Chris Baum's 1932 Ford roadster - The D-Rod

The D-Rod Deuce blends traditional styling and cutting-edge technology-resulting in a great ambassador for the Motor City.

There's a sleek new ride in the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau's stable these days-and it ain't no eco-friendly, politically correct wimp either. How's an all-steel, 525hp, Hemi-powered '32 roadster grab ya? Not a bad choice for a four-wheel ambassador for the Motor City!

As head of sales and marketing for the bureau, rodding enthusiast Chris Baum is in a unique position to promote both the city of Detroit and its hot rod heritage. Chris' D-Rod concept melds together his love of rodding and the Motor City itself.

Powering the Detroit Deuce is a fuel-injected, anniversary edition, 392-cube, 525hp Chrysler Hemi backed by an equally muscular 518 automatic transmission and 9-inch Ford rear.

Designed as a medium to showcase Detroit's impressive automotive heritage, the timeless affection for the American hot rod, and the current advanced technological capabilities of both our domestic OEMs and our vast automotive aftermarket, the D-Rod project resulted in a highly visible street rod that's destined to appear at conventions, trade shows, sporting events, and of course, cruises and car shows across the U.S.

Chris has access to senior executives at many major companies (including members Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors) with his bureau ties. He called upon Bill and Hilary Goetz, DMCVB members and owners of Detroit Muscle in Holly, Michigan, to build the car to his specifications. With a builder lined up and ready to rock, he approached a senior vice president at Chrysler who also sits on the bureau and spoke to him about the possibility of using one of their newest and most desirable crate engines-the 50th anniversary 392 Hemi (that was first shown at SEMA)-as the powerplant for the '32. The engine was not yet in production, but being good corporate citizens of Detroit, Chrysler had Arrow Racing Engines release one of the first handbuilt development engines to use. The engine was about 90 percent complete, so during construction Rick Dyer at Detroit Muscle would bolt on the 80mm fuel-injection throttle body for the gang at Arrow for a few hours each day, returning it to them at night for their dyno use! Mark Kincaid at Street & Performance was also extremely helpful, actually selling Chris some prototype pulleys so Detroit Muscle could finish up the beltdrives.

In keeping with the Detroit theme, Chris stuck close to home when it came time to choose a '32 body for the project. He opted for a Dearborn Deuce convertible, an all-steel roadster body redesigned around a fully disappearing top assembly. The body sits upon a Lobeck's Deuce frame equipped with a 9-inch Ford rearend, a Magnum dropped tube axle, and four-wheel Wilwood disc brakes.

The '32's 525 hp is transmitted to the pavement via a pair of steel wheels and Diamond Back Classics 265/70-16 Cheater Slicks out back, and matching wheels and Diamond Back 205/60-16s out front. Chris chose to finish the body in traditional hot rod black with an eye-popping red Indian blanket interior that not only gets one's attention but also harkens back to the days when Detroit was an Indian trading post. All in all, Chris (and the city of Detroit) has ended up with one heck of a cool street rod that not only has a traditional look and modern technological advancements, but also one that'll be a great mascot for the city of Detroit.

The '32's interior sports Willy's Workshop-stitched Pendleton Del Rio Indian blanket upholstery complete with python skin and camel wool accents.

The '32 has a great, aggressive look with the top up or down. The folding convertible top works well in the mild Michigan spring and fall weather as well.