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I met a bunch of car guys and we all decided to start a club, we called it the “Hard Times”. One day as I was walking to my car after getting some groceries I spotted this ‘32 3-window in the parking lot with the hood side up. The car had blown a lower radiator hose and the fellow obviously needed a hand. Bill was a younger guy and was more into street racing the coupe than appreciating that he had a very bitchin car! I gave him a ride to the local auto parts store and we became friends and would see each other often. Then in February of 1971 we had a terrific earth quake, Bill had the coupe in his parents back yard up on blocks getting ready to change a busted axle key.... I forgot to mention, the coupe had a built 327 with a T10 four speed hooked to an early rear end WITH a closed drive line!, the car was thrown off the blocks and bent the rear fenders and running boards, the quake also did allot of damage to his parents house!, so much they decided to move back east, leaving Bill with no place to keep or work on his car. He called me and said he decided to sell the coupe and knew how much I liked it, he wanted me to have it, the price would be $1000. The price was more than cheap, I told him I would love to have the car but, I didn’t have that kind of cash and that I was getting ready to move my family to Australia to work on an animation project for 6-7 months but that I would tell the guys in the club about it. Nobody went to look at it and he called me a few days later and said he sold the motor to his uncle and that I could have it (less engine) for $600.... I still didn’t have the extra money and was only a few days from leaving! The car also had a brand new set of Ansen Sprint aluminum wheels with new tires, Bill called again and informed me that he had sold them and I could have the coupe for $300 (with a set of old tires on some chrome wheels) and he would tow and put it in my garage and that I could pay him when I returned! What could I say??? I did, he did and that’s how I got my Deuce.
On returning home I paid Bill, bought a running ‘61 Chevy for the motor and was on the road in no time. My wife and daughter and I had many fun times taking the coupe to runs and club meetings. Then one night I was backing out of the garage and sheared my third axle key, I decided right then to pull the rear end and replace it with a late model. After I got the rear out I decided to make a few other changes and you know how the story goes... it ended up in pieces in the back of the garage and other priorities got in the way of putting it back together. On August 31st of 2003 I lost my wife. I was devastated. After putting her to rest, several of our long time car friends came up and informed me that they had decided they wanted to get my coupe back on the road, I told them I really appreciated their friendship but I couldn’t afford to put it back, they said it was something they had made up their mind to do and proceeded to see it through. Chris and Sue Miller went out and bought a new TCI chassis, flat bedded the body and parts I had accumulated to Chris’ garage and within a year and a lot of help I was driving it!
I have many things to be thankful for! Even though I lost my wife, we had over 40 wonderful years together. And to say I am lucky to have such great friends would be a total understatement! When I go, the coupe will be left to our grandson but until then I will cherish the years of memories and friendships made with that Little Deuce Coupe! ...... Dave High
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