1932 Ford Highboy

Description

You can go traditional or you can go wild, but this 1932 Ford hi-boy roadster lives somewhere in-between and is one of the best we've ever seen. Professionally built, it has a sinister look that still speaks to the past and with a gorgeous interior full of creature comforts, including A/C, this isn't the kind of car that's a hardship to drive.

The body is fiberglass but the nose and grille are steel, but you'd never know the difference without rapping your knuckles on it. Like the purest of the early hot rods, this one is stripped down to the bare essence, a bullet for the street that's only shaped like a '32 Ford. The black paint is beautifully done, really nice, and with only 2132 miles on the build, it's still extremely clean and fresh. We like the painted radiator shell and grille insert, the laid-back windshield, and the low-slung headlights, all of which make it look fast just sitting still. But then there are elegant details like the Pontiac taillights, relocated grille (more on that in a moment), and neatly louvered hood that suggest someone chose his components very carefully. It's just beautifully built and everywhere you look you can see the result of hours and hours of craftsmanship. If a subtle black rod can be a show-stopper, this is it.

The tan leather interior breaks no new ground, but again, it's the details that matter most. Moving the grille forward means that everything can be moved forward, making this one of the most spacious roadsters we've ever seen. The bench seat matches the custom side panels, all of which are pleated to resemble upholstery from the past. On the floor, you'll find nicely tailored carpets that are piped in the same tan hides for a very upscale look that isn't over-done. A 4-spoke steering wheel resembles a track roadster piece and sits on a tilt column, so it's easy to get comfortable in the low-slung cockpit. Beautiful gauges in an engine-turned panel are pure race nostalgia and if you look closely, you'll see a Vintage Air control unit under the dash, because this roadster is air conditioned for maximum comfort! There's also a custom CD player and speakers behind the seat in its own fold-down compartment, and it actually sounds pretty good even with the wind whipping past. And while it's not exactly huge, there's a good-sized trunk that's carpeted to match the interior and leaves no unfinished edges to distract from the overall presentation.

Power comes from a good old 350 cubic inch ZZ4 crate motor. It's brand new, but you'd hardly know it by looking under the hood, because it's dressed to impress with finned valve covers, triple Rochester carburetors, and an Edelbrock intake manifold. Inside there's a Crane cam with roller lifters and rocker arms and a set of ceramic-coated exhaust headers dump into a beautifully finished exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers. A 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission makes for relaxed cruising but the 4.11 gears in the 9-inch Ford out back means that it's a rocket off the line. The suspension is familiar with a Super Bell dropped front axle, Pete & Jake's leaf spring, and chrome shocks, while the rear axle is held up with coil-overs and ladder bars. Wilwood disc brakes are cleverly disguised as drums in front and they fit rather neatly behind those classic 16-inch Dayton wire wheels that are fitted with nice, tall 550R16 front and 750R16 rear Coker blackwall radials for an old-school look.

This roadster is impressive in every sense of the word, delivering a look that's at once familiar but radical, and with over $90,000 in receipts, it's absolutely spectacular to see. Call today!