LOT 143
1932 Ford Original Roadster Duplicate by Roy Brizio and Vic Edelbrock Chassis no. 1833482
Sold for US$106,400 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 143
1932 Ford Original Roadster Duplicate by Roy Brizio and Vic Edelbrock
1932 Ford Original Roadster Duplicate by Roy Brizio and Vic Edelbrock
Chassis no. 1833482
Chassis no. 1833482
392ci Edelbrock Flathead V8 Engine with Aluminum Cylinder Heads (see text)
Quad Stromberg 97 Carburetors (see text)
3-speed 1939 Ford Transmission with Zephyr Gears (see text)
Solid Front Axle, Live Rear Axle with Transverse Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes (see text)
*Superb replica of Vic Edelbrock's original 1932 Ford Roadster
*Built by Edelbrock's son to the specification of one of the most important cars in hot rod history
*Owned by the Edelbrock family since rebuild
*Runs and drives well
*Features the celebrated Edelbrock Flat-Head manifold engine
THE OLD NO. 3 DUECE
Vic Edelbrock is largely considered the grandfather of American hot rodding. He started repairing automobiles in Southern California in the midst of the Great Depression, and through his passion for racing on dirt roads and dry lake beds, he built an empire in hot-rodding performance systems and remains one of the most outstanding legends in the hot rod community.
In the late 1930s, Edelbrock acquired a 1932 Ford Roadster from a retired stuntman and using parts and systems of his own engineering, he rebuilt the car for dual-purpose use. His son, Vic Edelbrock Jr. recalls that the roadster was the family's only mode of transport during the week, but on a weekend, the fenders came off and the car, known as Old No.3, was raced flat out on the dry lake beds of Southern California. In August 1940, Vic Edelbrock appeared on the cover of SCTA Racing News time trials program at Muroc Dry Lake Southern California, posing beside his trusty steed, Old No.3.
In December 1941, just days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the 1932 Ford was clocked at 121.42mph at Harper Dry Lake, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. This world record for a V8 roadster established Edelbrock as a master craftsman in design and engineering for speed equipment, in particular the now famous Edelbrock 'Slingshot' flathead intake manifold. After the time trial, Edelbrock bolted on the fenders and drove the roadster home. This was the car that made the name Edelbrock synonymous with hot rod high performance excellence, and it is arguably the most famous hot rod in existence.
Interrupted by the war, during which Edelbrock worked as a welder in the shipyards of Long Beach, California, all racing was put on hold, only to be relaunched in 1945. With renewed vigor and technological advances garnered during the war, hot rod racing became infamously popular and spilled onto the streets of rural towns across America. Old No.3 continued to achieve speeds of around 130mph in time trials and Edelbrock became the most prominent designer and manufacturer of speed equipment in the USA, offering high performance systems and accessories for all marques and models.
THE CAR OFFERED
Following the passing of Vic Edelbrock in 1962, it is not surprising that Vic Edelbrock Jr. who grew up in his father's workshop learning the trade at grassroots, wanted to honor his father's legacy with a special project. Edelbrock Jr. purchased an original 1932 Ford Roadster in Vancouver, British Columbia, and using the exact specifications employed for his father's roadster, created an exacting mechanical replica of Old No.3. By uniting a conglomerate of 'best of' components, Edelbrock Jr. and celebrated hot rod builder and aficionado Roy Brizio recreated the machine that broke records in the late '30s and early '40s. The celebrated Edelbrock flathead manifold with four Stromberg 97 carburetors and Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads is mated with a 1939 Ford transmission with Zephyr gears, hydraulic brakes and a Ford F1 steering box. The white top was chopped 1½ inches with bolt-on fenders for easy removal during race events and this daunting combination rides atop a stock suspension with 1939 Mercury wheels, 1934 Ford headlights, 1939 Ford taillights. The project employed the expertise of several master craftsmen, with the engine built by Bobby Meeks, Dave Tatum and Robert Jung of Edelbrock Corporation, the chassis by Roy Brizio Street Rods, the black paint was finished by Mike McGee and the all-black interior was crafted by Ken Foster, with major custom coachwork completed by Kimmins Custom Fabrication. A celebratory identification plate dated November 16, 1941, commemorates the 121.45mph record achieved at Harper Lake, and is proudly displayed on the dashboard. This quintessential hot rod has been retained by the Edelbrock family since its inception and has participated in many hot rod events and shows and displays over the last two decades.
Old No.3 cemented Vic Edelbrock in the annals of hot rod history for perpetuity and this magnificent replica of the original built by his son is the embodiment of the brilliance and foresight of a man who knew that he could do better than the established multimillion-dollar automobile manufacturers of the day. This 1932 Ford Roadster evokes the era of early hot rod racing - a craze that swept America in the 1930s and remains an integral thread in the fabric of American automotive identity today.
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