**The Ford Deuce Coup: A Game-Changer of an Era**
The 1932 Ford platform would be shared between two cars, the Model B and the Model 18. Both models came in a wide variety of different versions. There was the Coupe, the 2-Door Sedan, the 4-Door Sedan, the Cabriolet, the Phaeton, the Pickup, and most importantly, the Roadster. And remember, all of these cars were available as both the Model B and the Model 18.
**Ford's Innovation: The Steel Enforced Body**
In the early '30s, Ford was feeling the heat from its competitors. Ford decided that another game-changer was due. The name of the game for Ford's new model would be innovation. Many cars of the era had bodies that were little more than steel nailed to wooden frames. Just like my high school girlfriend. This meant that when the car was outside, which to this day is where cars spend most of their time, it was completely exposed to moisture, dry rot, heat, and most of all termites.
**The Birth of the Flathead V8**
Henry Ford had wanted an eight cylinder engine in one of his cars since the release of the Model T. His unrelenting obsession led to the creation of the Flathead V8, which made 25 more horsepower than Chevy's V6 and was lighter as well. Despite numerous problems, people really loved the V8 and the '32 Ford by extension.
**The Hot Rod Scene: A Movement Born from Greasers**
After World War II ended, millions of GI's were coming home starting families and making decent wages for the first time. Everybody was buying a new car. That means all the old Flathead cars people had in their driveways were being put out to pasture. Suddenly, you could get a V8 on the cheap. And because of those steel reinforced bodies, the cars were still in good shape.
Greasers started picking up Flatheads and souping them up with cams, better heads, and better valves. It didn't take long for the hot rod scene to start mixing it up with the surfing scene in Southern California. Surf rock bands like The Beach Boys started singing about it, which took the whole thang mainstream.
**The Little Deuce Coup: A Legacy that Lives On**
There's tons of companies out here producing brand new '32 Ford bodies. Apparently, there are more '32s registered in California than 32s were built in '32. People are building Highboys, Lowboys, Dragboys, Autocrossboys, Alterboys, Deuce Coupes, Deuce Scoops, Scoopity Doopity Woops. Poops!
And they're not all powered by Flatheads. People will throw almost anything under the hood of a '32. From the Ford Coyote five-liter to the Chevy 350, even Ferrari engines. The truth is, the only limiting factor in style and performance is your own creativity.
**Conclusion**
The Little Deuce Coup has become a symbol of a bygone era, but its legacy lives on through the countless car enthusiasts who continue to build and customize '32 Fords. Whether it's a high-performance monster or a nostalgic tribute to the past, there's no denying the allure of this iconic car.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of the Ford Deuce Coup. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button and the bell so you don't miss anything. Are Fords really dying? Check out this episode of Wheel House. You still wanna learn about Fords? Watch this episode of Up To Speed.
Follow me on Instagram @jamespumphrey. Follow Donut on Instagram @donutmedia. You wanna buy some merch? Go to shop.donut.media. I love you, (burp).
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(engine revving)- This little flathead Ford is an icon.A symbol for an entire era.It gave birth to the hot rod movementand didn't even need an epidural.This is everything you needto know to get up to speedon the Ford Deuce Coup.(techno music)the Ford Motor Company was riding highon the success of the ModelA, the Model T's successorthat offered contemporary luxurieslike electric enginestarters and fancy stylingfor a low low price.Ford's thang had alwaysbeen offering the best carfur the lowest price.But in the early '30s,Ford was feeling the heatfrom its competitors.Ford decided that, once again,another game changer was due.The name of the game for Ford's new modelwould be innovation.Many cars of the era hadbodies that was little morethan steel nailed to wooden frames.Just like my high school girlfriend.This meant that when the car was outside,which to this day, is wherecars spend most of their time.(chiming sound)Anyway, when it was outside,it was completely exposed tomoisture, dry root, heat,and most of all termites.I mean guys, can you imaginegetting into your carand finding termites in it?What the (beep).A car in the '30s was no wayas durable as yours is todayuntil Ford whipped upa little thing calledthe Steele EnforcedBody for their new car.Not only would a steelbody be much strongerbut it would also hold up --(grunts)against the elements for decades to come.Hmm, that sounds like a specific detailthat will be importantlater on in the story.I guess you'll have tohit that subscribe buttonto find out.The 1932 Ford platform wouldbe shared between two cars.The Model B and the Model 18.Both models came in a widevariety of different versions.There was the Coupe, the2-Door Sedan, the 4-Door Sedan,the Cabriolet, the Phaeton, the Pickup,and most importantly, the Roadster.And remember, all ofthese cars were availableas both the Model B and the Model 18.For the mathematicallychallenged out therewho don't happen to be a math boy like me,that means Ford was selling14 different versionsof the same car.And you thought the JeepWrangler had a ton of options.Henry Ford had wantedan eight cylinder enginein one of his cars sincethe release of the Model T.His first real attempt was in 1922with his X-8 Prototype enginewhich was basically a radioengine like plans use.But, it didn't work becauseof cooling problems.Henry was pissedbut he didn't give up.The Model 8 came out in1927 and Henry pressuredhis engineers to get aV-8 out the door and soon.