Few automobiles so completely embody the spirit of American hot rodding as the 1932 Ford Roadster. Affectionately known as the “Deuce,” the ’32 Ford became the blueprint for generations of racing machines stripped down and built up in garages across postwar America. Among the countless cars that raced across dry lakes, city streets, and drag strips, few can match the provenance of the “Mitchell Auto Co. Special.”

The early history of this 1932 began with a young Air Force captain named Chuck Adams, who drove the car daily while stationed in Denver. A Texas native, Adams would return to Dallas after his military service to found Custom Automotive, a pioneering speed shop at the heart of Texas hot rod culture. In 1951, this Roadster made its national debut at the Daytona Beach Speed Trials before heading west to Bonneville, where Adams achieved an impressive 136.363 mph. Determined to go faster, Adams returned home and, with guidance from Bill Meeks, an engine builder for Vic Edelbrock, rebuilt the car with even greater performance in mind. When Adams returned to Bonneville in 1952, the results were dramatic, with the roadster recording a remarkable 152.57 mph.

In 1956, the Roadster passed to fellow Dallas native, Mitchell Rasansky, who has been the faithful steward for this car ever since. Though Adams retained the record-setting engine, Rasansky purchased the rolling chassis and commissioned famed flathead builder Vern Tardel to build a new powerplant. The result was a 286 cid flathead V-8, fed by four Stromberg 97 carburetors to deliver more than 140 hp – making the car a period-correct drag racing masterpiece.

Rasansky campaigned the Roadster extensively at Texas drag strips, including the famed Caddo Mills Dragway, where the car consistently turned 10.5 second passes at over 128 mph. Its lightweight and powerful setup helped the car win numerous Middle Eliminator trophies.

In a testament to its historical significance, Rasansky meticulously restored the car to its original configuration in time for the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford, where this car was honored with an invitation to the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and displayed in a special class celebrating the most important hot rods ever built.

Now offered after over 60 years of single ownership, this 1932 Ford Roadster is not merely a car, it is a running chronicle of early American speed culture. A proven competitor at Daytona, Bonneville, and Texas drag strips alike, with a direct lineage to some of the most respected names in hot rod history, this car stands as a monument to both Dallas and national hot rod heritage.