Skip to main content

No Reserve: 383-Powered 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster

This ’32 Ford Highboy was built by the late Bob Anderson of California Street Rods utilizing a fiberglass Wescott roadster body mounted on a custom frame. Power is from a 383ci small-block Chevy V8 mated to a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission, and the car is also equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, coilover suspension all around, Boyd Coddington wheels, a rumble seat, and an aluminum hood from Marcel’s. The interior was upholstered by Ron Mangus and features a Nardi steering wheel, VDO instrumentation, and an under-seat Motorola stereo. The car was acquired by the seller in 2022 and is now offered at no reserve with a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The Wescott fiberglass body is said to be finished in a Porsche purple and also features multi-tone pinstriping. The hood is an aluminum, side-hinged unit that was built by Marcel’s Custom Metal, and the billet aluminum windshield frame was reportedly built by Lil’ John Buttera.

Boyd Coddington wheels measure 15″ in diameter up front and 17″ out back and are mounted with BFGoodrich and Goodyear tires, respectively. The car is equipped with a dropped front axle, adjustable coilovers front and rear, and a Strange Engineering disc brake system incorporating drilled rotors at all four corners.

The interior was upholstered by Ron Mangus and features a bench seat trimmed in purple, gray, and blue with cloth inserts. Door and trim panels are color coordinated, and gray carpets line the floors. A Motorola head unit is mounted beneath the seat.

A Nardi steering wheel frames a body-color dashboard, and VDO instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer flanked by a quartet of auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows under 1,100 miles, approximately 200 of which have been added by the seller.

The rumble seat compartment is upholstered to match the cabin and incorporates the fuel filler.

The 383ci stroker small-block reportedly features 9.5:1 compression and is fed by a single four-barrel carburetor. Additional equipment includes a Hotronics Products wiring harness, a Mike Hamm-built stainless-steel dual exhaust system, and aluminum valve covers constructed by Lil’ John Buttera.

The frame utilizes American Stamping rails and was built with tubular reinforcements and then powder coated to match the body. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear end. The seller states the transmission was rebuilt and modified by California Performance Transmissions of Huntington Beach.

The car is titled in California as a 1932 Ford using vehicle ID number A4374604.

1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Phaeton Hot Rod 5-Speed

This modified 1931 Ford Model A was the subject of a custom build completed by the seller in 2018 after accumulating and customizing parts since the early 1980s. A steel Briggs Manufacturing body was purchased in 2010 and mounted over a stretched 1932 frame. The car was refinished in Maroon over caramel vinyl, and a 288ci Chevrolet V8 was installed along with a T5 five-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes a lift-off soft top with a folding rear window, custom windshield stanchions, a louvered Rootlieb hood, triple Rochester carburetors, an Edelbrock intake manifold, Sanderson exhaust headers, Guide headlamps, staggered-diameter steel wheels, and Buick-sourced drum brakes as well as a heated Wise Guys bench seat, a Hurst shifter, and AutoMeter gauges. This Model A Phaeton hot rod was featured in Modern Rodding magazine in 2022 and is now offered with build photos and a clean California title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1932 model.

The Briggs Manufacturing body was refinished in its current shade of Maroon after replacing the floor and structural wood pieces as well as fitting a Rootlieb louvered three-piece hood. The grill shell and insert are said to have been sourced from a 1932 Ford along with the modified roadster windshield frame, which features fabricated stanchions. Additional exterior features include a lift-off tan soft top, a tubular chrome rear bumper, a recessed license-plate panel, Guide headlights with polished surrounds, and frenched taillights sourced from a 1946 Ford.

The staggered-diameter steel wheels feature 1946 Ford hubcaps and are mounted with Firestone Radial tires measuring 145-15″ in the front and 235/85-16″ in the rear. Chassis modifications included reinforcing the 1932 crossmember and frame-rails with tubular components as well as extending the wheelbase to 109″ and narrowing the rear section by 2″.  The front suspension features a drop axle with a transverse leaf spring, 1932 Ford wishbones, and 1940 Ford spindles, while the rear suspension is equipped with a modified Model T leaf spring and ladder bars. Pete & Jake’s shocks are fitted along with a rear sway bar and a Flaming River steering box. Braking is handled by Buick-sourced finned drums at all four corners.

