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1932 Ford ‘Silver Sapphire’

1932 Ford ‘Silver Sapphire’

1932 Ford ‘Silver Sapphire’

Clarence Catallo built this well known ’32 Ford over a long period of time with help from several influential people in the hotrod community. The car became famous when the Beach Boys adapted it for their fourth album ‘Little Deuce Coupe.’ It also appeared on the covers of Hot Rod Magazine in July 1961a and Hop-Up Magzine in November 1963 with features in Popular Hot Rodding in November 1962 and Rodding & Re-styling in May 1961.

Originally purchased for only $75, the ‘Little Deuce Coupe’ was first repaired and altered by the Alexander Brothers in Detroit, Michigan. They added aluminum fins on the rocker panel with matching finned 1957 Plymouth hubcaps. With a 1956 Oldsmobile 344 in³ V8. This gave the car a 1/4 mile time of 12.90 seconds at 112 mph.

Afterward, Catallo relocated to Long Beach California and joined legendary customing shop of Barris Kustoms. There, the car got even more attention after it was expertly prepared for the show circuit. In this guise it was put on the cover of the Beach Boys album with Clarence Catallo standing behind it.

In 1965 the car was sold, but was eventually relocated and purchased by the Catallo family. Since then it has appeared at numerous car shows including the 2000 Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance and 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for their first ever hot-rod class.

1932 Ford ‘Silver Sapphire’

In Detail

type Series Production Car
built at Detroit, Michigan, USA
coachbuilder Alexander Brothers
production 1
engine Oldsmobile V8
position Front Longitudinal
aspiration Natural
displacement 5637 cc / 344 in³
0 – 1/4 mile ~12.9 seconds

Story by Supercars.net