Danny's '32 Ford Coupe Hot Rod
Even though it’s arguably the most iconic and influential platform in the history of hot rodding, you might be surprised by how few 1932 Fords were actually built by Henry and Co. After making 15 million Model T’s and almost 5 million Model A’s, Ford only managed to produce somewhere around 270,000 cars in 1932. The Depression was wreaking havoc with the economy and causing labor issues and even riots at the River Rouge factory. Ford added complexity to an already messy situation by insisting that a new V8 engine make it into production for ’32. Though we’re now eternally grateful for the little engine that launched the hot rod industry, at the time it caused development and manufacturing difficulties that pushed production back into the spring of that year.
What’s the point of this little history lesson? Well, now that 92 years have passed since those complicated days in Detroit, a real-deal “Henry” 32 is a scarce resource, and folks have strong opinions about how those resources should be conserved. Resto guys get mad about hot rodders cutting them up. Hot rodders have feelings about just how they should be cut up. You know the drill. So, when Danny Burroughs of Bruce’s Rod Shop took possession of a real-deal ’32 5-window from his dad, he knew there would be some complicated emotions about his plans to turn it into a wicked hot rod. For him, it came down to the condition of the car in question. This one was an amateur restoration, equipped with optional features like lead and chicken wire stuffed into the quarters and rotten subrails. To those who are mad about the hot rod-ification of a nice ‘32, Danny points out “It was a good car, just not a nice car.” There’s a big difference.
For Danny, there was no question about the build style his 5-window was going to follow. Danny is too young to remember the early days of flathead-powered cars burning up skinny bias-plys. Instead, he grew up watching his dad build hot rods with big tires in the rear, big horsepower, and a mean rake. “That’s what’s burned into my memory from working with my dad.” With visions of 60’s and 70’s-era hot rods dancing in his head, Danny got busy on his coupe.
It's all built around the stock chassis that has been under the car from the beginning. Danny likes the way the body and chassis seem to conform to each other over years of being bolted together. All unnecessary holes were filled and it was boxed and braced with a tube center crossmember. A 5” dropped Super Bell tube axle and Magnum spring get the front down and swing on a custom pair of BRS stainless hairpins. The 3.02-geared Halibrand Champ quickchange hangs from a narrowed Model A-style buggy spring, Ridetech shocks, and custom sway bar. It all rolls on American Rebel spindle mounts up front with skinny 135’s and those monster Firestones mounted on ET Wheels in the rear.
One of the most polarizing issues when it comes to the modification of a real ’32 is chopping the top. It’s a hard thing to undo and an easy thing to screw up. Danny and his dad had discussed leaving the top on this car uncut. “I believe that the car will tell you what it wants to do,” says Danny. After fixing the rusty quarters, floor, and subrails, the stock-height body was dropped onto the chassis and rolled out into the parking lot. It sent a clear message to Danny. “This one yelled at the top of its lungs that it wanted the top to be cut!” So, Danny did his research and figured out where to make those cuts. In the end, 2 1/4 inches were taken out of the coupe, and we think it’s just perfect. Once it was all welded up and smoothed out, the PPG Anvil Gray paint was expertly applied by Bruce's Rod Shop master painter Bill Berry.
We have to talk about the monstrous lump of 468 big block Chevy that’s barely hiding under the hood. “I’d never put a big block in a hot rod before and wanted to see if it could be done.” Not only did he make it fit, he also squeezed in a Vintage Air system with some immaculate plumbing. It all looks like it belongs there, and there are no headers, carbs, or valve covers hanging out of the hood to break up the flow. Danny says, “I used every square inch I had to work with to make that fit.” The big mill is backed up to a Doug Nash 4+1 manual which takes orders from a beautiful handmade shifter and clutch pedal.
After almost exactly five years of working on the car during early mornings and off-hours between customer projects, Danny finished the ’32. He and his family have a proud tradition of driving their cars and putting real miles on their real hot rods. So, even before the cool Cato's Custom Upholstery interior made it into the car, Danny hit the road to a show in nearby Wimberley, Texas. Almost immediately, a passing gravel truck launched some boulders that cracked the windshield and put a couple gnarly chips in the fresh paint. With a few choice words and a shrug, Danny brushed it off and continued on, knowing that there would be more to come in this car’s life on the road.
With the first rock chips out of the way, Danny has since covered almost 18,000 miles in his hot rod. “It’s extremely comfortable. It has AC, heated seats, and Bluetooth, but you still hear the exhaust and the quickchange.” We absolutely loved hearing this car go past on the Wheel Hub Live reliability run. If you ask us, the rumbly exhaust and howling quickchange are the perfect soundtrack to announce the arrival of Danny's perfect hot rod.
