Photography by Wes Allisonn the world of hot rods there is something special about the ’32 Ford. Whether it be the roadster, phaeton, coupe, sedan, or truck, each has its fans. While the roadster will always rank at or near the top, the coupe, especially the three-windows, are special, too. But the five-window coupe has a look all its own, and when done properly it truly is an exceptional-looking “hot rod” in every sense. We think Simon Gluckman of Los Angeles has all the boxes checked with his ’32 Ford five-window coupe that is chopped, channeled, and sans fenders.
Simon began with a Deuce coupe body that needed a great deal of metalwork. The most severely damaged sheetmetal ran along the bottom of the body; typical. Since he wanted a channeled car the bad metal along the bottom wasn’t as big an issue as it might have been. This would be cut off in prepping for the channeling portion of the build. All this fit his narrative of a ’50s-’60s East Coast–style hot rod. These dreams were “kicked back and forth” between himself and Ladd. And what you see are the results of those “brain drain” sessions.
Another friend to the rescue; Jim Aust (longtime hot rodder, magazine guy, and now shop owner) of Sussex County Customs in Delaware, stepped up for the body- and paintwork. Simon was able to get the ’32 Ford coupe back to Aust where he handled his part of the process with a custom mix coming up with flat ice blue hue. As Simon is apt to say, “Aust and his team did an incredible job turning this ugly duckling into a swan.” The custom sheetmetal work was handled at HHR. The all-steel Deuce was chopped 5 inches and channeled 6 inches over the frame. From here the roof was filled and a rollcage was added. (Turns out Simon likes to race the car at such events like the RPM Drags.) A Deuce grille shell minus hood and Guide 682-C headlights and ’50 Pontiac taillights are used.
Keeping the vintage look alive and a stout performer is the use of a ’56 Olds 324 V-8 that Simon picked up in pieces while the blower components came from Ross Racing. Unfortunately, it turned out that the motor was not as it should have been. It had to be taken back out and rebuilt. Ladd stepped up and helped his friend by redoing the V-8 on his own “ticket.” (Pays to have friends.) The Olds sports 9.5:1 compression with a Ross Racing polished 4.71 roots-style supercharger. An Olds recurved distributor by Kent Weaver (using cloth-wrapped wires) is used along with four Stromberg 97 carbs resting on an intake drawn up by HHR. HHR also fabricated the custom exhaust running from the headers to the cutouts to the tubing that flows back to a pair of mufflers and then dumps near the rearend. Vintage Offenhauser valve covers and breathers are also used to add a bit of distinction.
Beneath the chopped top you will find a ’32 Ford dash, but it is now dressed in a ’33 Dodge gauge panel and instruments plus a “knee-knocker” 8-grand tach. The Centech wiring harness was positioned through the efforts of HHR who handled all the wiring. The straight tube steering column highlights a ’40 Ford steering wheel and column-mounted turn signal. The custom bench seat showcases pleated black leather upholstery stitched by J.C.’s Fine Upholstery along with racing-style lap belts.
Well, there you have it; a current recreation of the always-popular vintage looks in this ’32 Ford five-window chopped-and-channeled fenderless coupe. This coupe is destined for lots of road miles and the occasional appearance at the vintage drags.
