Randy Potter’s 1932 Ford Roadster by Streamline Custom Designs
Editors Note – The West Coast Nationals has always attracted the country’s top street rods and new creations from influential builders. Goodguys celebrates their presence by making this event the home for the Goodguys/BASF America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod award. This honor recognizes beauty, style, and refinement in 1948-and-earlier street rod construction. Five finalists are selected, and then a committee evaluates and ranks the finalist on beauty and design, in addition to quality-of-construction elements like fit, finish, and attention to detail. George Poteet’s gorgeous “Three Penny” ’36 Ford Roadster was named the 2019 winner, but each of the finalists warrants a closer look such as Randy Potter’s 1932 Ford shown here.
In the nearly 90 years since the first 1932 Ford appeared, thousands of owners have sliced and diced these iconic cars to appeal to their personal desires. Walk a large car show and you’ll see plenty of ‘32s, but you’d be hard pressed to find one like Randy Potter’s roadster.
Randy relied on the efforts of Streamline Custom Designs in Grantsville, Utah, to help make this impressive roadster a finalist for America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod, just a month after being a Street Rod of the Year Finalist in Columbus.
The chassis from Steadfast Manufacturing features a custom Pete and Jakes tube front axle suspension and a Ford 9-inch rearend with 3.73 gears. Johnson’s Kinmont-style disc brakes handle the stopping chores. Diamond Back tires fit on Dayton wire wheels, with a nice rake provided by the 15×4.5-inch fronts and 17×8-inch rears.
The Brookville Roadster body has been heavily tweaked, including a tucked fuel tank, custom splash aprons, shortened rear fenders, a laid back Rodwell windshield, Streamline custom hood and cowl vents, and an Alumicraft grille insert. The sleek body was ultimately covered in Valspar House of Kolor Anvil Gray by Streamline Custom Designs. Wheels and many trim and suspension pieces are painted cast bronze for a distinctive accent.
Power comes from a Chevrolet Performance ZZ6 350c.i. crate engine topped by an Inglese 8-Stack induction system. Technostalgia Fauxmobile valve covers highlight the engine accessories. Polished stainless-steel ram horn headers feed waste gases through a Flowmaster Super 409 exhaust system. A TCI 700R4 transmission connects the engine to the rearend.
The stock dash features a Goolsby insert housing Classic Instruments brushed nickel gauges. A Lime Works ’39 banjo wheel controls the steering while a Lokar radical ’32 Double Bend shifter controls the transmission. Stylishly designed Kalamata leather covers the Glide seat while greyhound versa-weave carpet covers the floor. Matching storage pouches highlight the door panels. Interior work was done by Bruce Lee at Perfect Stitch in South Jordan, Utah.
Randy’s sublimely subtle ’32 roadster stood out in the brightly colored crowd.
Photos by John Jackson
