Phil and Debbie Becker’s Deuce coupe is the 2011 Goodguys Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year.
Finding an original steel ’32 Ford three-window coupe is not an easy task; turning one of Henry’s survivors into award-winning art is even more challenging. For Phil and Debbie Becker, Dwight, IL, both tasks were made easier when they turned to Fastlane Rod Shop’s Dave Lane, an old-school craftsman who works alone.
The results: The refined, hot-rod-stanced Mustard Yellow ‘32 coupe, above, that took home the Goodguys 2011 Classic Instruments “Street Rod of the Year” honors at the Goodguys 14th PPG Nationals presented by Bridgestone in Columbus, Oh.
Lane chopped the coupe ¾-inch and repositioned the rear window, tilting it forward slightly. The hood is pie cut and the spreader bars have been curved to match the body contour which required a complete reshape of the gas tank. All four fenders were cut and reshaped and Lane fabricated custom splash aprons. The custom DuPont Mustard Yellow paint is set off by dark chocolate leather upholstery, stitched at Shober’s Custom Hot Rod Interiors, Sandwich, IL. Interior features a vintage Porsche steering wheel with Ford V8 horn button and a Classic Instruments ’34 Plymouth gauge panel.
The coupe is powered by a tri-power 350-inch Chevy hooked up to a Gearstar 700 R4 transmission and a Winters quick- change rear. Its custom chassis features front and rear transverse leaf springs, hairpin front/ladder bar rear, and Bilstein shocks. Dayton wire wheels (15x4 ½ -inch front, 17x8-inch rear) are painted chocolate brown to match the interior. Other goodies include Speedway Motors “Ram Horn” manifolds and a 2 ½-inch, Jet-Hot-coated custom exhaust system.
Becker considers the almost-two-year build process as “one of the true highlights” of his life and thanked Lane for building his dream. It was the 3rd Street Rod of the Year title for Lane as a builder.
For more information about the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association and its schedule of competitive events, please visit, http://www.good-guys.com/