The cabin features a heated Wise Guys bench seat upholstered in caramel vinyl with matching door panels and trim. Square-weave carpet was fitted after the interior panels were lined with sound insulation, and additional appointments include lap belts, a Hurst shifter, and polished aluminum pedals.

The fuel tank and battery were relocated after removing the rear seat and enclosing the compartment with a lift-up tonneau cover.

The Limeworks steering wheel is mounted to a Speedway Motors stainless-steel steering column and frames a body-color dash panel featuring AutoMeter gauges including a 120-mph speedometer and auxiliary displays for fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and voltage. The five-digit odometer shows 1,500 miles, and total mileage is unknown.

The replacement Chevy V8 was reportedly bored to 288ci in 2017 by CSD Engines and fitted with a COMP Cams Thumper camshaft, a Pertronix distributor module, a Zipp’s water-pump riser, an Edelbrock intake manifold, and three Rochester 2G Carburetors. A Walker radiator with a fabricated fan shroud was also installed along with Sanderson headers and a dual exhaust system treated with a high-temperature coating.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual transmission along with a Halibrand quick-change rear axle fitted with a 3.05:1 final drive ratio and Hot Rod Works slip-in axle-shafts. The fabricated chassis and driveline components are painted to match the exterior.

1932 Ford Three-Window Coupe Street Rod

This full-fendered ’32 Ford street rod was built in 2016 utilizing a fiberglass three-window coupe body, a steel hood and grille, fiberglass fenders, and a Pete & Jake’s frame. Power is from a 350ci Chevrolet V8 equipped with dual four-barrel carburetors and mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The car is also equipped with independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, front disc brakes, Torq Thrust wheels, and a 9″ rear end with 3.23 gears. Upholstered in light beige, the interior is appointed with a tilt steering column, Vintage Air climate control, seatbelts, and power windows. The car is titled as a 1932 Ford and was acquired by the selling dealer in June 2023. It is now offered with build photos and a clean New Jersey title.

The seller reports that the fiberglass coupe body and fiberglass fenders were soured from Redneck Street Rods. Finished in maroon with beige pinstripes, the car also features a steel hood from Rootlieb, steel grille from Brookville Roadster, LED headlights and taillights, and rear-hinged doors.

The Torq Thrust wheels measure 15″ in diameter and are mounted with 195/65 front and 235/75 rear Falken Sincera SN250 A/S tires from 2016. The car is equipped with independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and adjustable coilovers all around. Wilwood calipers are paired with vented, drilled, and slotted brake rotors up front, while drums are fitted out back.

The interior features a bench seat that is upholstered in light beige and complemented by color-matched door panels. Vintage Air climate control has been fitted along with lap belts, power-operated windows, Bear Jaw door locks, a tilting steering column, a fire extinguisher, and a Kenwood stereo unit mounted to the roof.

AutoMeter instrumentation is mounted in an engine-turned panel and consists of a voltmeter, oil-pressure gauge, 120-mph speedometer, water-temperature gauge, and fuel-level indicator. A 7k-rpm AutoMeter tachometer and an AutoMeter clock are mounted in the dash below the instrument panel on either side of the climate controls. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 8k miles, which the selling dealer notes is the distance driven since the build was completed.

The 350ci Chevy V8 is a crate motor featuring two Edelbrock 500CFM carburetors, an Edelbrock intake manifold, JetHot-coated short-tube headers, polished valve covers, and an aluminum radiator with a Dakota electric cooling fan. An oil change was performed in May 2023.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Turbo Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission equipped with a stall converter. The 9″ rear end features 3.23 gears and, along with the Pete & Jake’s frame, is finished to match the body color.

Photos taken during the 2016 build are viewable in the gallery below.

The chassis tag displays “serial no.” 32FRD10169, which corresponds to the identification number listed for the car on its New Jersey title.

350-Powered 1934 Ford Pickup Hot Rod

This 1934 Ford Pickup hot rod was built under previous ownership and was acquired by the current owner in 2015. The truck is powered by a Chevrolet 350ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission and is finished in metallic red. Equipment includes an Edelbrock intake manifold, Mustang II front suspension and steering setup, adjustable coilovers, four-wheel disc brakes, 15″ alloy wheels, tubular headers, a dual exhaust system, and a hinged aluminum bed cover as well as a tilting steering column, a JVC CD stereo, a Lecarra steering wheel, and Classic Instruments gauges. This Ford Pickup hot rod is now offered on behalf of its current owner with refurbishment photos and parts documents, uninstalled rear fenders and door latches, and a clean New Jersey title.

