Flying high with the end of the Model A
In 1932, Ford retired its second nameplate to be called the Model A (the first being a short-lived 1903 and 1904 offering), and the 1932 Ford Model B debuted. One of the variants offered was the 2-door roadster, whose open cabin distinguished it from the 2-door coupe. While these cars were impressive in their day, arguably their true peak came later, as Hot Rod culture began to cement itself in the prewar years and the 1950s.
The 1932 Roadster, also known as the ‘Deuce’, developed a reputation as perfect for these sorts of conversions, with the body mounted ‘high’ on the frame rather than integrated with it, resulting in these conversions becoming known as “Highboys”. This specific Highboy was built after the car was purchased on a Bring A Trailer auction in 2019, and it is once again up for auction.
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This chocolate brown is sure to be sweet
The paint job on this Roadster is simply listed as ‘brown’ by the seller, but to this author, it looks remarkably similar to the Hershey’s logo. While that may be a mere coincidence, it sounds a bit cooler to call it ‘Hershey’s Brown’, and no one is going to stop you if you decide to do so as well. An oval steel grille, taller than it is wide, is flanked by two wide round headlights and a tiny chrome bumper that’s dwarfed by the polished spreader bars behind it.
There are no side panels to the hood, and parts of the fenders are missing, both removed for that raw and exposed engine look. A special ‘Bop Top’ made exclusively for 1930’s Ford Roadsters can be quickly put up, or packed away in the trunk. Dual round-side mirrors give the car a retro look, and pinstripes adorn its sides. Halibrand-style wheels with five-pointed stars measure 16″ up front and 18″ in back, with much fatter Excelsior tires in the rear than in the front.
A nougaty tan center
Inside this Hershey Chocolate machine is a nougaty tan vinyl center, with the bench seat, door panels, and inner walls all upholstered in the same color. The dash is body-color matching, and square-weave carpets in a grayish-brown round out the fairly austere interior. Brown lap belts have been installed for safety, as well. The tri-spoke banjo-style steering wheel is all silver save for the black rim cladding, and the shifter is built right into the steering column.
A silver brush-trimpiece frames the Stewart Warner instrumentation, arranged with the 0-160 mph speedometer and 8,000 rpm tachometer in the center, and two pairs of auxiliary gauges to either side; fuel and oil to the left, and water and amperage to the right. Slung under this primary line of gauges are a trio of additional gauges hanging free for vacuum, trans fluid, and amperage again. In the carpeted trunk is a vintage-look Coca-Cola cooler acting as an extremely aesthetic battery box.
This machine is powered by a Fireball
Under the hood sits a Buick Fireball 401ci (6.6L) Nailhead V8 engine that was installed in 2013. It has an MSD fuel injection system and ignition, ceramic-covered Sanderson “Shorty” headers, Flowmaster mufflers, and a ribbed air cleaner and valve covers for a peak period-correct look.
All of that power is sent to the rear wheels by way of a TCI Auto “Street Rodder” TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, with a Winters quick-change rear end as well as a dropped front axle and front transverse leaf springs. Braking is handled by a Wilwood Dynalite master cylinder, with braided stainless-steel lines, and front disc brakes. True mileage is unknown, but since the 2013 engine install, around 900 miles have been added.
Final thoughts: The legend lives on
When you think about it, this Hot Rod is nearly 100 years old. It certainly doesn’t look its age, or anything like its original configuration, for that matter. Much like life itself, the conversion has been about the journey as much as the destination, even if that journey has been very fast and involved some incredible changes. If you’re up for the next leg of the journey and would like to add some modifications of your own, why not check out the auction and place a bid before this one rolls off into the sunset?
