1932 Ford Roadster a Tribute to a Dream
By Grant Cox – Photography By the Author
The echoes of engines and the glossy pages of car magazines had always surrounded Lonny Moore. His father, Lynn, had spent a lifetime admiring classic cars, nurturing a particular fascination for the Henry 1932 Ford roadster. This passion wasn’t just a hobby, it was a legacy waiting to be passed down.
The 1932 Ford roadster that caught Lonny’s eye wasn’t just any car, it had been a beacon in the hot rod scene across Texas and California. The previous owner, Don Smith, was well respected in the community, adding an extra layer of prestige to the vehicle. After much negotiation and anticipation, Lonny managed to purchase the car and the day he drove it into his garage marked the beginning of a new chapter.
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Lynn’s visit to Lonny’s house shortly after was nostalgic, filled with old stories and thumb-worn magazines featuring dazzling arrays of classic cars. Among these was an article about Steve Moal’s own 1932 Ford roadster, a car that Lynn had admired for years. Handing over these relics, Lynn shared his lifelong dream of owning a true Henry 1932 roadster—only, in his vision, it was always black, not the vibrant blue that now sat in Lonny’s garage.
Taking his father’s preference to heart, Lonny faced a dilemma. The roadster was already a beauty, a symphony of engineering and history on wheels, yet it wasn’t the black beacon of the past that his father had dreamed of. The decision was made; Lonny embarked on a meticulous restoration project.
The car was completely dismantled, a process that revealed every curve and contour of its historic frame. Lonny’s own shop, Moore’s Collision, became the revival ground. Butch Dysart, a master of metalwork, tackled the frame, ensuring every inch met their exacting standards. Lonny himself took over the finishing touches, sculpting the body lines back to their original glory before any paint touched the metal.
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While the powerplant was out of Lonny’s ’32, he had the GM small block 350 engine freshened up by having it bored out 0.030. To let the powerplant breathe more, a new Speedway manifold was mated to an 625-cfm Edelbrock carburetor. A set of 2-inch Kerker headers was mated to the cylinder heads, letting the spent gasses out through its mandrel-bent custom exhaust. To send the power to the wheels, Lonny choose a Turbo 350 transmission connected to a Ford 9-inch rear end to complete his powertrain.
The choice of paint was deliberate, an homage to the classic era: Axalta 9900G single-stage black for its depth and intensity, followed by Axalta 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Green on the chassis and other components, blending traditional aesthetics with modern resilience.
As the paint set, the Deuce roadster slowly transformed back into the masterpiece it once was—only now does it bear the personal stamp of the Moore family. The final touch was the interior. At Downey Interiors, Scott worked his magic, selecting Mercedes Haartz cloth and leather that complemented the luxurious and historic feel Lonny aimed for. This wasn’t just a car; it was a piece of art, a nod to both past and present. Scott then installed a Classic Instruments Maine Line Cluster gauge on the dashboard to give that classic look. The Juliano’s Banjo steering wheel was then mated up to the tilt GM steering column.
With the car back from the interior shop, it was time to mount the new wheels. Lonny picked out a set of American Rebel wheels: 15×4.5 mated to a 145/55R15 tires up front and 16×8.5 mated to a 225/75R16 tires out back. One added Lonny had all the lettering shaved off the sidewalls.
The day Lynn saw the restored Ford roadster, his eyes lit up with a mix of pride and nostalgia. The car not only represented a shared passion but had become a bridge between generations, a story of familial bonds strengthened through shared dreams and craftsmanship.
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When Lonny took Lynn for a ride in the newly restored Ford roadster, the purr of the engine was more than just mechanical, it was a heartbeat, resonant with decades of history and love for the open road. The black paint gleamed under the sun, a shadow turned into an elegant silhouette racing against time. Lynn’s dream had been realized, not just in the color of the car but in the shared journey it represented.
In that moment, with the wind whipping past and the road stretching endlessly before them, father and son shared more than just a ride; they shared a legacy, reborn and restored, just like the 1932 Ford roadster. MR
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Moore Family Ford Roadster Reborn and Restored.