The truck was reportedly refinished in metallic red in 2015 under prior ownership and is accented with an aluminum bed cover and aluminum diamond-plate running boards. Additional equipment includes chrome headlights, a windshield visor, a windshield wiper, a driver-side mirror, and dual exhaust outlets exiting in front of the rear tires. A ding is visible on the passenger door, and the seller notes the door handles are loose. A pair of door latch assemblies are included in the sale.

The bed features a hinged polished aluminum cover, wooden accents, and diamond-plate covers on the bed floor and inner surface of the tailgate.

Gray-finished 15″ Torq Thrust-style wheels wear 205/70 Cooper Trendsetter SE front and 235/70 Armstrong Assurance rear tires. The car is equipped with a Mustang II front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering system as well as adjustable coilovers at all four corners. Braking is handled by four-wheel discs.

The cab features bucket seats upholstered in black vinyl complemented by color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Equipment includes a wooden shift knob, parking brake handle, arm rests, and control knobs as well as lap belts and a JVC AM/FM/CD stereo linked with four speakers.

The leather-wrapped Lecarra steering wheel features billet spokes and a wooden horn button and is mounted on a tilting column that fronts a black dashboard with white and red pinstripes. Classic Instruments gauges include a 120-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and voltage. The six-digit odometer shows 22k miles, and true mileage is unknown.

The GM-sourced 350ci V8 was installed during prior ownership and features a Holley four-barrel carburetor, an Edelbrock intake manifold, tubular shorty headers, and chrome valve covers. A Walker radiator is accompanied by electric cooling fans.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a replacement three-speed automatic transmission. Corrosion is visible on suspension and brake components, and additional underside photos are presented in the gallery.

The aftermarket identification plate on the firewall displays Vehicle ID number B1085762, which corresponds with the VIN listed on the New Jersey title.

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1986 GMC C1500

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1986 GMC C1500. This truck has been given a custom frame-up restoration that includes power supplied by a fuel-injected Chevrolet 383 stroker V8 harnessed to a four-speed automatic transmission. Features include air conditioning, Dakota Digital gauges, shaved door handles with remote keyless entry, upgraded Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo, and more. Finished in Black with Violet Pearl over a black vinyl and cloth interior, this 1986 GMC pickup comes with a CARFAX report and clear title.

During the restoration, the exterior was finished in BASF Black over Violet Pearl. Features include a silver Chevrolet grille with dual headlights and tinted parking lights, black front air dam, dual chrome side mirrors, white accent stripes, tinted glass, black vinyl tonneau cover, short Fleetside pickup box lined with gray BedRug, shaved tailgate, and rear roll pan.

A set of new 20-inch custom U.S. Mags wheels is wrapped in 11.5-inch-wide Goodyear radial tires.

The bench seat is upholstered in black vinyl with cloth inserts. Features include power steering, four-spoke Grant GT steering wheel, floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter, and factory air conditioning converted to R134a refrigerant. The sound system consists of a modern Kenwood AM/FM/CD/Bluetooth stereo, four new Pioneer speakers, and Polk Audio subwoofer.

The instrument panel consists of a set of Dakota Digital VHX analog gauges that includes a 160-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, and readouts for the fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and voltage.

Power is provided by a new Chevrolet 383 stroker V8 paired with a Holley Sniper fuel injection system and 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission with 3,000-rpm stall converter. Power output is an estimated 500-plus horsepower. Engine features include polished aluminum valve covers and intake, MSD electronic ignition system, and aluminum air cleaner with flame design.

The suspension has been lowered two inches with drop spindles. Braking is provided by power front discs and rear drums. The rear end has been upgraded with a mini spool.

The auction for this 1986 GMC C1500 ends tomorrow, on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 1:15 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

Pick of the Day: 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce

Italian cars can be like a Fellini flick: fantastic, with a dose of drama for good measure. Seems that sounds like our Pick of the Day: a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Philadelphia. (Click the link to view the listing)

Italian cars of this era can be confusing to American car lovers because there were so many variations done with the same chassis: a Bertone here, a Pinin Farina there, and maybe a Zagato for the truly avant-garde. That’s why you see sedans, coupes, convertibles, and practically bespoke versions sharing the same name. That’s very true of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which started off as a 1.3-liter twin-cam inline-four-powered Sprint coupe in 1954, soon to be joined by a Berlina (four-door sedan) and Spider (convertible) a year later.

