As a teenager growing up in Southern California in the mid-1950’s, I was blessed with great weather, beaches, drive-ins, chicks and hot rods. At the age of fifteen I started tinkering with the old cars. A year later I got my first hot rod, a 1939 Ford coupe....and I haven’t stopped yet. Back in those days that included street racing, and going to the track. Some of you will remember Lion’s Drag strip, Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, and the L.A. river bed, the Witch Stand in Inglewood, the Clock in Long Beach, and cruising Hollywood Boulevard.... just to name a few spots. As you can see, I just didn’t have any fun!

In 1960 I married my high school sweetheart, Ellen. As everyone knows, while working and raising a family you have no time for the car project, which ends up collecting dust in the garage. After sixteen years in the garage I finally finished the project, a 1950 Olds Coupe. Just prior to moving to Florida in 1999, I sold the 1950 Olds street rod. Ellen keeps reminding me that was a “No No!”....but we did bring Ellen’s 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente with us.
As a teenager I always wanted a 1932 Ford, so 6 years ago I found this one. It was originally built as a hot rod in the 1950’s in the West Virginia area, and again redone in 2002. Due to all the lead work done in the 1950’s the paint began to bubble, so a decision was made to redo the car.

Steve Cooley of Homosassa, Florida stripped the paint and redid all the body work, repainting the car purple again, with steel rims painted in a contrasting shade and wrapped with white wall tires. Hot Rods by Kurt Hum did an engine upgrade with a ZZ4 350 Chevy putting out 355hp, going thru a 200R4 overdrive automatic transmission, and an 8-3/4 inch Chrysler rear end with 3.55:1 gears. The gray interior was done by Dale VanCuren of Dade City, and incorporates lots of polished and plated accent items.

I would like to thank my wife, Ellen, for all of her patience and help through the years with my hobby. And especially my two daughters, Kelly and Kim, for letting Dad spend their inheritance. I tried to make this 1932 Ford what I remembered liking since my youth, and I hope it brings back a lot of memories for all of us old teenagers. -Ned Hines