Photography by Luke MunnellArtwork by Eric Brockmeyer Designes, this is a brand-new 1932 Ford highboy roadster owned by Scott Lorenzini, but the story behind this hot rod is worth exploring. We spoke with Scott and his dad, Gary, SoCal hot rodders, as well as Justin and Evin from Veazie Bros. Fabrication, at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show, as the roadster debuted in the competition for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster. The Deuce is a striking hot rod with plenty of attitude and craftsmanship, making it suitable for any trip down a strip or boulevard. But in the minds of many hot rodders, the thought is, “I’ve seen this somewhere else.”
In November 1997, Chapouris and Alex Xydias revived the legendary SO-CAL Speed Shop. One of their early projects was for Bob Garibay whose aim was to build a versatile hot rod that could also be used as a race car, with plans for salt flat racing. Chapouris agreed to take on the project, stressing a careful and unhurried approach. He intended to include lessons from the original Limefire, such as a prototype SO-CAL Speed Shop Step-Boxed chassis, a new steel body from Brookville Roadster, and enhanced safety features.
Power, and we mean power, comes from a 383ci small-block Chevy, based on an aluminum-blown and injected Donovan, under the watchful eyes of Ray Zeller, Steve Sbelgio of Eclipse Engineering for the electronic tuning, and dyno testing at Westech Performance Group. Under the guidance of Donny Cummins from Holley MSD, the team transitioned to a Holley HP ECU and dual-sync MSD distributor. Matt Carricaburu from Milling & Turning Tech crafted a new injector plate outfitted with eight separate 80-pound LS “shorty” injectors, seamlessly hiding the internal wiring for the throttle position sensor and injectors out of sight. The electrical system, based on an American Autowire fuse panel and harness, along with an unpinned Holley EFI harness, presented a challenge due to the complex multilayer firewall and aluminum interior. With assistance from Jack Nickerson of Jax Motorsports, the team achieved a sophisticated wiring solution featuring removable harnesses suitable for professional motorsport applications. VBF skillfully arranged the wiring. ARP hardware is extensively used throughout the engine to secure various components. Other engine accessories include Moon valve covers, an MSD HyperSpark distributor, an MSD 6AL box and coil, MSD 8mm wires, and an OPTIMA battery.
Scott’s lifelong passion for music influenced the car’s color selection. The color reflects a spectrum found in the drum’s finish, cementing a personal touch. The Lorenzini badge took design cues from the iconic 140-year-old American drum brand, paying reverence to Scott’s musical roots. The burnt orange paint, inspired by the lacquer finish of his Gretsch drum kit, was developed in collaboration with Tom Rodriguez from Cypress Auto Body. It was here that the bodywork and paint were finished by Rodriguez, with final color sanding performed by Serifin Petino. Former SO-CAL Speed Shop Manager Ryan Reed, who pressed louvers for a decade under Chapouris, was brought in to lay them out. These were created with the help of Ryan’s son, Carson, utilizing Eric Vaughn’s louver press, now owned by Ryan. Terry Hegman provided the three-piece hood with Ryan-pressed louvers on the top and sides. The firewall is a double-layered structure made from aluminum with a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) core. (MDF is an engineered wood product that combines wood fibers, resin, and wax.)
Ron Mangus finalized the choice of interior materials, Moore and Giles black leather and square-weave carpeting, stitched over a custom-built bench seat that positioned the driver and passenger centrally behind the 3-inch chopped Deuce windshield, ensuring a perfect blend of style and function. Veazie Bros. fabricated a one-of-a-kind hot rod steering wheel, steering column, column drop, tach mount, and parachute lever. The dash panel insert was leftover from the original Chapouris build. Now, with Eamonn Keogh, the engine-turned feature has been added to the panel, which now holds a full set of Auto Meter gauges. At the same time, Brian Petersen, a longtime friend, produced custom sand-cast magnesium skull shifter knobs. Johnny Kaiser, a longtime friend and fabricator, was initially commissioned to create a one-off throttle pedal. Tragically, he died, but his vision was honored when Carricaburu stepped in to complete both the throttle and brake pedals.
The original Winters Champ quick-change rearend was replaced with an N.O.S. 1970s Halibrand 301 Champ quick-change, supplied by John Robinson. Ken Sapper of Speedway Engineering modified the centersection to fit a modern 31-spline limited-slip differential, Dutchman axles, and Winters bell-style axle housings. Centering the quick-change is achieved with a chrome ladder bar setup, featuring Aldan coilover shocks and a Panhard bar.
If you think this hot rod won’t see the light of day, you’d be wrong. As of now, it’s headed to Deuce Days. It has already participated in several local rodding events, including the L.A. Roadsters Father’s Day show.