Simple '32 Roadster

[Dennis Lacy]

With my T-Coupe project on hold all week ‘cause I can’t paint in the rain I though it would be a good time to get some work done on another project. Only thing is my other two projects, like the T, are heavy fabrication jobs and I wasn’t feeling in the mood so I thought a light-duty project would be therapeutic.While I’ve stolen countless parts from them I’ve never actually built a Revell ’32 Roadster kit so I figured I’d see what kind of fun I could have with one!

The chassis is set up right out of the box with the exception of trimming the mounting tab on the front spring to get the front end a little lower. The wheels and Goodyear front tires are from another ‘32 in this series, the 3 Window. Out back some AMT Goodyear slicks got their centers bored out so that the wheels will fit. (I thought it was cool to have all Goodyear tires!) What worked out great here is that with the taller slicks there is a uniform gap all around the wheel well. The roadster kits multi-row louvered hood sides were replaced with stock versions, again, from the 3 Window. The front and rear spreader tubes were stripped of chrome and a license plate bracket added to the front.

Under the hood, the kits 5.0 small block & AOD trans were replaced by the Flathead & C4 trans from yet another ‘32 in this series, the Sedan, making installation a direct fit. The only issue I found was that the transmission sits really low so a .060†thick shim was added to the frame cross member to lift the trans up leaving just enough clearance with the floor and making the engine much more level under the hood. The heavily recessed firewall in this ‘32 series, while necessary for the 5.0 engine, is completely unnecessary (and dumb) with the Flathead. A new flat firewall was made from .040†Evergreen sheet using the kit firewall as a guide although the shape at the bottom was changed in favor of a half-circle cut-out for the engine. To the firewall I mounted the beehive oil filter (also from the ‘32 Sedan) and a voltage regulator from a Revell ‘40 Coupe.

Inside the roadster body is where most of the modifications occurred. The kit seat and side panels had been harvested for my T-Coupe so it was time to come up with an alternative. The kit floor pan / rear bulkhead was used. A Revell ‘40 Ford dashboard was trimmed to fit the cowl and the ‘40 column-shift will be used as well with a custom steering wheel. Keeping with the ‘40 theme, a stock bench seat had ¼†shaved off the bottom and fits perfect in the roadster. I want the car to appear as a “work in progress†when finished so I created inner door panels and body structure to serve in place of a finished interior. The pieces are loosely based on a 1:1 original body but I used artistic license to simply things so it didn’t take forever / get carried away.

As it sit’s the fabrication process is complete (I think) so the next step is some primer and paint!

[mrmike]

I knew that the Revell '32's would have interchangeable parts! Since I have all three kits, I may do the same. Nice progress and I love what you did with the interior!

[Dennis Lacy]

Thanks for the nice words, guys!

Dave: I had actually considered putting a heater box on the firewall and now I'm thinking about it even more. I just may do that. It would definately add to the nostalgic flavor. And likewise, I always enjoy your projects too!