Back in the early 1960’s, this was one of countless 1932 Fords that were modified into hot rods. The 3-Window and 5-Window “Deuce Coupes” (a nickname based on the second number of the model year) have long been the most desirable hot rod candidates and reached iconic status in the automotive world decades ago. The ’32 Fords had so many things going for it: great styling (even without fenders and running boards), an all-steel body, and the new flathead V-8 engine just to name a few. And as the hot rod craze heated up in the 50’s and 60’s, these 1932 Fords were plentiful because so many were built, and, most importantly, they were cheap to buy. Here’s a classic ’32 Ford 5-Window Deuce Coupe that was modified into a hot rod back in 1964 and is still turning heads 60 years later. Better yet, it’s a California car and is currently located in Solana Beach, California,
According to the seller, the previous owner (who had 88 candles on his last birthday cake), modified this all-steel rumble seat Deuce Coupe somewhere in California back in 1964. It has a “great running” 327-cubic inch small block Chevy V-8 that’s mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. The body appears to be in great shape and it’s wearing an older light yellow paint job on the body with contrasting copper metallic fenders. The seller says the yellow is actually lighter than it appears in the photos and that it shines up well, but lets the reader know that it was painted decades ago and has “plenty of imperfections; it’s not show quality by any means.” There’s also a mention that some of the chrome on the windshield frame has minor bubbling due to its age. The glass looks good, it has a Factory Ford style cloth top, and the painted rims and dog dish Ford hubcaps complete the cool look of this vintage hot rod.
The interior has a classic, period-correct hot rod look as well with a black pleated vinyl bench seat, rumble seat, and matching door panels. The seller shares that it has vintage-looking Stewart-Warner gauges and that the speedometer, gas gauge and temperature gauge all work. The factory pop-out windshield functions well and the original crank down rear window works great also. The seller also says the Deuce Coupe has a loud Aaaa-OOOgah horn that will put a smile on everybody’s face every single time you hit it.
The engine bay is clean as is the 327-cubic-inch Chevy V-8 engine. The seller says the car “sits right, runs well, drives well, stops well, and will cruise freeway speeds with no problem.” The Deuce Coupe just had a two-hour drive through the California mountains in 85 degree heat and never missed a step and stayed cool. The seller also shares that the car’s dual exhausts “has the hot rod sound you want while still being enjoyable to drive all day long.” You’ll find this vintage hot rod for sale here on eBay and as I’m writing this, 39 bids have been placed, but the $37,800 top bid hasn’t met the seller’s reserve. Overall, I really like the vibe and look of this vintage, old-school Deuce Coupe hot rod. How about you?
Pass out the tissues,I think someone will know what I mean,car could definitely use some finned aluminum valve covers,or even better vintage Corvette script..
Offenhausr !
Looks like a cross between piss yellow and puke green…
What do drive a field car?
What’s a Field Car?
A field car has been left out in the dirt until it’s paint burns off in the sun and it sinks into the ground up to its axles.
Steve R
Sounds like you need to see a doctor
Unmodified period hot rods are highly sought after, they are rare, many were used as the base for build later in their life, such as the 80’s billet, monochromatic cars with pastel colors. Even though it’s dated there will be strong interest. I wouldn’t be surprised if the auction is ended early. Whatever it sells for, it won’t be inexpensive.
Steve R
This is definitely a trip down Memory Lane, right down to the Ram’s Horn manifolds and Pre-1972 Delcotron alternator. Used to see a lot of similar jobs on the pages of Street Rod, Rod and Custom, amongst others.
From the time I was a kid an SBC in a hotrod always went against my grain; I always thought it was a copout; a belly button; everyone had one. But I do understand the reasons behind installing one. Price and adaptability are two big ones. I helped a guy install a 302 Ford in one similar to this and it was a challenge. A Chevy drops right into the hole the flathead left. The SBF is too long and has a front sump. However there are ways around that if you’re determined enough.
Out here in the land of Ozz, there was a modified water pump which shortened things up a lot for the Windsor to go into Model A’s which made fitting them a lot easier. Yes I have had Chev engines in Rods because of availability of hot up parts and they were cheaper to rebuild at the time. Now I have an FE but need a C6 to suit for fitting into a Model A.
The water pump utilised a 6 Cyl Holden pump.
Is an automatic in a hot rod really a hot rod?
There’s a good reason why everyone had one. They were very hard to beat!!!
I like it.
I wish it had a hot rod period Ford engine but many ran Chevrolet engines back in the day.
GLWS!
“ Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night”
Sung By Manford Mann
A beautiful piece of work. A lot of hot rods end up with an automatic due to the difficulty of setting up a clutch linkage. It looks like the builder solved the problem with a hydraulic linkage. I wonder what axle is under it? Some pictures of the underside would be nice. I hope this hotrod finds a good home.
Any question why a Ford in a Ford is a challenge; just ask me. My 38 pickup is 351W powered. TCI Mustang 2. And 4 speed top loader. Mechanical clutch. Was it worth the effort? Yes it was.
When a car like this featured, it will always turn into a Ford vs. Chevrolet engine in a Ford car. The next thing will be that some octogenarian Hot Rodder, will sound off and tell you that “You just don’t get it” That goes something like this, the article says this is a 60′ era Hot Rod, IT”S NOT. It has many things that were done probably in the mid to late 60’s. It has just as many, maybe more done in the 70’s. There are also some things that could be from many decades. I have a 34 Ford 5 window that I have had for 60 years. If you look at it today ,you would be hard pressed to say when it was built. why?
Because like many Hot Rodders I have never stopped working on it. Maybe I never considered it finished. I have painted it 4 times,changed engines 5 times, and redone interior 3 times and I can’t even count all the tire and wheel combinations I have had. Then comes transmission and brakes, front and rear ends. Right now it is a new radiator and after that a re-engineering of steering and clutch linkage. My point is that there are some cars that are in constant change. Some are built and then retire to collections and trailers. Others are built to represent an era or they are clones of famous cars. Some new builds by well know builders don’t change. For some of us who can’t afford new builds or cars every few years, we just keep the one we have and update to what we would have done if we knew we could. It is hard to pigeon hole a Hot Rod unless it has been built to that and left alone. Probably the most iconic 32 Roadster built by Done Spencer. Done was a mechanic ,fabricator racer and a visionary and the car was in constant change. It has been cloned many times, but to what decade was in ?
Knew a guy when I was a senior in high school (1959/60) who had a 32 Ford Model B that I wanted sooooooooo bad and didn’t have the $350 he wanted for it. Could never convince my father to “loan” me the money to buy it, either. The one question I’ve pondered over for the last 65+ years, though, is why a Chevy engine? I had 2 Fords ( a ’54 & a ’57 ) with V-8’s in the 50s, and there was nothing wrong with either, except the ’54 I bought had been owned by an old farmer who never drove it over 45 MPH. Guess you know what happens when a 17 year old romps on that gas pedal all the time, doncha! Might as have put a 55 gallon drum of oil in the back seat, ’cause that sucker sure burned some. At that time, oil was 25 cents a quarter, so who cares? Great fun, though.
The best Ford Chevy mashup I’ve ever seen was a 6 month old Chevrolet ‘96? SS 454 pickup with at least 50-60 guys crowded around it at an all Ford show…
There was even a window sticker still in a window…
At first I thought they were just fixing to set it on fire and shove it down hill until I squeezed through enough to see what was under the open hood.
A brand new crate 351 Ford Windsor HO engine was in there…
Best Chevy Ford swap I’ve ever seen.
I’ve shoe horned Pinto and Subaru engines into air cooled VWs.
Stuck a SBC into a Gremlin…
A Taurus SHO Yamaha drivetrain into a Ford Probe BEHIND the front seats….
And a Olds V8 into a Fiero.
So it’s not exactly rocket science to stick a Ford engine into a vintage Ford.
Or a SBC into a vintage Chevy…
It’s just goofy to see a SBC in. Ford..
Really goofy.
Guys selling these things apparently don’t know or care about how many people are totally alienated when seeing one of these things and would never buy one.
And BTW…. The colors on this thing will be another reason a lot of potential buyers will be alienated as well.
Senior in high school, helped a friend build his ’32 5 window. ’49 Merc engine, ’39 transmission, 4″ dropped front axle, ’49 Merc dashboard instruments and wheels. He sold it to me for $500, I finished the paint, mom did the interior, and I had the coolest car around. Drove it for 3 years, one cross country trip and traded even for a ’34 pickup recently restored to stock except for the steel wheels and the front 4″ dropped axle. Loved both of them and was in street rod heaven until college came along. Folks nixed having a car the first year so it went to another friend. And my life goes on and on and on… Good thing this car didn’t show up or I’d have grabbed that one too. Color’s weird but the car’s a beauty.
The build quality of this car is outstanding. Reminds me of Mel
Taormino’s ’34 phaeton when I saw it
in Rod & Custom Magazine in the fall
if ’69. And like the phaeton, this coupe has everything going for it. Sure the colors may seem strange to us today, but you can’t deny the craftsmanship that went into this wonderful car. Not all hot rodders are
butchers and here to me is the proof.
Think I’ve seen this car – mother-in-law lived in Solana Beach and we were there often before she died … a better deal than the shell elsewhere on this site …