“’32 My Way” – Joe Kugel Builds the Deuce Roadster He’s Always Wanted To
Hot rods are a family business for Joe Kugel, who grew up in the hobby and has worked for his father, Jerry, for decades at Kugel Komponents. It’s little wonder he had a few fresh ideas for a Deuce roadster. “I wanted to build (another) ’32 for myself and do it ‘my way,’” Joe says. “I wanted to bring a little bit of modern to the classic full-fendered ’32.”
Working in his spare time, Joe started by building a Kugel Komponents chassis with independent front and rear suspensions, Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering, Wilwood disc brakes, and 15×7- and 15×10-inch wheels machined by Curtis Speed. He had Redline Performance build the 427c.i. Ford V8 using a Dart block, Edelbrock heads, and Borla fuel injection. Joe built the headers himself and backed up the 575hp engine with a McLeod five-speed.
Stones Metal Shop massaged the Brookville body and performed mods like bobbed rear fenders and custom rear frame horn covers. Mahoods Collision then did the bodywork and sprayed the custom-mixed PPG paint. Inside, Bill’s Auto Upholstery stitched red leather over Porsche Speedster seats, while Classic Instruments filled a custom EVOD panel and a custom Curtis Speed wheel topped the Flaming River column.
Finished in time to compete for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at the 2023 Grand National Roadster Show in early February, the Deuce had already logged nearly 1,200 miles by the time Joe brought it to Goodguys Del Mar at the end of March, which seems like a most fitting reward.
Photos by Michael Christensen & Steven Bunker
