December 2022 Hot Rod of the Month

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When I was eight years old, I had a poster on my wall of “Lime Fire,” the Pete Chapouris built 32roadster. I dreamed of someday owning a 32 Ford myself. Now that dream car isn’t on the wall but in my garage or on the road with me behind the wheel. I actually hadn’t ever driven a 32Ford before owning this one! I’d ridden in plenty, including the Gray Baskerville Roadster. As many a hot rodder does, I idolized the beautiful lines of the 32 roadster. I studied old magazines and photos from the drag strips of Southern California, the early Dry Lakes racing and the Bonneville salt flats. I knew exactly the 32 I would build and was planning to do just that, when a for sale add popped up on Instagram.

With an approving smile from my wife Natasha, a deal was done!

I bought the car from a buddy in Minnesota. Before it came home I made a Deal with Scott Williams of SwilCo Speed Shop for the wheels as I knew it had to have the DIVCO 18s. I had a set that I had stored and we traded for this set that was originally slated for his AMBR build. The car was expertly built but I wanted to make it my own so in addition to the wheel and rubber update, I finished the interior with German square weave carpet and a Josh Shaw “Shaw4 Spoke” racing wheel. Under the hood I updated the small block chevy with a Dyers Blowers471 supercharge with a 3 V belt drive. This was inspired by the Tom McMullen Roadster. I love driving the car so much and do it as often as I can. Now it has over 20k miles on the odometer!

• Has run 8.3 E.T. in the 1/8th Mile supercharged vs 9.5 un-blown
• Raced at RPM Nationals Barona Drags, winning my class as well as at the Antique Nationals
• and TROG Flabob Drags.
• Color is Dark Jade Green – Base / Clear
• Pinstriping by “Real Ralph”
• License plate is VERDE 32
• “Verde” is Green in Spanish
• Engine is 350 Chevrolet with a 471 Supercharger by Dyer’s Blowers
• Installed by myself and Austin Grabowski of Grabowski Speed Shop.