By Brian Brennan – Photography By NotStock Photography
Mark McDonald from Central California proudly owns and built a stunning 1932 Ford roadster that has attracted significant attention at the hot rod show circuit. He quickly credits his father, Mark Sr., and Russell Zullim of Double Z Hot Rods for their contributions. At the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show, his roadster took First Place in the Street Roadster category. It also earned the 2025 Meguiar’s Magnificent Masterpiece award at the Goodguys Del Mar Nationals and was named the 2025 Best of Show 1st Runner-Up at the Classic at Pismo Beach.
The heart of this roadster is a BluePrint 350 engine with a stock displacement of 350 ci. This V-8 features an iron block with casting marks removed for a clean paint finish. BluePrint Engines handled the machining, and hypereutectic pistons inside provide a 9.2:1 compression ratio, with the rotating assembly balanced for better performance. It uses a hydraulic roller camshaft with an intake lift of 0.495 inch, an exhaust lift of 0.502 inch, and durations of 220 degrees on the intake and 224 degrees on the exhaust. The aluminum cylinder heads are fitted with Offenhauser valve covers.
An Inglese 8-stack manifold is equipped with induction via Weber 44 IDF carburetors, supported by a Holley Red fuel pump; bug screens serve as the air cleaners. The ignition features a PerTronix distributor and electronic coil, MSD spark plug wires, all powered by an OPTIMA REDTOP battery located behind the seat. The exhaust system includes smooth, coated Chevy ram’s-horn manifolds connected to a 2-1/2-inch-diameter pipe, fabricated by Mark himself, which then flows into a pair of Flowmaster two-chamber mufflers.
Engine accessories include a smoothed aluminum water pump, a SPAL electric fan, a Powermaster alternator, and a Powermaster PowerMAX Plus starter. The transmission is a Monster 350, paired with a torque converter with a 1,500-rpm stall speed. A Monster Stage 2 Shift Kit complements the valvebody, and a Lokar shifter handles gear selection. A 12-inch finned aluminum trans cooler completes the driveline setup. This setup delivers an impressive 411 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, making the roadster stand out both aesthetically and in performance.
The framerails are based on a SO-CAL Speed Shop Step Boxed frame, fitted with a Tanks-replica, stock-sized gas tank. The front suspension uses a Posies spring with reversed eyes and a Roadster Supply Company 4-inch drop I-beam axle, with early Ford-style spindles and aluminum Ridetech shocks. The steering box is Vega-style, operated by a LimeWorks Hot Rod steering column. The rear suspension supports a 9-inch Currie rearend with a 3.76 gear, 31-spline axles, a SO-CAL ladder bar setup, Afco coilover shocks, and a SO-CAL Panhard bar.
Brakes consist of SO-CAL Speed Shop Wilwood discs hidden inside faux Buick finned drums from the front Hot Rod Brake system. The rear brakes are Speedway Motors 12-3/4-inch drums, measuring 3.75 inches in width. An under-floorboard dual-reservoir SO-CAL master cylinder and pedal assembly controls the brake system. Rolling stock includes original Ford 16×4 wheels in the front and Wheelsmith 16×5 wheels in the back, fitted with Firestone Deluxe tires by Coker, 4.50/4.75-16 in the front and 7.00-16 in the rear.
The Deuce sheetmetal, which includes the body, fenders, and running boards, comes from Brookville Roadster and has been modified with a raised trunk floor for rearend clearance. The steel four-piece hood is from Rootlieb, featuring a “winter-style” 1932 Ford grille insert from Alumicraft while the shell is courtesy of Vintique Auto Parts. All necessary bodywork and paint were completed at Double Z Hot Rods in Nori Green, using an Axalta basecoat and clearcoat system. Lighting is a clean combination of taillights from Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop, while the headlights are 1934 Ford commercial units resting on a dropped Deuce headlight bar.
Under the 3-inch chopped windshield from Roadster Supply Company, which also supplied the stanchions, the glass came from Vision Glass Werx. The Deuce dash houses an engine-turned inset panel with a five-gauge set from Classic Instruments. The gauges are wired with an American Autowire kit installed by Mark. The steering column from LimeWorks is topped with a LimeWorks “banjo-style” wheel. Upholstery was handled by Wall and Eades Auto Upholstery, with the front seat built using a Glide Engineering bench, upholstered in black leatherette, and finished with black tight-loop carpeting. Brake and throttle pedals, along with the floor shifter, are from Lokar.
It’s always exciting when your long-term project finally rolls out of the garage and powers itself down the highway. It doesn’t hurt when it is this stunning-looking 1932 Ford roadster packed with good looks and lots of hot rod performance. Job well done to Mark and his partners in building this good-looking Deuce. MR
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