and the press. There were a few choice words put forth by none other than Edsel Ford III, recognizing the significance of the 75th anniversary of the landmark Deuce, followed by our host John Clinard and the hard-working Larry Erickson, Ford Motor Company's chief designer who put the whole deal together with David Boule.
After dining on the superb cuisine, folks gathered to discuss the show, and someone hit upon the idea of asking some of the heavyweights present, "If you were given the task of picking one car out of the 75 key historic cars, which one would you pick?"
I was assigned the task of picking the individuals, asking the question, and recording their responses. I started with Steve Moal. He never even hesitated: "I'd pick the unrestored Edsel Ford boattail because I'd be assured of having something important to do when I got back home.
John Buttera said he would choose to have his own three-window coupe back, because he could really appreciate it the second time around. Jerry Kugel hemmed and hawed and never could really make a pick, "because there is just so much history, I just can't pick just one." (You should know, two of his cars had been picked for inclusion in the Significant 75).
Neal East was quick to pick the Doane Spencer roadster and I think the fact that the car had once passed through his hands helped him make the prompt decision. Most others hesitated and many thought long and hard. Hot rod collector extraordinaire Kirk White picked the Ray Brown car, mostly because he was so heavily involved in its recovery and restoration.
Racer and collector Don Orosco picked the Bob Morris roadster; Tom Prufer picked the Doane Spencer car, as did Tony Thacker, Larry Erickson, and Paul Gommi. Larry Crane, editor of Auto Aficionado, picked the Brian Burnett Deucari "because they almost threw me out of the Ferrari club when I ran a feature on that car in the 'Ferrari Newsletter.' They called me a heretic."
Author Robert Genat ("Deuce, 75 Years of the '32 Ford") picked the Catallo Little Deuce Coupe "because I imprinted on that car when I first discovered cars. It was and is my vision of a true hot rod."
STREET RODDER Editor Brennan picked the little green Ricky Nelson/Tony La Mesa channeled car because he saw it on TV when he was a kid. He did say the McMullen flamed roadster would be his second choice because of his ties to Tom McMullen and the startup of the magazine you are reading (read "For Starters" for more details).
Me? Well, I chose the Fjastad/Von Hofgarten two-door sedan with the blown Art Chrisman Chrysler. While pieces of history are nice to own, I wouldn't want to drive 'em. I know the present owner drives this one and he drives it fast when he has the chance. That, in my opinion, is what it is all about.
I just hope I'm here for the 80th anniversary. That will add five more great cars to the list. -Don Prieto
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 The '32 Room, as it came to...  The '32 Room, as it came to be known, contained many of the cars found on the list of 75 Most Significant '32 Ford Hot Rods. Underwritten by Ford Motor Company, the display was almost museum-like in its presentation-folks quietly walked to each car and took it in like a piece of priceless artwork. |
 To celebrate the 75th anniversary...  To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the '32 and the unique gathering of these specific cars, Edsel Ford III (second from left) was presented a Deuce letterman's jacket by organizers (from left) John Clinard, Greg Sharp, Larry Erickson, and Dave Boule at the opening-night gala. (photo by Jim Handy) |
 There were two '32s in the...  There were two '32s in the Big Room that were powered by Ferrari V-12s, and both had won the big AMBR trophy in their life. This one, the Ells/Hansen roadster, won the title in 1987 and was then driven cross-country on the Americruise by its new owner, Cliff Hansen. |
 Though it was chopped in the...  Though it was chopped in the early '60s, many feel Doyle Gammel's three-window employs the perfect chop and stance-a rare combination to get absolutely right. Traded throughout its life, current owner Bruce Meyer recently had Bob Bauder restore the car to its '60s-era livery. |
 This is the original '32 roadster...  This is the original '32 roadster Vic Edelbrock Sr. built in 1938 and used as a testbed for the products he was to develop into a multimillion-dollar aftermarket speed-equipment business. Roy Brizio Street Rods restored it to perfect vintage spec a few years ago. |
 When Andy Kassa first built...  When Andy Kassa first built his Deuce coupe in his gas station in New Jersey in 1954, little did he know it would become an influential car all these years later. To "update" his ride in 1964, Andy took it to George Barris and had the Cyclops grille and single vertical headlight setup installed. |
 Straight from the cover of...  Straight from the cover of the September '62 Hot Rod, Bob and Terry Tindle's Orange Crate is almost always displayed with its tilt body in the up position, and for good reason. It's the only way to see the Potvin-blown, Hilborn-injected 417 Olds motor! The sedan ran 10.60 @ 140 mph in the quarter. |
 Very few of the cars displayed,...  Very few of the cars displayed, especially the ones built in the '50s, had the original owner/builders present, but Tommy Foster was seen all weekend long standing near the roadster he built and took First Place with at the Detroit Autorama in 1953. Richard Munz now owns the car. |
 Lil' John Buttera may be many...  Lil' John Buttera may be many things to many people, but innovative genius is a phrase that often comes to mind. The three-window he built in 1979 showcased many parts he'd milled from aluminum (from rearview mirrors to custom wheels), and thus unknowingly created a template for all other hot rods for the next two decades. |
 Like most race cars, the Berardini...  Like most race cars, the Berardini Brothers' roadster took a lot of abuse at both the drags and dry lakes in the '50s and '60s, but this one was turned into a street rod in the '70s that saw an extra 185,000 miles rolled up on the odometer. Collector Roger Morrison recently had the car restored to its former glory. |
 Dick Scritchfield has owned...  Dick Scritchfield has owned many influential cars in his time (he also has membership card number one in the L.A. Roadster club roster!), and he still owns this '32 phaeton he bought out of Australia in 1964. The tub now resides with Scritchfield in Hawaii. |
 A fixture in the East Coast's...  A fixture in the East Coast's rodding scene for decades, the Fred Steele roadster has seen many miles recorded on the channeled rod. One of Fred's trips was from Boston to Tijuana, Mexico, for a tuck 'n' roll interior job. |
 Probably the fastest car in...  Probably the fastest car in the room, Frank Currie built this Deuce roadster a few years ago, stuffed a 705-inch Boss 429 into the front of it, drove it at Bonneville (where it ran 205 mph!), and then drove it home. Now that's a real hot rodder! |