Unique and Fun Highboy! Flathead V8, Tremec 5 Speed, Front Disc Brakes, Roadster

Whether it's the ultra-affordable price or the curiously diminutive stature, something probably made you do a double-take and look closer at this 1932 Ford Highboy ¾ Scale Roadster. Finished nicely in black on a custom fiberglass body and powered by a Flathead V8, this 'lil roadster may be smaller than most, but it still packs a big streetrod punch. A stripped-down roadster is the essence of speed, and this black '32 delivers that classic look from... nose to tail. The body itself is Chupps Hot Rods fiberglass, although the dimensions have been shrunk to 115"x 60"x 45" (with a 36" door line), resulting in a ¾ scale hotrod that really plays tricks on your eyes. But man, it's really cool too. The lines are exact and the ultra-smooth bodywork is worthy of the black paint. Things like the hinges, door handles, and cowl lights have been shaved and the windshield was raked back a bit, all in the quest for style and speed. The half hood shows off the mechanicals underneath and there's a single red pinstripe to highlight the belt molding, a little detail that a lot of traditional hot-rodders have always embraced. The traditional '32 Ford grille is flanked by big Ford commercial headlights and a blacked-out spreader bar, while the rear end is decorated with some more pinstripe details and integrated LED taillights. It's a look that's worked for decades and it'll never go out of fashion, and even though this replica doesn't take up quite as much space as more traditional '32s, it never the less hits all the finer points of Ford Deuce rodding. It's pretty likely that few roadsters in the early days of hot rodding had interiors this nicely finished, albeit the space is a bit tighter because of the scaled down measurements. A contoured bench seat is wrapped in clean gray vinyl with pleated inserts, a classic look that matches the smooth gray door panels as well. Full, plush carpets are a luxurious feature in any roadster and they provide just enough sound-deadening .and heat-neutralizing material to keep the cabin comfortable. The black dash is simple and carries two round Classic Instrument gauges inside to monitor all the engine's vitals and the 4-spoke steering wheel has a vintage track racer vibe. It feels natural to rest your hand on the 5-speed manual short shifter and there are almost no signs of wear anywhere inside the car, a testament to the quality of the build and low 348 miles since the build was completed. The trunk has a little room for a small travel bag for road trips, despite being home to the gas tank and battery, all of which are nicely integrated for easy access. Traditional horsepower comes in the form of a deliciously vintage 136 Flathead V8 motor with a few smart upgrades. The block has been augmented with aluminum heads, and dual #59 1-barrel carburetors supply the air-and-gas mixture. It cackles like an old-school rod should thanks a dual exhaust and Glasspack-style mufflers with turn-downs just past the rear axle, but everything's tucked up nice and neat inside the frame. In fact, the frame itself is as well-finished as the bodywork, with glossy black paint and lots of prep work in all the places that count, giving it a nice, uniform look. The transmission is a quick-shifting, modern Tremec T5 5-speed manual and it powers a beautifully finished heavy-duty rear with friendly gears inside, which is plenty when your car weighs so little and is pulled by a V8. The suspension is traditional hot rod, and with a rack-and-pinion steering unit up front along with front disc brakes, this little bugger handles and stops quite well. Shiny Weld wheels offer the perfect big-n-little combination with 175/70/13 front and 215/75/14 rear Kumho performance radials. With only 348 miles since it was completed, this is a fresh build on a fresh take of an old favorite that looks great and runs even better. Call today!