This little Deuce five-window, “The Copper Coupe” is now a two-time (2008 ‘n’ 2018) Grand National Roadster Show winner. It’s only been entered twice, ten years apart, and with no changes it’s taken first place in the Street Coupe category both times.
Outwardly true to 1962, here’s your top-notch hot rod. With its accessory 4-door hood closed, the modern mill and Vintage Air go unnoticed—as they really should.
Beginning with a real, steel Deuce 5-window coupe, this frame-up build is based on all-new chassis components from Classic Street Rod Manufacturing (Osmin ‘n’ Hugo) in Ontario, California. Chosen chassis options include a forged, 4-inch-dropped and drilled beam axle, hairpins and a mono-leaf spring up front with a 9-inch Lincoln rearend suspended by adjustable Aldan coil-overs and ladder bars out back. Brakes are a drum/disc combo. Steering is Vega-type with a reproduction Bell 3-spoke wheel atop a polished stainless column from Limeworks.
Power is provided by a Chevrolet Performance 350 Ramjet (fuel injected) crate motor, backed by a remanufactured TCI TH350 transmission with a tall Gennie Shifter and park brake assembly. This little coupe is mechanically low-maintenance, dependable and drivable as it truly shines at show time as well. Today, eleven years after completion it’s the same show-quality car—with just-under 3,000 miles on its odometer.
Interior appointments include two-tone vinyl tuck-‘n’-roll trim over a creature-comfortable adjustable seat from Glide Engineering with a custom-crafted rumble seat to match. The car’s original dash sports a SoCal insert, outfitted with new Stewart Warner (Wings-series) instrumentation. The unique cast-iron column drop is adjustable and fashioned from a rare ‘30s Cadillac piece.
Beyond quality construction and flaw-free finish, it’s largely the little things that separate this car from others of its kind. Here the difference is the details. With smoothed, painted, polished and plated underpinnings, the underside finish is immaculate and as glossy as the topside parts that people see. Paint is PPG throughout and holding up beautifully, now for eleven years.
Like an additional feather in its cap, “The Copper Coupe” is featured at length (eight pages’ worth) in artist, Mike Chase’s recently published book, DEUCE. In that beautiful book, this car is at home amongst 32 of the finest ‘32s in the world, which is an honor to be proud of as well. Along with build records and a California Car Cover, an author-autographed copy of the book will be included as a deal-sweetening accessory for your coffee table.
Got questions? Email me (the car’s builder) via the system, or call me direct at (406) 437-1944. Let’s talk.