This 1932 custom built Downs/Dearborn Deuce fiberglass cabriolet/roadster was originally built in Texas and has been in California with it’s current (2nd) owner since 2016 when it was purchased with 725 miles on the odometer. Now showing just under 2,500 sunny day miles, this deuce will soon be available to its new caretaker.
The Dearborn Deuce has been known to hotrod builders as one of the finest manufacturers of steel bodied 32’s. When they realize the likelihood was high that a company was going to knock off their steel body design with a fiberglass version, they decided to do it themselves and capture the market on their own. The fiberglass versions are exact matches and built to the same high standards as the steel bodied versions with the same added length to the interior, hide-away convertible tops, windshields and power windows installed prior to being shipped. They are virtually indistinguishable from the steel body counterparts.
Back to this one… Immaculate is a good way to describe every aspect of this 32 Roadster. From the spotless engine bay and chassis to the near perfect paint and interior, this roadster is ready for cruising. Many hours of professional design, fabrication, body, paint and interior work have gone into the build with nearly $200k reportedly invested in the build. Nothing was spared in this tasteful, one-of-a-kind build of an American classic. While most builds of this caliber lend themselves to limited use, the design of the hidden retractable convertible top, Vintage Air and power windows provides both open-air and closed driving. The cockpit also has added interior dimensions over factory-built Ford’s of the 30’s.
EXTERIOR
Features of the ’32 include:
- High quality Downs Dearborn Deuce body finished in PPG Electric Blue paint
- Removable custom cowl steel hood and side aprons
- A stainless-steel grill is surrounded by a custom modified grill surround
- Tri-bar HID headlights with internal turn signals that light the road ahead
- LED tail/brake lights with polished trim sit alongside the rear license plate
- A chrome windshield trims the tinted glass windshield and body-colored side mirrors provide rear/side views
- Black canvas Haartz cloth folding top with a glass rear window hides away under the hinged panel behind the seats
- Power windows keep the wind/rain out although this deuce has never seen the rain
- Door handles are shaved, and hinges are hidden with access provided by remote door poppers
- Fitted with trunk popper as well
- 3” exhaust outlets are located below and behind the rear doors through the lower rockers.
INTERIOR
The interior of the 32 is finished in body colored dash/trim and custom soft tan leather seats and panels. Details include:
- Classic instrument gauges
- Vintage Air control panel and custom air outlets keep the dash minimal
- Two hood release pulls under the left and right sides of the dash release the hood
- Power window switches and a remote trunk release are located just under the dash panel for easy access
- A polished, tilt steering column leads up through a matching polished drop bracket to a leather half-wrapped/polished Billet Specialties steering wheel
- Custom leather bucket seats with lap belts provide seating while a concealed Cadence Sound head unit sits between the seats behind a hinged panel with a concealed amp and subwoofer in the convertible top storage area (along with the battery)
- Lokar brake/gas pedals, parking brake and a Shorty Lokar floor shifter with matching tan leather boot handles the gears
- Billet door pulls, polished/milled door sill trim and custom gray weave carpets with tan piping finish out the interior with custom courtesy lighting
- The trunk houses the custom color matched fuel tank with chrome fuel cell straps along with the electric fuel pump, custom fuel filter system, and stainless fuel lines running throughout with polished fittings
- The same custom tan leather, custom carpet line the trunk panels and trunk floor
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
The engine modifications and upgrades are too extensive to list completely but include:
- 5.7 liter LS1 from SPS (Southern Performance Systems)
- 4l60e 4-speed transmission
- Color matched intake manifold
- Polished fuel rails
- Polished/color matched/finned aluminum rocker covers
- Polished throttle body
- Polished air cleaner assembly
- Polished deep-sump oil pan
- Smoothed & color-matched firewall
- Ceramic coated Sanderson headers
- Power steering cooler
- Chrome Wilwood master cylinder
- 7” chrome brake booster relocated to firewall
- Front mounted AC condenser
- Custom fabricated/tucked AC/heater lines
- Hi-torque starter
- SPS wiring harness
- Concept One mid-mount accessory (chrome alternator, chrome AC compressor, chrome and billet pulleys/brackets and tensioners)
- Custom aluminum radiator/custom radiator support/overflow tube/ overflow tank
- Custom fan shroud/ electric puller fan; chrome Cool-Flex water pipes & polished hose fittings.
- All aluminum hard lines, no rubber hoses used.
CHASSIS
The underside of the car is, in a word, incredible! The adage of “One photo is worth a thousand words” certainly applies. The following upgrades represent a summary of the significant enhancements and custom build features:
- Color matched IFS frame
- Heidts Superide IFS/IRS;
- Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
- Chrome steering linkage
- Polished rack and pinion steering system
- Polished front stainless steel upper and lower tubular A-arms
- Polished dual adjustable coil over front shocks
- Polished front drop spindles
- Stainless steel braided brake lines w/ polished fittings
- Polished front sway bar
- Polished & finned transmission pan
- Under body mounted transmission cooler
- Custom chrome drive shaft; drive shaft loop
- Custom fabricated exhaust system including Borla SS mufflers with custom heat shields; Custom side frame exhaust exit ports
- Polished Jaguar rear end
- Wilwood rear disc brakes with polished calipers
- Chrome half shafts
- Polished dual adjustable rear coil-overs
- Color-matched rear lower control arms
- Staggered and polished Billet Specialties Qualifier wheels17x7 & 18×9.5; 215/50ZR17 Fr, 285/60ZR18 Rr
- BF Goodrich G-Force tires.