(horn blowing)Too sweet.Turns out Ford's instincts were correctbecause in 1929, Chevy debuted their V6which made gobs more powerthan the Model 8 did.This enraged Henry.The advancement at Chevy meantFord was working double timeto finish their V8.If Ford could be the firstones to market an affordableeight cylinder engine, itcould change the game entirely.But there were a few reasonswhy no one had done it before.First, most V8s at the timewere cast in several piecesthen bolted together.Ford hated the thought of it.Second, V8s didn't run nearlyas smooth as inline designsand people thought a V8 wouldjust shake the car apart.Neither of these reasons deterred Henry.People at Ford were soskeptical of building a good V8in time that Henry's own son insistedthat the company build a V6 instead.But there was one thingthey didn't count on.The fact that Henry Ford waspossibly the most stubbornperson to ever live.So, Henry pressed forwardand wary of the skepticismwithin the company, hadfour separate teams --Four!Working on four separate V8 designs.All of them unaware ofeach other's existence.Even though he wasn't anengine builder himself,Henry insisted on gettingthe teams strict guidelinesto stick to regardless ifthey made sense or not.Henry forbode one teamfrom using a water pumpon their design.On another, Ford told themthey couldn't use an oil pumpwhich was weird becausethe Model A had one.What the heck, Ford?Finally, after only 16months of design time,Ford had his V8.Measuring in at 221 cubicinches, the engine made 81 hrsprsand had a dope name, the Ford Flathead.(engine accelerating)unlike modern engines, theFlathead's entire valvetrainlived inside the engine block.But the rush to developmentof a Flathead meantthere were going to be some problems.And remember, this engine is going inall of the new Model 18's.It wasn't uncommon forthe new Flathead to burnthrough all of its oilbefore the gas tank was emptyand since Ford didn'tquite nail the casting,engines could straight up break in halfand piston failure was rampant.See, this is what happenswhen you rush things.Kids, I know you're watching.Don't half ass your homework.Do your best and yourhomework won't split in halfwhen your teacher turns it on.Where's a little advice(sucking noise) from UncleJames.The Flathead made 25 morehrsprs than Chevy's V6and not only that, the Ford was lighter.Despite numerous problems,people really loved the V8and the '32 Ford by extension.Before, eight cylinderengines were only availablefrom high end brands like Cadillac.But now, thanks to Ford'sunhinged obsession,the common folk could enjoyone of life's great pleasures,the howl of a naturally aspirated V8.(engine revving)In the first year of production,Ford sold nearly 300,000cars powered by the Flathead.Production of the Model18 continued until 1934with only one major variation,the grill.You can tell '32's apart from'33's and '34's by the shapein their mouths.This is really riveting.After World War dub ended,millions of GI's were coming homestarting families and making decent wagesfor the first time.Everybody was buying a new car.That means all the oldFlathead cars people hadin their driveways werebeing put out to pasture.Suddenly, you could get a V8 on the cheap.And because of thosesteel reinforced bodies,the cars were still in good shape.Greasers started picking upFlatheads and souping them upwith cams, better heads and better valves.And so, a movement was born.(engine revving)It didn't take long for thehot rod scene to start mixingit up with the surfing scenein Southern California.Surf rock bands like TheBeach Boys started singingabout it which took thewhole thang mainstream.♪ She's my little deuce coup. ♪Soon enough, everyone but their dad,which are lame.Dads suck.Was hot rodding old Flathead Fords.Today people still can't get enoughof the Little Deuce Coup.There's tons of companies out hereproducing brand new '32 Ford bodies.Apparently, there are more'32's registered in Californiathen 32's were built in '32.People are buildingHighboys, Lowboys, Dragboys,Autocrossboys, Alterboys,Deuce Coupes, Deuce Scoops,Scoopity Doopity Woops.Poops!And, they're not all powered by Flatheads.People will throw almostanything under the hood of a '32.From the Ford Coyote fiveliter, to the Chevy 350,even Ferrari engines.The truth is, the only limiting factorin style and performanceis your own creativity.But whatever it ends upbeing, it's a '32 Fordand it's yours.(engine revving)Thank you.Hit the subscribe and the bellso you don't miss anything.Are Fords really dying?Check out this episode of Wheel House.You still wanna learn about Fords?Watch this episode of Up To Speed.Follow me on Instagram @jamespumphrey.Follow donut on Instagram @donutmedia.You wanna by some merch?Go to shop.donut.media.I love you (burp).
