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1932 Ford Roadster
s/n 1827717
Primer Grey with Dark Blue Interior

Rich with history, this amazing 1932 Ford Roadster can be traced back to July 1946, when Jack Kukura of Bell, California and early member of the Gear Grinders car club, purchased it for $385. From 1947 through 1960, Kukura ran the car at the Southern California Timing Association (S.C.T.A.) events and at the world-renowned Bonneville Salt Flats in the late 1950s.

In May 1947, Kukura began racing the car at El Mirage, running at 97.29 mph. The roadster steadily evolved, and, by October 1947, the installation of a Mercury V-8 engine helped it reach speed of 120-plus mph. Kukura continued to run the 32 Roadster with a flathead engine through 1956, the same year he received the Gear Grinders Die Hard Award.

In 1957, Kukura installed a blown Chrysler 454 cid Hemi engine, bringing speeds up considerably, clocking between 145 and 190 mph in several runs. Joined by driver Jim Lindsleya member of the 200 MPH Club and former S.C.T.A. and Gear Grinder presidentKukura made one final attempt to beat their record of 189.93 mph at Bonneville in 1960. After clearing the first timing trap, the roadster spun out at 200 mph. After coming to a controlled stop, he declined to make the return run. After 1960, Kukura retired his 32 Roadster and
kept it until he died in 2005.

With the exception of an appearance at the 1986 L.A. Roadster Show in Pomona, California, the Kukura Roadster was virtually unknown. Since his passing, the roadster has had only two private owners: the previous owner, a California collector with a passion for unrestored cars, entrusted the 32 to American Classics and Performance in Cotati that carefully returned the roadster to running order while preserving its original condition.

Today, the steel Ford bodyfinished in classic gray primerproudly displays its Grinamex glass; 39 Ford taillights and 46 hubcaps; Bonneville push bars; Stewart Warner flat glass gauges; Moon big foot pedal; and blue vinyl bench seat, sourced from a Los Angeles Metro bus. The car also retains eight of its original timing tags as well as the custom side pipes and roll bar fabricated by Gear Grinder Bob Snook.

Sitting in the original boxed and braced 32 Ford frame is the massive Chrysler Hemi equipped with exotic Donovan Engineering heads, Hampton blower, Weiand manifold, Vertex black-cap magneto, and ultra-rare Airheart disc brakes.
The previous owner reports that this incredible 32 Roadster is justifiably thrilling and challenging on the road, as it retains the same set-up that allowed it to run 180 mph200 mph at Bonneville in the late 1950s.

The dream of nearly every hot rod enthusiast is to own a real 32 Ford Roadster with period El Mirage and Bonneville history. Before he located the Kukura Roadster, the consignor never believed there was a car like this that existed.

Yet, against all odds, Jack Kukuras 1932 Ford Roadster remains with us today a true survivor from the golden age of Southern California hot rod culture and a lasting testament to the man who built and preserved this exceptional car for almost 60 years.

Included with the sale of the Kukura Roadster is an impressive binder that contains period photographs, an original Gear Grinders S.C.T.A. patch, five trophies, a handwritten spec sheet, and home movies showing the car running at Bonneville in 1958 and 1960.

DETAILED HISTORY
El Mirage, May 25, 1947, Kukura, No. 367 (9.25 seconds at 97.29 mph)
El Mirage, August 31, 1947, Kukura, No. 367 (8.33 seconds at 108.04 mph)
El Mirage, April 25, 1948, Palma/Kukura, No. 220 (7.19 seconds at 125.17 mph)
El Mirage, August 20, 1948, Palma/Kukura, No. 220 (7.48 seconds at 120.32 mph)
El Mirage, May 6, 1950, Booth/Kukura, No. 277 (120.48 mph)
Bonneville, 1958, Lindsley/Kukura, No. 24D (183.93 mph)
El Mirage, September 28, 1958, Lindsley/Kukura, No. 24D (148.76 mph)
Riverside Raceway Half Mile, 1959, Lindsley/Kukura, No. 21A (1st Place)
Colton, 1959, Lindsley/Kukura, No. 21A (2nd Place)
Bonneville, 1959, Lindsley/Kukura, No. 21A (172.41 mph)
June 1986, Pomona, California, L.A. Roadsters 22nd Annual Show and Swap Meet
August 2014, Carmel Valley, Quail Motorsports Gathering
Don Montgomery, Authentic Hot Rods: The Real Good Old Days, pictured and discussed on p. 123