While attending the 2025 Triple Crown of Rodding, I ran into an old friend who brought his even older hot rod. “Regret” is a 1932 Ford sedan owned by Dennis “Denny” Lesky and has a history unlike any other hot rod. I visited the Ionia Hot Rod Shop in Ionia, Michigan, some 20 years ago. Back then, Denny and his son, Matt, ran the shop and built true-to-the-last-rivet original hot rods. They were among the coolest modern-day hot rods, built to look just as they would have back in the day.
While doing my due diligence, wandering over, under, and through everything that was anything at the shop, I came across Denny’s ride—a 1932 Ford sedan with a history as both a drag car and a street rod. It features a subtle Vern Abbey 3-3/4-inch top chop and dry lakes–style A-pillars that angle the windshield back ever so slightly. This Deuce sedan has never been off its framerails since the day it rolled out of the Ford River Rouge Plant. (Think about that for a minute!) It was the end of the day, the dead of winter, and we were going to the Detroit Autorama the next day when Denny told me to jump in and we would go for a ride. Well, being a dutiful journalist, how could I turn down the opportunity? Let’s think back. It was late in the day, the sun was setting, it was the middle of winter, there was a light wind, there were no windows (maybe a windshield and back glass, but the doors and quarters were vacant of any “sand”), or at least if there were, they didn’t work, and the gaps in the floorboards and doors would “allow” in the full unfettered winter climes. I sat there on the race-inspired bucket and watched the Stewart–Warner gauges, envious of the water-temperature gauge with its three-digit heat reading! In other words, I damn near froze to death. All the while, Denny was having a ball as he laughed at this West Coast wimp. By the end of our “brisk” drive, it wouldn’t be until Friday night at the Detroit Autorama that I genuinely felt the feeling back in my toes.
But enough of my trials and tribulations. More about Regret. Denny picked up the sedan in late 1979, but before then it was owned by Bill Waddill, who raced it successfully. Initially, it was built with an early Olds V-8. In 1958, it had a Hemi. It was also 1959, the first year it had a Pontiac. Waddill was the first man east of the Mississippi to set a Bonneville land speed record in 1952. He attended the first Autorama in Detroit in 1953 and consistently won “Best Engineered” and top honors in his class. He started the Gear Grinders Club in Flint, Michigan, and retired after 24 years as manager of technical services at General Motors Institute.
The full-fendered Deuce sedan competed in 1958 at the 4th NHRA National Championship Drag Races in Oklahoma City. It ran in B/G and, with its 1953 Chrysler Hemi, posted a class Top Speed of 103.56 mph at 13.373 mph. Look at the photo of the original event sticker—yep, the original, no repop here. Denny tells us, “I loved that sticker on the dashboard. I had a 1932 Victoria before Regret. I tried to buy the dashboard from it to get that sticker. You know, it’s the original thing.”
Denny brought home Regret and several small-block Chevys powered the sedan before he came up with the 1965 Pontiac 389 with Tri-power backed by a TH350. It runs on a set of Firestone/Coker rubber, original 5.5-inch-pattern Ford wheels, and Moon discs. The front axle was a V–8/60 tube back in the day, but it now runs an I-beam. It was light gray with white scallops in Waddill’s days, but he painted it red before the 1958 drags.
An unassuming piece of automotive history was acquired, a car that would soon earn an ironic and fitting name: “Regret.” Initially, Regret was little more than a project—an immobile shell with no engine to rumble beneath its hood. However, by 1980, after a flurry of love and labor, this unique hot rod roared to life, just in time for its first major trip.
Regret was no ordinary hot rod; its striking green plexiglass windows speak to its storied racing heritage, with the rear window still intact as a reminder of its past glory. Just weeks after coming to life, Regret embarked on its maiden journey to Memphis, Tennessee, for the NSRA Street Rod Nationals, an event that would become a staple in its calendar.
The following year, Denny’s entire family piled into Regret for a memorable road trip to the Sunshine State and the Run in the Sun show. This venture was especially special, not just for the destination but also because Regret won the long-distance award, marking thefirst significant family excursion in this beloved car. Their adventures continued, and in 1983, during another trip to Florida, Regret again claimed the long-distance award at the Desoto Drag Strip outside Bradenton. On the journey home, they stopped at the Don Garlits Museum, where the legendary figure himself came out to admire Regret.
Regret became a regular at a number of NSRA regional and national street rod and Goodguys events, a symbol of Denny’s family’s passion for hot rodding until he made the bittersweet decision to park it eight years ago. It wasn’t until 2025, at the AAA show, that Regret rolled onto the streets once more, this time celebrating the season with spins in the snow and festive Christmas shopping trips. But nothing could beat the unforgettable winter experience of cruising through snowdrifts with no windows, bundled up against the chill as laughter echoed through the frosty air—a true testament to the question, “Does your hot rod make you smile?”
The body of Regret remains steadfastly attached to its frame, retaining its essence as a classic hot rod. The fenders were stripped away during a winter project back in 1984, a task handled in Denny’s modest 16×18-foot garage. The time and effort poured into Regret bore fruit with a feature article in Rod & Custom magazine in September 2007. However, the crowning achievement arrived when Regret secured the prestigious Wally’s Pick trophy at the 40th U.S. Nationals, presented personally by the legendary Wally Parks—a true honor representing 40 years of the National Hot Rod Association.
From Regret to his long endeavor with a 1932 Ford roadster pickup that would one day be entered in the Grand National Roadster Show and compete for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award, the narratives of these cars embody not only a love for hot rods but also a journey filled with family bonding, friendships, and cherished memories that defy the passage of time. Each road trip, every trophy, and every shared moment will forever reside in the Lesky family’s collective hearts as they celebrate the vibrant spirit of automotive passion that transcends generations. In a world where cars are often viewed merely as machines, Regret serves as a poignant reminder that hot rods can hold deep emotional significance, serving as vessels for memories, laughter, and family bonds.
As the hot rod world continues to evolve, the stories of these personal projects will endure, inspiring future generations to create their own adventures and memories. In every patina “seasoned” body and every engine rev, the spirit of passion, perseverance, and family remains alive, waiting for the next chapter to unfold. As we gear up for future events, we can’t help but wonder: What new memories will we create, and which hot rod will steal the show next? One thing is for sure—the legacy of Regret will forever echo through the hearts of those who dare to dream and drive.
About the Name Regret
Initially, during the Waddill years, the car had writing on the doors that read, “Kustom Equip. Co., Flint, Michigan.” Where did the name “Regret” come from? The family, two previous owners before Denny, had just gotten married with a small child, and the wife was always “regretting” spending the money on the car rather than on the family. In time, the name “Regret” stuck. MR
