Vehicle Description
1932 Ford Roadster, Blue Hi boy better known as 'the Deuce,' has
been, and always will be, the quintessential hot rod. Almost
immediately, it was modified and quickly gained fame on America's
dry lakes, the Bonneville salt and early drag strips. Popular
culture only added to its appeal, including the Beach Boys' hit
'Little Deuce Coupe', and George Lucas' classic 1973 film, American
Graffiti, which reintroduced old-style hot rods to a new generation
and rekindled the street-rodding movement, which many thought had
died out by the late 1960s.The popularity of the 1932 Ford has
always remained strong. In the early days of hot rodding, Deuces of
any body style were cheap and plentiful. Being simple cars made
them easy to strip down and modify. Their stock frames were strong,
and Ford's new-for-1932 'Flathead' V-8 engine responded very well
to performance upgrades. A cultural phenomenon, an entire
aftermarket industry, and countless publications were born from
these humble beginnings. Fast forward some 40-plus years. A new
generation of street rodders, including UP John Buttera, Boyd
Coddington, Sam and Chip Foose, and countless others began to
underscore the importance of detail and injected much higher
standards of craftsmanship into their creations. They emphasized
clean, uncluttered, and complete bodywork and comfortable,
well-trimmed interiors. Engine bays and undercarriage areas were
also highly detailed, and often as stunning as the rest of the car.
Drivability and reliability, rather than brute force, became prime
considerations. Innovation and resourcefulness are the hallmarks of
the hot rodder's art form and while the basic overhead-valve V-8
engine remains the power unit of choice today, a select few hot
rodders demand something a bit more exotic for their rides. San
Diego, California's Pete Aardema, a Bonneville record-holding
engine builder, is one of them. Aardema's single-overhead cam
{SOHC) kit graces the show-quality... call for all the details.
