32nd Street

Words: Dave Biggadyke Pics: Dave Biggadyke and Steve Baines (as credited)

The 2022 NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals was one of the biggest and best events Britain has ever seen. The site was teeming with superb vehicles and no end of special car displays – of which by far the largest was 32nd Street – a celebration marking the 90th anniversary of the legend that is the 1932 Ford.

Pulled together by the NSRA’s Chris Smith, the display overcame a few unfortunate last-minute no-shows to boast a staggering total of 110 Deuces representing the full range of body styles – roadsters, sedans, pick-ups and coupes, some with more windows than others. These included a number of new builds – while others in the line-up were first rodded way back in the 1980s, making this a display of historical significance in more ways than one.

Some of the cars are familiar, others aren’t. Some of the names are familiar, others aren’t. That was the beauty of the all-embracing 32nd Street. The effort that went into staging this display was immense, both before the event and on the day. Well done to all involved, however small a part they played

Front left is Jon Golding’s ZZ4 motivated 3-window coupe, a car he has owned for 22 years. It won Best in Britain at the Donnie Show in 2002 and was subsequently shipped to California where Jon used it for more than three years before bringing it back home Pic: Steve Baines

The amazing display in 32nd Street begs one question: Was this the largest collection of ’32 Fords ever assembled outside of the USA? Pic: Steve Baines

Above left: The oldest UK hot-rodded ’32 parked on the ‘street’ on Sunday was the 383 Chevy stroker-powered roadster built by Merv ‘Magoo’ Barnett in 1978. The car graced the cover of the January ’82 issue of CC and has now been fully rebuilt and is owned by Mick Tebbs Above right: The most recent build of the ‘32s on display must surely have been K Heywood Clough’s 383 Chevy-powered roadster, as it made its debut on Sunday. According to the show board, it was built with help from mates over the last 12 months Below left: Exhibitors voted for the Top 5 in 32nd Street, which are pictured here. From left to right: Richard Just’s small block Chevy-powered 5 window coupe; Chris Smith’s S.Co.T. blown 8BA Flathead-powered 3 window coupe; Mike Bull’s blown small block Chevy-powered and ex-CC featured roadster; Simon Phillips’ small block Chevy-powered and ex-CC featured roadster; Jean Francois Gross’ supercharged Corvette LS1-powered roadster Below right: It was ‘Doctor’ Bob Jeffries who pulled round in his 3 window to collect the King B award. Amazing to think the ex-CC featured small block Chevy-powered coupe first saw the light of day in 1999