1932 Ford Coupe - Driven Dirty

For decades Posies has been building hot rods that push the design envelope by infusing just the right amounts of creativity, vision, and excitement within each build. It’s one thing, however, to produce cars with such highly redeeming features that look great in the show world, it’s another to put them to the test on a yearly basis by running them hard cross country through the elements. Sometimes it only takes two words to make a statement that speaks in volume: driven dirty. Back in 2006, Posies conceived the Driven Dirty Tour, which consists of a group of dedicated hard-core hot rodders who were ready and willing to drive their hot rods cross country from Posies shop in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, to SEMA in Las Vegas, covering on average 2,500 miles each way. The trip however isn’t just about putting their rides to the ultimate test by merely driving non-stop (stopping only for fuel and a bag of burgers) to see who gets there first. It’s about plotting a course (which changes yearly) that includes plenty of breaks to visit with friends, shops, manufacturers, various auto collections, points of interest, and some great restaurants along the way. The best part is that Posies puts a fresh build to the test every year and when the cars finally arrive at SEMA, they are shown dirty covered with all the remnants of their journey on the show floor. While most real hot rodders get it, there are always a number who pass each car while scratching their heads in confusion.

Posies latest creation, known as the Flat-Out ’32, started with an idea to meld plenty of subtle and seductive design elements combined with vintage power and iconic looks. As with any build, starting with a rock-solid base was paramount and in order to get just the right ground-hugging stance with plenty of room for the passengers, Posies and his talented staff started from scratch. Engineering the frame, the team began with a set of Deuce ’rails, which they boxed and stretched, increasing the wheelbase by 1-1/2 inches while also adding a subtle kick fore and aft and a C-notch out back. To allow the driver and passenger to sit deep within the confines of the interior compartment, a transmission tunnel spine was fabricated from 10-gauge steel integrating the transmission and driveshaft tunnel to the floorpan and frame. With this accomplished the occupants sit a mere 1/8-inch above the bottom of the framerails. To further enhance the rigidity of the frame, a set of 1-3/4-inch tubular side rails were constructed from 0.95-wall steel tubing combined with tubular crossmembers. To complement the vintage theme of the build a 9-inch Ford rear by Johns Industries filled with 3.70:1 cogs was suspended in place by Posies adjustable SuperSlide parallel leaf springs combined with Pete & Jakes tube shocks and a Posies Panhard bar. Getting the frontend slammed to the ground was no small feat. A 4-inch dropped Super Bell tube axle was deftly matched to ’37 Ford spindles and anchored in place by a pair of split ’40 Ford ’bones, which were flipped and pie-cut. To smooth out harsh roads, a Posies Dual Flex spring combined with tube shocks from Pete & Jakes gets the job done. Going fast is easy, but when it has to come to a halt a dual master pushes fluid through stainless lines to Lincoln binders up front and Ford’s out back while navigation is compliments of a Maval rack-and-pinion. To anchor the stance to the pavement a set of classic big ’n’ little Dayton wire wheels wrapped in Coker Excelsior’s up front and Coker/Firestone dirt trackers out back seals the deal.