1932 Ford Roadster Replica

The traditional street rod, the car that spawned an industry, a genre, and a hobby, is the ’32 Ford. When Ford marketed the Deuce, the options were abundant and included the roadster, phaeton, two-door sedan, coupe, sport coupe, four-door sedan, cabriolet, Victoria, and convertible sedan. According to the factory’s specification, the car drove 75 mph and the engine power was 65 hp. We’ve come a long way since then, and what was once steel is now fiberglass (the body); what was once heavy iron is now aluminum (engines); and what was once 65 hp is now 350 to 400 hp.

What remains the same is the classic Ford ’32 grille (the ’32 model year was its first year of production) and, in Jim Fuller’s car, the radiator hasn’t changed either—he has an original ’32 under his hood.

“The Deuce is something I have wanted all my life,” says Jim. “I got into hot rodding in the early ’60s, and I couldn’t get my hands on one. So, as an adult, I made it my business to finally get a Deuce I could drive.”

Jim chose a kit rather than an original because “when I was a kid, I tore up enough steel. I believe we should let restorers have the real stuff; ’glass is the way to go. Unless someone looks real close, they don’t know it’s not steel.”

Even though it isn’t steel, Jim is into this car in a historical way. He says, “It was the hot rod to build—that’s tradition,” he says.

He searched for months and checked out countless manufacturers before deciding on Lone Star Classics’ LS32. Jim says, “I liked Lone Star’s body—it was traditionally original in style.”

Jim varied from tradition by rearranging the spring travel and suspension. The former aircraft mechanic decked out the rear in solid fashion—he put a Currie Ford 9-inch rearend on his Cornhusker chassis, “so I needed heavier springs, and I installed P&J coilovers and rear disc brakes, relocated the battery in the trunk, and set out to put the power on the ground.”

Regarding power, Jim went with the accepted—a small-block Chevy V-8. He says, “The small-block is the traditional, quintessential street rod powerplant, and you certainly get lighter weight and more bang for the buck with a small-block.” He put in a Chevy 327 that Clark Dishman bored out to 331 to pump out 375 horses. He rounded out the engine compartment with an Edelbrock cam, Edelbrock dual-roller timing chain, and Edelbrock Performer RPM springs. Jim also put in dropped I-beam front suspension, a Mullins/Vega steering box, and an ididit steering column and column shift. The car sits on T/A radials—P205/60R15s in front and 29/10/15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman rubber in the rear—to cover 15-inch Weld racing wheels.

The bodywork was done by Jimmy Broussard, of Justin, Texas, whose glossy black paint job with striking orange, yellow, and red flames is high-gloss but nostalgic, says Jim. “Jimmy painted the flames with a standard paint gun—no airbrush was used, and he did a wonderful job. It is the traditional paint job for a Deuce, though this one is high-gloss and looks better than anything any hot rodder had in the ’50s.”

The interior is ’32-esque with its VDO gauges, Grant steering wheel, and custom dashboard. Some modern items include a Pioneer CD changer, four speakers in the kick panels and behind the seat, and a Glide Engineering front seat. The red-and-gray tuck ’n’ roll upholstery was done by Ro Anderson of Justin, Texas.

Jim is happy with his distinctive car and drives it around under the hot Texas sun almost daily—he has 1,500 miles on it and drives it until he has to park it for the winter.

And about that radiator…. “I have an original ’32 radiator from a real ’32 Ford,” Jim says. “A friend of mine had one and we modified it ‘untraditionally’ for the small-block. It’s a four-core radiator now,” he laughs.

Jim Fuller laughs a lot when he’s behind the wheel, as well. “It’s a hoot,” he says. “It’s just plain fun—a man’s toy.”

Where does he go from here? Jim says, “I am starting to build a ’23 T-bucket—I’ll be building my own frame for. I am a fairly decent fabricator and welder, after so many years working as an aircraft mechanic.” But for now, his Deuce is his prize toy—a traditional prize for a lifelong car guy.