Joe Kugel Built His Deuce Ford Roadster to Suit His AMBR-Contending Wishes
outhern California’s own Joe Kugel has literally grown up in a “car” family and is well versed in what it takes to build or race a hot rod. He has fabricated and ultimately been involved in a number of hot rods of all makes, models, and years for customers of the family business. His personal tastes lean toward the Deuce, such as the ’32 Ford roadster pictured here.
He has raced at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the family’s highly successful and well-known Model A roadster on Deuce ’rails (#265) followed by the ’92 Pontiac Firebird that Joe surpassed the 300-mph mark, setting a record in the process. (Joe reached 307 mph but his record run was 300.787 mph set in 1999 in the Pontiac. As for the roadster he has a top speed of 242 mph, but his record is 236.036 mph set in 1996. He gained entrance to the 200 MPH Club in 1990 with a 219.205-mph run in the roadster and the 300 MPH Club in 1999.)
Joe started out with a Brookville Roadster body and, as is often the case, the build took six years to complete. To this, a staggering number of manhours garnered through late nights, weekends, and anywhere else Joe could find the hours to complete the project. Fundamentally the body is stock (tough to improve on Henry’s great styling) with several exceptions performed by Brian Stone of Stone’s Metal Shop. The rear fenders are bobbed 2 inches while there are custom wheel 3-inch widened tubs to cover the oversized rubber. From here the rear framehorn covers are custom made and the hood is a 25-louver Rootlieb. Afterward, Mark Mahood of Mahoods Collision and Hot Rods handled the bodywork followed by a liberal application of a custom-mix PPG basecoat/clearcoat in Kugel Gray. The color was something that Joe had seen on a new car and after playing with varying shades came up with the final color.
The ’32 Ford roadster then rolls around on a full set of custom Curtis Speed billet wheels that measure 15×7 in front and 15×10 in back. To the Cerakote-covered wheels you will find Dunlap 205/55R15s in front and Mickey Thompson 295/55R15s in the back. Note the wheels received the Cerakote treatment. (Cerakote is a ceramic polymer that is virtually “bullet” proof to everyday baddies. Originally designed for the firearm industry.)
Now for the creature comforts. The ’32 Ford roadster interior has undergone a metamorphosis, giving up its utilitarian ’30s appearance for a modern-style, function, and eye-catching appearance. Joe began with the dash and designed “his look” and then had EVOD Industries cut him a series of pieces that represented the gauge trim, A/C vents, knobs, nameplates, and even the door pulls, all sporting a 356 Porsche look. Next up was Curtis Speed with their custom steering wheel (riding on top of the Flaming River tilt column) with a 356 Porsche-style appearance. The six-pack instrumentation is another high point as it too has a distinct Porsche expression all handled by the custom shop at Classic Instruments. The Fibersteel Porsche 356 bucket seats are upholstered in a BMW Vermillion Red leather by Bill’s Auto Upholstery along with a gray German square-weave carpeting. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Clampdown Competition’s very own Ryan Manson who handled the wiring chores. (Editor’s note: He also put together the build book used by Joe at the AMBR competition. If his name sounds familiar it’s the same Manson who is a longtime magazine guy and current freelancer to Modern Rodding. –BB) We should also mention while he didn’t take home the AMBR trophy, his roadster was awarded AMBR Best Engineered … seems befitting.
There you have it, or should we say according to Joe, “he built it his way.” He wanted to build a hot rod that reflected his thoughts and ideas with no one standing in his way. We would have to agree with his … ’32 MyWay.