The ’32 Ford roadster built by Bob McGee is a legend in the hot rod movement, and recently the pioneer highboy was enrolled in the National Historic Vehicle Register. Here’s a beautifully produced video showcasing the Deuce’s rich history.
First shown to the world in the October 1948 issue of Hot Rod magazine, Bob McGee’s Deuce roadster was hugely influential in the early days of the sport. For untold thousands of hot rodders, the red highboy served as a virtual blueprint in how to build a proper ’32 roadster, and yet it remains unique and original. Many of its distinctive features, including the extended deck lid, kicked frame rails, and concealed hood and door hardware, are seldom replicated by modern hot rodders. To this day, the McGee roadster stands apart.
On March 31, 2017, the McGee Deuce was enrolled in the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Historic Vehicle Register—the first hot rod to be so honored. To celebrate the induction, the Historic Vehicle Association has produced an awesome video that tells the story of the McGee ’32 and hot rodding’s early history, too. There are rare facts and never-before-seen photos, and the expert commentary is supplied by the all-star team of Pat Ganahl, Ed Iskenderian, Greg Sharp, Dick Scritchfield, and Bruce Meyer. We just had to share the video here because it’s so good. Please enjoy.
For so many of us uptight purist restorers there’s still a place in our hearts for some real iconic hot rods. Take a car like this and it deserves everything that a fully restored stock model gets. I think of cars such as this one, the Ala Kart, the T-Bucket, the Outlaw, then go to wild outrageous customs like the L’il Coffin and the Beatnik Bandit; they are period works of art designed and built by master craftsmen. To see them still exist today is testament to their appeal. I would love to have a car like this at my place….