Scott Chontos’ 1932 Ford Coupe by Customs and Hot Rods of Andice
You know a hot rod project is a good one when both the car owner and builder are equally excited about it. That was the case with this ’32 five-window coupe belonging to Scott Chontos. Builder Harold Chapman of Customs and Hot Rods of Andice liked the car so well he bought it from Scott!
The multi-year build on the coupe was nearing completion a number of years ago when life changes forced Scott to sell his dream hot rod before it was finished. Harold offered to buy it, making sure to give Scott first dibs to buy it back. Harold and his wife, Tracy, enjoyed driving and showing the car for several years – it even went on a Goodguys Road Tour and became a Top 5 finalist for Hot Rod of the Year in 2017. When Scott’s circumstances allowed him to buy the car back, Harold made good on his promise.
It’s easy to see why this hot rod is so desirable, as it demonstrates a great balance of refined and rowdy. The latter element comes from the potent 427c.i. Dart small-block Chevy making more than 600 horsepower. It’ll get the coupe moving in fast fashion as Scott shifts the gears on the Tremec five-speed, but it still looks sharp with custom CHRA valve covers, Hilborn stack injection, and satin copper paint.
Cradling that engine is a modified Pete & Jakes chassis with a Magnum dropped axle, custom hairpins from CHRA, and a ladder bar rear suspension locating a Winters quick-change rearend. The front disc brakes are modified to resemble vintage Halibrand units, while the one-off wheels were designed by Jimmy Smith and machined by EVOD.
The five-window coupe body is genuine Henry steel that has been massaged to achieve precise fit and gaps, has a filled roof, and features a custom hood pin system. The paint is a custom-mixed PPG bronze that helps deliver a look that’s both classy and tough.
Climb inside and you’ll find an original Ford dash fitted with a CHRA gauge panel and custom Classic Instruments green-line gauges. JJ’s upholstery at CHRA stitched the chocolate brown Italian leather covering the seat and other soft parts. There are plenty of cool details like custom footwell recesses by Steve Moal, a handmade A/C box with vents, a custom CHRA steering wheel, and a slick ’60s-style custom shifter topped with a brass ball.
With a mean ’60s-era vibe and lots of power on tap, the coupe is a blast to drive and turns heads wherever you go. Harold admits it was difficult to hand over the keys when Scott was able to buy it back, but he’s also happy that Scott’s hot rod dreams are finally being realized where they belong: on the road.
Photos by John Jackson & Damon Lee
