By 1931, dwindling sales of Ford’s Model A prompted many to write off Henry Ford’s car company as being unable to keep up with the times. However, Ford had an ace up his sleeve with the revolutionary V-8 model line, which was developed in secret and introduced on March 31st, 1932. The flathead V-8 has been said to be the last great engineering achievement in which Henry Ford had direct involvement and close personal supervision. It has been recognized as being a “game changer” for Ford Motor Company’s future by making V-8 power available in a low-priced automobile for the first time. The consumer could upgrade from the Model B, with its inline four-cylinder engine, to the Model 18 and its V-8 for the sum of $50. The cost is listed in period price charts as $450 versus the $500 required for the V-8 Deluxe. The new engine was instrumental in restoring Ford to the top of the sales charts, albeit briefly.

Henry Ford’s insistence on a low-priced V-8 engine, against the four- and six-cylinder competition, was a stroke of engineering and marketing genius. The Flathead powered most Ford cars and trucks until its replacement by an overhead-valve V-8 in 1954, but aesthetics were not ignored. The new models featured rounded corners, a slanted windscreen and a perfectly proportioned radiator shell. Nearly 300,000 of these “baby Lincolns” were sold in 1932, and the Roadster remains a favorite today, although only a small number of the original 7,413 (6,893 were Deluxe models) examples built with this body style survive in original form today.

The lack of original presentation 1932 Ford Roadsters is mainly due to the fact that they became a cornerstone for the hot rod movement that grew exponentially after World War II, and elevated the car to a level of fame that few could have predicted. The Ford Flathead V-8 generated an entire aftermarket industry devoted to extracting greater power from the unit, and it is an industry that is active to this day. Of the 19 different Model 18 body styles, the roadster became the “poster car” for the hot rodder. It became to be simply known as “the Deuce,” a tribute to the 1932 model year. They would roar to glory on the dry lake beds of Southern California and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Coveted above all others by hot rod enthusiasts, most roadsters ended up being subjected to chops, channeling and other modifications leaving very few that have made it through in their original guise. No matter how beautiful and desirable some of these hot rods may be; there is nothing quite like a vintage automobile in its original form.

This 1932 Ford Deluxe Roadster is extremely handsome retains an original 221-cid, 65-hp flathead V-8 engine and is finished in maroon, complemented by its tan interior. It received a total body-off-frame restoration, with over $200,000 invested into the professional restoration according to the current owner. It was meticulously attended to, and is stated to be have “Detroit original” status. This resulted in it receiving 988 points (from an available 1,000) at a 2012 Early Ford V-8 Club National meet in Branson, Missouri. It is also a Dearborn winner furthering the appeal of this fine auto.

A correct, all-steel example of Ford’s dashing roadsters from the landmark 1932 introductory year of the Ford V-8, this Deluxe Roadster is a exquisite example of one of the most beloved and sought-after cars in the classic-car hobby today.