‘32 FORD HIGHBOY HOT ROD
AND THE ORIGINAL BIG DEUCE 3`N 1
KIT 2616 85261600200
The 1932 Ford roadster is the paragon hot rod.
Why? Some reasons are strictly obvious, others are purely
emotional. A few are completely illogical. First, you have to
remember that 1932 was the depth of the recession in the
United States. Most corporate types would not calculate this
as the best time to introduce an all-new, low production run,
low-cost "everyman's car" with styling queues echoing from
high-class marquees like Lincolns and Duesenbergs, and--of
all incredible things--the first assembly-line, low-cost, high-
volume-production V8 engine ever made. A young man's
auto sport that would one day be called hot rodding was
already gaining a strong foothold in Southern California by
this time, and you know their attention was riveted by this
flashy new Ford and its unheard-of engine. This was, hands
down, power to the people.
Some might think that Henry Ford predestined the
'32 Ford to be a collector's classic. The smooth, rounded,
body-color grille shell, the flowing body contours, and the
gentle, conforming body accent lines all broke trend from
the boxy, squared-up Model A. The "Deuce" was offered
not only in the sporty roadster, but also in two completely
different coupes, a couple of sedans, a classy phaeton, a
jaunty Victoria, and even a drop-head version of this model
(B-400), among others. The most amazing part is that this
all-new line was offered for only one short year, with the
V8 models not being introduced until halfway through it.
By 1933, everything changed again (except the V8 engine,
which would last through 1953--as the hot rodders' favorite).
But, of all this, what the rodders saw was a relatively
inexpensive, light, powerful new Ford that came with an
unheard-of affordable V8 engine and a considerably more
rugged (and good-looking) frame. Of course, the young
depression-era rodders couldn't afford new V8s at the time--
they were still stripping down cast-off Model T's and hopping
them up with obsolete race parts from the Teens to compete
on the smooth, dusty dry lakes above L.A.
But after the War, the rapidly swelling throngs of new
rodders latched onto the '32 Roadster (now obsolete itself),
as their car. Why? The roadster was the lightest, cheapest,
and (with fenders, lights, and windshield removed) by far the
most aerodynamic model in the early Ford line (remember
that speed at the dry lakes depends as much on streamlin-
ing as it does on power). The '32 was a bit bigger and wider
than the T's and A's, but it came with the V8 in place, and it
was sporty--a darn good-looking car, with or without fenders.
Not only is the Deuce roadster the classic hot rod,
this is a classic model kit. The Big Deuce followed closely
on the heels of the ground-breaking Big T, offered at the
zenith of the model car hobby in the early '60’s (along with
a 1:1 counterpart of each by Darryl Starbird). It was a stun-
ner then, and is even more so now. All the crispness and
exactness of those original dies and molds remain, but, fully
reflecting the healthy diversity of rodding today, you can
build this value-added kit in any number of styles, ranging
from the original '60s full-fendered, mag-wheeled version, to
a right-on '40s-'50s highboy with a full-dressed flathead, to
a contemporary, throw-back "rat rod" version for which the
multi-carb OHV V8 with open outside headers is perfect (and
the Mexican seat blanket is de rigueur. The Big Deuce was
done right by Monogram the first time around, and it's done
even better in this impressive multi-build kit by successor
Revell-Monogram. Welcome
back, Big Deuce.
Pat Ganahl
Pat Ganahl has been the Editor of Street Rodder, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom,
and Rodders Journal magazines. Pat created the Modellers Corner in
Street Rodders magazine and is an avid model builder.
The Big Deuce is dedicated to Roger Harney, without his continual support and dedication at Revell Monogram this kit would have not been possible
