I've been wanting to build a 32 ford for several years now as I have always liked the smooth cool lines of a 32.
About 5 or so years ago, I was presented with the opportunity to acquire a 32 roadsta body. It sat in the roof of my shed for a couple years before I purchased a chassis from a good mate of mine.
So the build began, with each trip to the states I accumulated the parts, thanks to SoCal speed shop, and numerous swap meets, to begin putting the chassis together. I've always wanted to build an old school hot rod, so I'm running triple carbs on a small block chev, I beam front end with Buick brake drums hiding the disc brakes, hair pin front and four bar rear with a 9 inch. Going to do it high boy style.
The chassis is all tacked together and the body dummied upon the chassis. When I got the body, there was very little steel work in it, and it needed a lot of work, so I've steeled it out with intrusion bars in the doors and through out the body. I'm currently modifying a 1968 Toyota corona bench seat to take its place in the 32.
I'm a big fan of the 1940 ford dash, so I've gone to the effort of fitting one in the 32, but I gotta tell you, that's not a 5 minute job, but the effort is worth it, it looks great sitting in there.
There's still heaps of work to do to get it running down the road, and the plan was to have it done by the end of this year, and without current lockdown, you would think this is the perfect ISO project. Well I was thinking the same, unfortunately I've had to have an operation on my arm and I'm out of action for at least 6 weeks. Having said that, the body is almost ready to come off the chassis again, and I can then finish all the welding on the chassis and prepare it for paint.
The colour will not be the Gold that's on the body, looks like I'll be going Turquoise. As many of you know, when building a car, there are many assembling and disassembling before your ready for the final assemble. I'm looking forward to the day I hit the road in it with the wind in my hair....... if I have any left after it all, and hopefully should be mid 2021. Hope your all keeping safe in this crazy time, and spending some time on your cruisers, look forward to cruising the HWYs with you all on the other side of this lockdown...
Yours in cruising, Tony
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