At the time, unibody construction, aluminum alloy engine block with cast iron sleeves, and hemi heads were novel ideas beyond the twin cams. More powerful versions of the 1956-62 Sprint and Spider were called Veloce (think “velocity”), which added another twin-venturi carburetor and more compression for 89 horsepower, a ten-horse bump. The 1957-62 Giulietta Sprint Speciale, a custom Bertone two-seater, and a race-inspired Sprint Zagato, featured even more compression and 99 horsepower.

This 1959 Alfa Romeo was born a white Giulietta Spider Veloce in Milan on January 3, 1959, and sold through the famous Hoffman Motor Car Co. in Manhattan. In the 1990s, the Alfa was sent to Ashcroft Restorations in Phoenix for an interior refreshing. The exterior was repainted a shade of BMW red by the owner, who owned Day BMW in Concord, California.

The driveline was sent to Conrad Stevenson of Berkeley, where he adapted the Veloce’s exhaust manifold, carburetors, air box and filter, headers, and oil sump to a 1750cc block, then mated the engine to a five-speed manual transmission (the original had four forward speeds). The charging system was also upgraded to an alternator. Underneath, the suspension was upgraded to include a larger sway bar and other tweaks.

Since 2004, this 1959 Giulietta Spider Veloce has been in the possession of the current owner. “The car has been cared for and looked after since thanks to consistent service records on file, and now shows a scant 87,500 on the odometer,” says the dealer, which is a scant 1,500 miles added over 20 years. With classic Italian style and subtle Alfa upgrades, this Giulietta is a dream collectible with some rev-happy drama under the hood. For $95,000, it’s a fine way to enjoy the good life.

Interesting Finds: 1983 Dodge D150

Today’s AutoHunter Cinema feature is a fine example of how final generation D150s are almost a blank canvas for builders. This 1983 Dodge D150 is powered by a Blouch Performance twin-turbocharged 318ci V8 mated to a 904 TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The modified D150 features a ton of customization from the Indigo Blue exterior to the custom navy interior and the performance modifications are more bite than bark. This custom pickup sold for $46,200 at the Barrett-Jackson Houston auction.

Check out AutoHunter Cinema on YouTube for other great videos.

Pick of the Day: 1958 Mercury Commuter

If the quintessential station wagon is the Ford Country Squire, then you have a certain expectation of what a station wagon looks like. So when you encounter a wagon like this 1958 Mercury, does something strike you as being somewhat different? It’s a proper hardtop, which is why this 1958 Mercury Commuter is our Pick of the Day. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Branson, Missouri. (Click the link to view the listing)

By the time this Mercury was built, hardtop wagons had become a thing thanks to the 1955-57 Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari. Truth be told, they were two-door hardtop wagons that were more about style than service. The 1957 Mercury was among the first to offer a “regular” hardtop wagon, which included the Buick Special Riviera Estate Wagon and Century Caballero, and Oldsmobile Rocket 88 and Super 88 Fiestas. Rambler, Dodge, and Chrysler eventually would join the bandwagon. (See what we did there?)

For 1958, Commuter sat at the bottom of the Mercury wagon hierarchy. Trimmed similar to the Monterey, it was available as a two-door, six-passenger vehicle, as well as a four-door version capable handling either six- or nine-passengers. A step up was the Voyager, which was trimmed like a Montclair. It was available in the same three configurations as the Commuter. The Colony Park was trimmed like a Park Lane and was the only wagon to feature wood-grained steel paneling. It was only available as a four-door with seating for six or nine passengers. All were hardtops.

Nineteen fifty-eight was the year Mercury started offering a new family of Marauder V8s that’s commonly known as “MEL” (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln). Standard for the Commuter was a 312-horsepower 383, while the Voyager and Colony Park came standard with 330-horse 383. Optional for all models was the Super Marauder 430 with 400 horsepower — more than Chrysler’s 300-D!

