It was the Summer of 1973 and my older brother took me to see the new Universal Movies release “American Graffiti”…. so begins the story of my 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe. Actually having three older brothers born between 1946 and 1957, I was bound to be influenced by early rock and roll and hot rods. Not long after my 14th birthday my wonderful dad bought me my first “Project Car”, a 1957 Chevy 2-Door Sedan. After two years of building that car and then rebuilding that car, I turned 16, and as my dad explained it was time for “reliable transportation” for school and my part time job. I remained a big fan of “American Graffiti” and there was always something about that yellow “Deuce Coupe”, that I knew I’d get one of those one day.

Fast Forward to my 50th Birthday, and my gift to myself, and indirectly to my dear mother, was the purchase of my 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe. A lot has changed on the Deuce Coupe in the last decade, the first being the day I picked her up. It went straight to my friend Vince Balistreri for some bad-ass pinstriping and most importantly her name, “Miss Mary”, in honor of my mom....and yes even at age 50 it was the best way for me to get her to go along with the purchase! Mom would go on to join me on many cruises around Orlando over the next several years.

Also, inspired by the late great Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, the Deuce features custom “Ed Roth Edition” embroidery, Ed Roth self-caricature gear shift knob, the “Monster’s” hand and arm - shifter window etchings, the “Monster’s” eye balls hand painted on the air intake butterflies, R.F. Initials Laser Etched on the horn button, Rat Fink valve stem caps, and much more.

Over the last 10 plus years the only thing that remains the same from the original purchase are the body, frame, engine block and rear end housing. Here are most of the transformations: Edelbrock tunnel ram, Edelbrock dual quad 500 carbs, Edelbrock polished aluminum heads, Comp “Thumper” cam, Comp roller rockers, Comp lifters and rods, MSD ignition, Shotgun Bill chromed / aluminum scoop, Billet City polished fan and shroud, Sanderson custom built ceramic coated “Twister” headers, 700R4 transmission, and Lokar linkage. Also new are the Flaming River tilt column, Pete & Jake’s SuperBell front end, Ford 9-inch Detroit Locker / 4.11:1 rear end, Carrera QA1 shocks, Hoosier Pro Street tires, American Racing Torque Thrust aluminum wheels, Auto Meter gauges, PPG Clean Black paint by Edger Perez, pinstriping and flames by Vince Balistreri in Orlando, black widow and webs by Keith Miller, bitchin’ tuck-n-roll by Ed Schreck of Schreck’s Rod & Custom Upholstery in DeLand, and a nitrous bottle in the trunk with a PBR theme.

Probably my favorite feature of the Coupe, next to mom’s name, are the autographs adorning the underside of the trunk lid that include: Jeff Beck, Vic Edelbrock, Miss “Golden Hurst Shifter” Linda Vaughn, Chip Foose, Faith Grainger, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, my dear friend Maryanne, and of course Cindy Williams, Bo Hopkins and Candy Clark from “American Graffiti”….I’ve got to catch up with Paul Le Mat one day!
I believe you “Gotta Drive ‘Em”, so the Deuce Coupe has seen 20,000 miles since 2010 including three Florida east and west coast road trips, a jaunt to Key West with my sweetheart Kate and best friends Gene and Kendra Tanner with their ‘32 Deuce, and various car shows and cruise-ins.

The photo shoot location for “Miss Mary” was in front of the Ford’s Garage restaurant located at The Promenade / Sunset Walk at the Margaritaville Resort in Kissimmee. The Promenade is the home of the monthly second Sunday car show with Don from Crusin’ Orlando and Tara with Fla Car Shows. We are also thrilled to announce that beginning Saturday Night, July 11th, DJ’s Jennifer and Butch Johnston from WJBJ Cruisin’ With The Classics have a new home at The Promenade / Sunset Walk’s Saturday Night Classic Car Cruise-In’s. Check www.SunsetWalk.com for all details. See You at Sunset Walk, and here’s to all of our moms and dads! CN