Timeless ’32 – Rich Stapf’s 20-Year-Old Roadster
“Since we haven’t been able to attend any Goodguys events this year, I thought it would be fun to enter the on-line competition for Hot Rod of the Year with a 20-year-old build,” says Rich Stapf. “We don’t realistically expect to win the award but wanted to pay tribute to my friend Dave Lane as he retires from building hot rods.”
Lane has built several past Hot Rod of the Year and Street Rod of the Year winners in his Fast Lane Rod Shop. This red Deuce, purchased by Rich and his wife back in 2011, is a great example of his style – clean, mean, traditional, and exceptionally well detailed.
A modified Cornhusker Rod & Custom chassis with a Super Bell front axle, Currie rearend, and 15×4.5- and 16×10-inch Real Rodders wheels help achieve the car’s killer stance, while a 350c.i. crate engine backed by a 700R4 transmission delivers reliable performance.
The Brookville body wears many of Lane’s touches – modified cowl lines, handmade rear body corners, top support mechanisms that retract into the body – and a bright BMW Imola Red finish. The cockpit is equally clean – black leather upholstery, a recessed SoCal gauge panel, Stewart Warner gauges, and a Lobeck wheel on the Borgeson column.
“Our roadster looks, runs, and drives as well as it did 20 years ago when it was first built,” Rich says, which is a testament to Lane’s craftsmanship.
