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Dozens of cars, and even more years later, I find myself in Scottsdale, Az. at the Goodguys event with the gang from Steve's Auto Restorations. Tom Griffin, one of the crew, and I are walking the grounds, and he suggests we check out the swap meet area. Reluctantly, I tag along as I am not in the market for any parts or collectibles. We get about half way through all the vendors and cars for sale when my eyes are blinded by a hot red Deuce coupe. I mean it has it all, color, a wicked chop and even wide whites. Closer inspection shows cool louvers on the hood sides and on the front splash apron, and even a chrome dropped axle and chrome split wish bones. Inside, more goodies; white tuck and roll upholstery and a tach on the column. It did have a few billet items that would have to become swap meet fodder, but nothing really big that would negate possible ownership on my part.
I found the owner, Ron Williams from Tucson, Az,and he showed me around the car. It is an old build, and not the perfect hot rod we are accustomed to seeing on a regular basis today. A lot of owners have changed it along the way, some good changes and some otherwise. Ron had owned it many years before in Ohio, where it had spent the most of the last forty years, before he brought it with him to Arizona. As he explained the various things, like the '66 283 ci small block Chevy engine that has been bored out to 301 ci, and the '67 Saginaw 4-speed transmission hooked to an 8" Ford rear, he opened the hood. There on the firewall was the vehicle identification number. Instead of the original Ford number, a new number had been assigned, and it was from New York state.
I was awash with the memories of so long ago of a '32 Ford coupe, and here was one that was a hot rod from that area, and that era. There is an old saying that 'happiness is buying a hot rod with a Hurst already in it.' Well, this one has the Hurst four speed shifter, wide whites, and the New York state title. Ron showed me photos of the car being drag raced in the '60s with an Olds engine and Hydro transmission, and missing a few things like bumpers and lights.
Now I was in trouble. I had a guy interested in my beautiful '39 Ford coupe, and could easily get this car. However, the thought of letting the '39 go was weighing heavily on my brain. I thanked Ron for showing me the car, and took his card, assuring him I would contact him soon. No sooner had I arrived home, the man from Canada called, and bought the '39. I talked to Ron several times over the next two months, and even had my friend Kent Mecham, who lives in Tucson, go and look the car over. He said, "Dale, if you put this car out in a field of hot rods, and asked your friends which one was yours, they would pick this one."
So, on my birthday in December, I called Ron and we made a deal for the coupe. Since then, I have removed the billet, added a Wheel Shoppe "Banjo" steering wheel, and had new arm rests made by Jim Enger of Guys Interiors in Portland. All this was accomplished in time for the Portland Roadster show, and with the addition of borrowed wheels that I had sold to a buddy, Jim Pfenning, years ago, it was ready. The '32 looked great under the lights of the convention center, and drew rave reviews from all my very picky friends. What a find to run across a '32 Ford 5-w coupe after all this time, and from New York state to boot.
So, a '32 Ford 5-W coupe with a radical chop and a New York state history... do you suppose this could be the same car? The location and timing are close, and whose to say whether it is or not. Still, it is fun to think that maybe it could be that same old hot rod that a '17 year old kid' has been dreaming about all his life.
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