Sometimes the Second Choice is the Right Choice – Like this Ace Fab built 1932 Ford Roadster
You snooze, you lose. A common drag racing analogy, though it works for hot rods when you miss out on buying a car that you really wanted. However, missing that first car may lead to an even better project – just ask Scott Movic. As you can guess, Scott missed out on a ’32 roadster that was listed online, but got to know the builder, Chris Clark of Ace Fabrication, through the missed sale.
It wasn’t long before Chris reached out to tell Scott about a full-fendered Deuce project he had recently started that was available. A deal was reached, designer Eric Brockmeyer laid out some renderings, and before long, everyone involved had a plan of attack.
The Ace Fabrication crew started with a pair of American Stamping rails then went about lengthening the wheelbase, building tubular crossmembers, and installing a 4-inch drop axle with Ridetech shocks up front. The rear suspension is based on a custom set of ladder bars, QA1 coil-overs, and a dogbone Wide-Trac sway bar from Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop. Stopping is handled by ’40 brakes at all corners with Boling Bros. finned aluminum drums topped by custom Brockmeyer-designed wheels machined wheels by Evod.
All along, Scott wanted a low-maintenance, high-fun roadster that he could really drive, so he chose a 6.2-liter 430-horsepower LS3. For a pure street rod look, a Borla eight-stack intake with Weber-style throttle bodies feeds each cylinder and a custom set of Y-Block Ford valve covers was machined by Evod. Scott gets to handle the gear selection through a Bowler-prepped Tremec TKX and Ram clutch setup.
The Ace Fabrication crew started with a steel Brookville roadster body and went about a list of modifications. The rear fenders were lengthened, raised, then finessed to fit the running boards and front fenders. A Rootlieb hood was also lengthened, the grille shell lowered, and the fuel tank was moved into the body. Did you notice the chopped and curved windshield? The entire car was sprayed in a 2023 Porsche Aetna Blue by Show Me Rod & Custom.
The interior and custom removable top are the work of Recovery Room. The custom formed seat and all panels were stitched in Garrett Leather with German square weave carpet. A Lokar/Goolsby Edition dash insert secures Stewart-Warner gauges with a Steadfast steering wheel topping an Ididit column.
It may not have been Scott’s first choice for a street rod, but it turned out to be the perfect choice! Thanks to the teamwork between Ace Fab, Show Me Rod & Custom, the Recovery Room, and Eric Brockmeyer, Scott and Stephanie have the street rod of their dreams.
Photos: John Jackson, Damon Lee
