'32 Ford Highboy Roadster - 1947 dry lakes style

[Bernard Kron]

’32 Ford Roadster stripped down for dry-lakes racing, circa 1947

The year is 1947 and Southern California’s hot rodders are home from the war. For the first time in a generation there’s optimism in the air. The world is digging itself out of depression and battle and in SoCal there’s plenty of work. Many rodders put their “gow jobs” in mothballs for the duration of WWII and now, between demobilization money and the post-war boom, there’s spare change at last to finish the work they started before they shipped out.

Our subject is a classic Deuce Roadster started in 1938 and raced at Muroc before its owner enlisted in the Navy in 1941. Like many rodders his abilities in the garage got him assigned to the motor pool as a mechanic where he honed his skills under the pressure of battle. Discharged in ’46, the first thing on his agenda was getting his roadster back in action. Once he got it rolling some decent speeds at the lakes the previous September earned him the number 32 for the 1947 season. Now it’s time to start bolting on some of that nice new postwar speed equipment that seems to be popping up everywhere. This job already has a set of Edelbrock heads and word is that there’s some hot triple-carb manifolds due out any day now. Our intrepid rodder can’t wait, but for now has to make-do with the dual setup from pre-war days. The Kelsey Hayes wire wheels and the high-bolster upholstery, along with the stock shock absorbers and the Columbia 2-speed rear axle are also decidedly pre-war items. On the shopping list with future paychecks will be some steel rims, aircraft shocks and maybe a nice custom aluminum louvered hood if he can swing it.

The model was made virtually entirely from spare parts. The base kit would have been any of the Revell ’32 Ford kits, and the roadster kit in particular contributed the main body shell and the basic interior, but from then on it was all kit-bashing and fabrication to create a period correct Deuce as would be seen in 1947 at the dry lakes.

Here are the details:
From Revell ’32 Ford Roadster kit: Main body, grill shell, and basic chassis. Interior with high seat bolster fabricated from styrene and dashboard modified to correct period style. Windshield mounting stanchions cut down from kit windshield. Headlight brackets with tubular shocks removed.
From Revell ’32 Ford Sedan kit: Kelsey Hayes style wheels, narrowed to fit period correct tires. Stock hood sides. Tear-drop tailights.
From Revell ’29 Ford Roadster Pickup kit: Front suspension, including split wishbones, rear crossmember and buggy spring.
From Revell ’40 Ford kits: Flathead Ford V8, headers, Edelbrock heads, vane-type “friction” shock absorbers, brakes, ‘beehive” oil filter, voltage regulator, brake master cylinder and Columbia 2-speed rear axle.
From AMT ’34 Ford 5-window kits: Pre-war style dual carburetor manifold, including carbs and air cleaners.
From Monogram ’37 Ford pickup/delivery van kits: Steering wheel, steering box and rear suspension wishbones (shortened to fit ’32 Ford chassis).
Aftermarket, miscellaneous, and scratch built parts: AMT front tires. Truck style oversized rear tires courtesy of Herb Deeks. Stock style firewall and main hood, and flathead compatible radiator courtesy of Replicas & Miniatures Co. of Maryland. Photo-etch taillight surrounds and hood latches and handles courtesy of Model Car Garage. Scratch built fuel block and seat bolster.
Paints and finishes: Miscellaneous Testors Acryl colors, Testor Acryl Leather used to creat leather upholstery. Main body color is Tamiya TS-11 Maroon over red oxide primer. Miscellaneous suspension, chassis surfaces and engine parts, finished in varying shades of Testors Metalizer. Home-made “shoe polish number” decals.[/p][p]
Thanx for lookin’,
B.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Bernard Kron

[Ace-Garageguy]

Very evocative atmosphere piece. Right proportions, stance, parts, overall look. Very nice.  

[Foxer]

That's a great story that fits the build wonderfully ... or visa-versa.  The look is perfect!

[Harry P.]

Radiator cap? 

[Bernard Kron]

Radiator cap? 

Oh Harry...

[Ace-Garageguy]

Radiator cap? 

The radiator cap hole in a '32 grille shell was / is frequently filled to clean up the car's appearance. It's relocated as so...a simple modification for any competent radiator shop.

Edited September 8, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[cobraman]

Nice period looking model.

[JTalmage]

beautiful!!!!!

[Harry P.]

The radiator cap hole in a '32 grille shell was / is frequently filled to clean up the car's appearance. It's relocated as so...a simple modification for any competent radiator shop.

Oh, I see. Clever!

[Draggon]

Came out great, B.   I know the paint issues trashed your original goal, but I like it better now. It has a lot of character, something that clean and shiny may have not accomplished. It will look good on the shelf next to your other lakes builds. Great weathering too! 

[Earl Marischal]

That is a fine piece of work.

steve

[slusher]

Very nice..

[Bernard Kron]

Thanks everyone. I'm delighted that it could make the connection!

Frankly I'm relieved it actually finished up as well as it did. The paint issues means I have still to build a proper street version of this period. If you've ever had the pleasure to see cars from this era in the 1:1 you will be struck by the extraordinary craftsmanship that went into them. The grainy b&w pictures of the era give them a character that disguises this aspect of them If you ever have the chance, visit the NHRA Museum in Pomona, California and you'll see what I mean.

Speaking of grainy b&w, here's a couple of shots of the model in that style:

[Bernard Kron]

Broken Photobucket links repaired. For now I'm only updating completed model pics. Updating w.i.p. links is just too huge a task! I'll update them on request...