1932 Ford Hot Rod

This ’32 Ford is a steel-bodied roadster that was built in the 1950s and raced in period by Don Noyes. Dubbed US Mule, the car went through a few drivetrain configurations, eventually being powered by a ’57 Chrysler 392ci Hemi V8 equipped with a supercharger. In this configuration, it is believed to be the first car to break 100 mph at Fonda Speedway 1/8th mile in New York. Around 1962 the engine was removed and fitted to Noyes’ US Mule 2, and a replacement ’58 392 was installed for Noyes to use the car as a driver. In this configuration it was traded to Bernard “Butch” Volpp in the 1970s, and Volpp refinished the channeled body with black paintwork and flames. After a period of storage under subsequent ownership, the car was disassembled and refurbished, and it was acquired by the seller in 2021. The 392 is fitted with a 6-71 supercharger mounted on a Weiand blower manifold, and dual Quick Fuel Technologies four-barrels are mounted over the Dyers carb plate as well as lake-style headers. This ’32 hot rod is now offered with records and a North Carolina title in the seller’s name. As originally built, the car featured a channeled ’32 steel body on a ’32 frame with cycle front fenders and a square roll bar. The car was raced in this configuration by Don Noyes in the A/SR class, and it is believed to be the first car to break 100 mph over the 1/8th mile at the Fonda Speedway drag strip. It was run in drag events from Rhode Island to California, and Noyes also ran it in ice racing, oval, and hillclimb events. Of note, Noyes competed in the car again both Don “Big Daddy” Garlits and Shirley Muldowney. Noyes retired the car from racing in the early 1960s, and in the 1970s it was traded to Bernard “Butch” Volpp. Volpp refinished the body with flames, and the rear end, wheels, upholstery, steering wheel, and tail lights were changed. After a period of storage and an ownership change, the car was disassembled and repainted in its current configuration between 2019 and 2020. The car retains a ’32 frame, and it has wishbone radius rods, a front drop axle with a transverse leaf spring, and a four-link rear end with coil springs. It rides on piecrust-sidewall tires and has flush metal covers secured by Phillips screws. The drum brakes are believed to have been sourced from a Lincoln. The car is shown with the top removed in the gallery. The contoured bench is trimmed in black vinyl, as are the door panels. A tilt steering column and billet steering wheel have been installed along with Stewart Warner instrumentation. A fuel cell is mounted in the trunk, and AN lines have been installed along with a MagnaFuel ProStar fuel pump and filter assembly. The current 392ci Hemi V8 is believed to be the engine installed by Noyes in 1962. Between 2017 and 2018 the engine was overhauled with components sourced from Hot Heads, and it is topped by a GMC 6-71 supercharger equipped with a triple-V-belt drive and mounted on a Weiand blower manifold, dual double-pumper Quick Fuel Technologies 750 four-barrels mounted over the Dyers carb plate, a Joe Hunt magneto-look electronic distributor, dual electric cooling fans, a Milodon oil pan, a remote Wilcap spin-on filter with AN lines, and lake-style headers. The spark plugs were replaced in October 2023, and the Optima red-top battery mounted under the cabin was installed within the last year. The car has a battery cut-off switch. The seller states the Ford four-speed Toploader manual and differential were also rebuilt. The serial number mounted on the firewall is consistent with a ’32 Ford sequence. The car is titled by its North Carolina-assigned VIN shown in the gallery, and the documentation displayed is also included with the car. The North Carolina title lists a Specially Constructed notation in addition to a Reconstructed designation under the title brands section.