People smile. Wave. Give thumbs up. Move over on the freeway to let you pass. Smile some more. In a society where anything from last year is, well, so last year, it's nice to know that a rakish, burbling, American hot rod still can stir up emotions.
Although hot rodding was born of a desire for individual expression--and to go faster--there are certain constants. The 1932 Ford has been, and remains, the culture's most popular canvas. While the fenderless, topless highboy roadster is king, the closed version remains an icon, as well. How else can you explain a car design that's selling better than ever, more than 70 years after it went out of production?
Originally, building a hot rod involved junkyard treasure hunts and a lot of welding. When demand outstripped the supply of genuine hardware, the aftermarket began reproducing the parts needed to keep people building cars. Today, dozens of companies supply components--including rolling chassis and new steel bodies--and there are shops around the country that'll build you a turnkey rod, Deuce and otherwise.
Once a company like American Specialty Cars (ASC) has gotten into the game, however, it's clear that hot rodding has further evolved into something well beyond its greasy fingernailed roots. If your car has a sunroof or convertible top, there's a good chance ASC (originally American Sunroof Corporation) was involved in its design or construction. One of the company's latest projects is the Dearborn Deuce body.
Why is this Michigan-based, Tier 1, OEM supplier fiddling in the hot-rod-parts business?
"It was something we began playing around with during our slow season, something different from our usual OE-related work," says Mark Trostle, ASC's president of creative services. "We thought we'd do maybe five to 10 cars a year, just for fun." This casual spare-time project has become a joint venture with Connecticut-based Hot Rods & Horsepower, which recognized bigger potential. HR&H is the exclusive sales agent and distributor of Dearborn Deuce bodies, as well as components, the company's own rolling chassis--even complete, made-to-order cars. So much for ASC's 10-per-year notion: Nearly 200 body kits already have been delivered, with at least that many more on order.
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