This 1958 Mercury Commuter wagon features four doors and room for nine passengers. Mildly customized, the seller calls this the “California Beach Wagon,” and it shows thanks to four-wheel power disc brakes, American Racing mags, and lowered suspension. With 80,000 miles, the 330-horse wagon also features push-button automatic transmission. “Paint is high-quality with no blemishes or chips. All trim and chrome has been repaired, straightened and either polished or re chromed,” says the seller. “Power steering, power rear window, power antenna … all lights, gauges and accessories in working order … radio works.” Inside, the interior is original and looks great aside of the third row, which has been reupholstered with non-matching material. Best of all, a new under-dash AC system was just installed.

The seller concludes, “Would drive anywhere.” For $87,500 OBO, it better be capable, so tell the tribe to pile in and go to Mount Rushmore with nary a worry. In a sea of SUVs, you certainly would stand out, and the memories would be priceless.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

New York aims to slow speeders with mandated limiter

A group of New York lawmakers want to mandate speed limiters for the cars of serial speeders, The New York Daily News recently reported.

Drivers with multiple speed-camera violations would be ordered to install aftermarket speed limiters in their vehicles, under a bill proposed in the New York State legislature Tuesday by two legislators representing New York City’s Brooklyn borough.

New York City skyline (by Flickr user AngMoKio)

Senator Andrew Gounardes, who is sponsoring the bill in the New York Senate, said in an interview with the Daily News that fines don’t serve as a significant consequence for speeding, adding that a “cohort of drivers” continue to rack up multiple speeding violations.

The proposed alternative is a speed limiter that would prevent cars from traveling no more than 5 mph above the posted speed limit. The bill calls for installing these devices in cars that have been flagged with six or more speed-camera violations.

New York City skyline

In New York State, speed-camera violations do not come with driver’s license points, as the automated system can’t prove who is driving. Drivers who are stopped by police can receive points on their licenses for speeding in addition to fines. State law allows for licenses to be suspended if a driver accumulates 11 points in 18 months, but that’s not mandatory. Under the proposed bill, speed limiters would also be installed in the cars of drivers who accumulate 11 points but don’t have their licenses suspended.

This isn’t the only proposal to limit speed in New York. In 2022, legislators proposed fitting every car manufactured or registered in the state with a system called Active Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) that would use GPS and traffic sign recognition to determine the speed limit—and prevent drivers from exceeding it. That bill failed to advance beyond the New York Senate Rules Committee.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1968 Pontiac GTO

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1968 Pontiac GTO two-door hardtop. Like all GTOs of this vintage, it is powered by a 400cid V8 backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include power steering and brakes, air conditioning, hood-mounted tachometer, and hideaway headlights. Finished in Solar Red with black Cordova vinyl top over a black vinyl interior, this 1968 GTO comes from the selling dealer with a clear title.

With carry-over engines and an all-new body, the GTO was a bit of old, a bit of new. The 400 was introduced the year before, but the standard engine received a bump to 350 horsepower and the optional step-down 400 two-barrel received a nudge to 265 horses. The optional 400 HO and 400 Ram Air continued to be rated at 360 horsepower, with a mid-year Ram Air II being rated at 366 horses. New was the availability of hidden headlights, though most notable was the plastic Endura nose, which pioneered monochromatic styling. For those who found the look too jarring, an Endura delete option (using the Tempest/LeMans’ chrome bumper) was available, though concealed headlights could not be ordered with it.

The exterior is finished in the factory color of Solar Red (code R). Options include hideaway headlights, hood-mounted tachometer, black Cordova vinyl top, and fender-mounted antenna for the radio.

A set of 14-inch Pontiac Rally II wheels is wrapped in Firestone Polyglas redline tires.

The interior is upholstered in black vinyl. Features include notch back front seat with center armrest, column-mounted automatic transmission shifter, power steering, and air conditioning.

The instrument panel includes a 120-mph speedometer, Rally clock, and fuel gauge, plus simulated woodgrain trim. The odometer reads 19,855 miles, but the true mileage on this vehicle is unknown.

Power is provided by the reportedly numbers-matching 400/350 backed by a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission. Engine bay features include chrome valve covers, aluminum intake, and a chrome air cleaner.

This GTO was factory-equipped with an independent front suspension and solid rear-drive axle with rear sway bar. Braking is provided by four-wheel power drum brakes.

The auction for this 1968 Pontiac GTO two-door hardtop ends on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery