Built in the ’50s, this tricked-out Ford comes with a potent Chevrolet V8 and a storied history. Currently located in Riverside, California, this 1932 Ford coupe swallowed a hot 283 cid (4.6L) Chevy V8 in Virginia during its transformation into a hot rod some 60 years ago. The original dual-quad mill sports six Strombergs now, and the maroon Deuce Coupe frequented drag strips of Virginia under the moniker “Forget, Hell.” Other than having its engine revived and wheels painted to match the body, this fabulous Ford comes to market mostly as it was parked in the mid-60s! The seller knows hot-rods, and seeks buyers willing to take a curator’s pledge regarding this rolling museum of speed. At least ten bidders here on eBay have raised the coupe’s value above $28,000.
New Coker tires up front match the vintage rear slicks. The un-chopped top looks great with the classic stance and wheel / tire combo. A ’50 Mercury rear end handles the power after it passes through a ’39 Ford manual transmission. The 1941 Chevy tail lights turned 90 degrees make a typical hot rod touch.
The 1957 Corvette 283 V8 is a factory dual-quad unit, making 245 HP before modifications. The current choir of six Stromberg 97s prepares to sing a virtuoso atop an Offenhauser intake. Custom zoomies channel the exhaust directly into the ears of hapless pedestrians. A hood and side panels come with the car, but who would cover up this mechanical eye feast?
Everything inside dates to the old days, including a ’56 Ford Thunderbird steering wheel, diamond tucked upholstery, and Stewart-Warner gauges. Museum quality time capsule or not, it will be a shame if this Ford sits somewhere else without burning the tires once in a while. It makes me want to start building one tomorrow. Would you dare to alter this long-parked coupe?
Looks great! If this one came my way, the first thing that would go would be the zoomies. The second thing would be the carbs. It’s enough trouble to run (3) 97s but six? OK for show but a nightmare to keep in tune. Anyway, get those two details fixed up and I would drive it, SBC and all…
Paint it yellow, chop the top, John Milner, American Graffiti. Didn’t get any cooler than this, as depicted on the movie. You know, as an old-timer, I’m sure upset at where the world has gone. When I’m feeling blue, The Beach Boys always cheers me up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwgGuadsqyo
I’m with you, Howard! There’s nothing like a good blast of Beach Boys tunes to make you feel normal again. Of course it would be great to have a Deuce coupe of your own to blast around in. There’s a guy built his own version of one some years back. He actually drives it a lot. I don’t think I’d run that blower but he seems to know what makes it tick…
Changing this car in any way should be a jailable offence. I’d get it tuned and drive it to shows as is. Of course I am the kind of guy that could do that and unfortunately there’s not too many men left that could.
Unfortunately, the trunk lid mural is not socially acceptable.
I know absolutely nothing of keeping a multiple carb setup in tune, so I would have to go with a single carb setup just for my own piece of mind, other than that I wouldn’t change a thing.
The history buff in me appreciates it for what it is, & would love to preserve it as it is, besides a change of induction.
On motorcycles, you use a set of manometers to synchronize the carbs. Dennis Kirk used to sell them. On bikes, the carb with the idle speed adjustment screw is the baseline, and you adjust the other carbs for the same manometer indication. On solid lifter motors you do the valve adjustment first then synchronize the carbs.
Never have gotten over the fun I had with my ’32 5 window. Dropped axle, Merc flathead, a whole bunch of ’39 gearboxes and hydraulics to stop it all. Never cared for chopping it because it was my daily ride and I needed the extra room at the drive in on weekends. Beautiful car geomechs!
With a hot rod you only tune them one way petal to the metal and and hold on.
@JerryDeeWrench
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……Not really… 6 jugs on a smallblock takes foot work off the line…
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……………..and they are tuned to the upper side of 4500 rpm’s
Another yellow Milner wanna-be? C’mon, really? This little rod deserves more! Lose the zoomies, add Deitz Headlights, and clean it up a bit more… (I’d carefully remove the design on the trunk). If you’re not capable of the 6 carbs, which run fine, (sooo coool!) switch back to the original to the engine dual quads. This car needs someone who appreciates what it was / is, not another “me too” owner!
^^^^2, do a sympathetic restoration. Like you say, change the exhaust and get rid of the mural on the trunk. Building a clone would erase everything that makes this car unique and interesting.
Steve R
I’m thinking convert the Carb setup to Tri power. Very period, and easier to tune.
All you need is the arm and leg cost of the Tri power setup, but it might be a wash when you sell the six carb setup. YRMV
Perfection…as is!
John, I agree enough copy cats to last a life time. Little known fact Lucas bought the yellow 32 off a car lot for $1500 bucks and after he completed the movie, not released it, he tried to sell the coupe and found no buyers, for 1,500. The car has since traded owners and with all the wanna be’s I have no idea were it is now. Easy to research lots of articles about it.
The car is a famous icon because of the movie ,not because of the car. True old time Hot Rodders, such as my self don’t really care for the car but like the fact that it elevated the status of the Hot Roders, that have this style of car.
A friend lived in San Rafael when the movie was being filmed. He said he and some of his buddies sold whoever maintained the cars during production some parts. According to him several if the cars sat parked on the streets in the area of town with all of the automotive shops after filming while they were attempting to sell them.
Steve R
Maybe you should just speak for yourself with that last sentence?
Nah, deuce coupes were popular way before the Beach Boys. Car mags of the early 60s would feature one in every issue, it seemed.
I think he’s specifically referring to Milner clones, which have been played out for decades.
Steve R
Back in the late 60s and early 70s we didn’t see any “Bullitt” tribute cars running around. I can’t remember seeing movie or TV show cars outside of the World of Wheels traveling show. Finding obsolete parts was an adventure, requiring equal parts of determination, persistence, and luck. Someone knew somebody who might have what you need…at least I think he had it 20 years ago. Other than having to pay for toll calls, traipsing through junkyards and old barns was fun.
While I’ve never seen any “Godfather”-themed tribute cars or even “Dirty Mary” tribute cars it seems that certain films like “American Graffiti” and “The Blues Brothers” have generated more than their share.
Cool car. Out of my price range, but I couldn’t buy it anyway; there’s no way I’d agree to leave it as is! That decoration on the trunk lid would be the first to go. I remember similar images on license plates and t-shirts back in the ’60’s. I really don’t care for the style of any of the mods…I lived through that time period once already, but that’s just my opinion. Anyway, have a great day and GLWTS!
Wow……that’s a quick flip…..thought it was a keeper if you followed it’s discovery at the Estate sale.
Am I missing something? What’s wrong with the trunk lid mural. Too much of can’t say that, can’t do that. I’m sick of PC. Seems the left can say what they want, but everyone else has to adopt their thinking. I don’t like the look of the mural, but the owner did. His car, his choice.
I ask that same question. I don’t like the mural either but that’s because I would prefer to have someone like Yosemite Sam in that picture. Like you said: His car, his choice…
Here’s what reminded me… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZfCar-Ks8
Wow, your memory is really good and to be able to find the video of it!
I sure agree with Wayne about Dave’s comment on the Mural. PC has been the downfall of our country. If you don’t like the Mural don’t look at it but don’t expect the rest of us to change it instead of you growing a couple….
Personally, I don’t have a problem with it. The issue is that certain people have been given license to act out and destroy things they don’t like. The laws here in the States protect these people’s “right” to destroy your property and to physically assault you. Defend yourself and the legal costs, let alone the online and real-world backlash become extremely high. A local talk show host once said that a successful Castle Law defense will cost you as much as a new Suburban.
The current climate in the US is unsettled at best.
On a lighter note, I’d change the caption to “Remember what” and wear my Sons of Ibuprofen T shirt to the car shows…
Thanks Larry
Although I’m not a big fan of channeled Deuce 5W’s, this is a cool timepiece of the 50’s era. And there’s no need for another clone of the Milner coupe either, there’s already waaaay too many of them! The coolest thing about the Milner coupe was that John Milner was the epitome of cool in it, in a real but somewhat ugly Hot Rod! As for a mural, especially one as stupid and ugly as this one wouldn’t be on any of my Deuce’s. The zoomies would have to go too but the six Strombergs would stay if you could get them to work in unison and not overflow. It can be done, but three deuces of two fours would be cool too. Deuce 5W’s are my all time favorite hot rod! Here’s the evidence in my garage of my obsession with them……….
https://photos.app.goo.gl/luwzl87wqsxttASr2
A friend of mine who lives in AZ has the same obsession i think he has 1 of every 32 Ford ever made, cool collection vintage 👍
Since I have a collection eight Deuces I’ll bet I know him too!
An old-timer showed me a multi-carb tuning trick a long time ago: cut yourself a piece of 1/2″ heater hose to whatever length is comfortable, and listen to the sound of the intake; adjust until all are harmonized. It works
PS: would like to throttle the guy who invented spell check, especially as I now suffer Old Man Fat Finger Syndrome. I am still able to correct my own mistakes, but it seems there a lot more of them, these days.
amen 👍
Great comments, all, but to be clear, I know these movies produce plenty of clones. Movies that make a big impression on us, will do that, and that movie hit a lot of nerves. That movie also gave white T-bird owners, ’58 Chevy Impala owners some pride, and even Curt’s 2CV got the attention. There’s something about driving a car that was on the screen, that’s appeals to some, and that’s okay. How many General Lee’s have you seen?
Starsky and Hutch Torinos, Kenworth W-900s, Black Trans-Ams, Herbie’s…
Sorry: listen to the sound of each intake.
Question to you gearheads: Why not have progressive linkage on the 6 carbs so that they are not all in play during “normal” driving, but just when you need maximum speed/power? I did that with a pair of 4 barrels on a 327 swiped from a Corvette and put in a speedboat. What a kick when the 2nd 4barrell came on line. And what a surprise to my competition at the lake!
I have an original 32 Ford grill that was on my dad’s car in the 50’s.