Fully restored to period perfection, winner of the Grand National Roadster Show 2006. Featured in Rod&Custom 2010
Built in 1950 by Jack Quinton and Land Speed Legend Bob Joehnck in Santa Barbara California.
This is a no expense spared restoration of a true American warrior. This car was restored in concert with the original builder’s input and is the combination of both beauty and speed. It is period correct and fully functional. The goal of the restoration was to build the best ’32 three window possible, honor the men who originally raced it and win first place in its class at the Grand National Roadster Show. All three goals were accomplished in 2006!
Jack Quinton and Bob Joehnck began racing hot rod roadsters in the late 1940’s. When the coupe class began at Bonneville, Jack traded his ’32 roadster body from a successful racer for a three window coupe body. This coupe body was a purpose built race car and competed at the first organized quarter mile drag races in Gloeta CA. It is an original WHISTLERS SCTA race team car and team mate to the ’34 Lanthorne Brothers competition coupe which was later sold to Alex Xydias and became the So-Cal coupe. In 1951 Quinton raced this car and the Lanthorne Brothers coupe at Bonneville. While powered by a flathead Mercury, the Quinton-Joehnck coupe won multiple class records at El Mirage and Bonneville and won the 1952 SCTA class championship. The coupe received the first of two roof chops in 1954 and drag raced throughout Southern California. It finished its racing career at Bonnevile in 1962, powered by a supercharged Oldsmobile. It made Don Torgeson a member of the 200 MPH club.
The coupe then moved from garage to garage in the Santa Barbara area until 2004 when its restoration back to ’54 configuration began. The restoration was done by Rudy Rodriguez.
Chassis: 1940 Ford Brakes, original ’32 axle, Model A front crossmember, ’32 split wishbones, original ’32 steering box, ’32 front spring, original ’32 grill shell and radiator, Erik Hanson center section with rails, V8 quickchange rear with reversed ’37 Ford axle tubes so the rear spring is in front of the rear end. Model A rear cross member with Model T rear spring, 16 inch Ford wheels with Firestone 7.50 and 4.50’s Everything is freshly rebuilt, powder coated and painted to perfection.
Engine and Trans: Freshly built ’47 Mercury Flathead 296 cid. Tattersfield-Barron intake with 4 Stromberg 97’s restored and set up by carb master Jere Jobe. Sharp heads with hand-made exhaust. Freshly rebuilt ’40 Mercury generator. T-5 with open driveline to a V* quickchange rear end set up by The Hot Rod Works, Nampa Idaho. Runs perfect and cool.
Body and Interior: Original Henry Ford steel ’32 three window coupe body. It was chopped once in 1954 and again in 1961. It has been restored to its 1954 configuration. Rudy Rodriguez and Tom Leonardo Jr. did a spectacular job. It is impossible to see the cuts and repairs. The inner panels on the doors were removed to lighten the car and were replaced by hand fabricated and punched panels. The doors operate perfectly and can be shut with one finger. Paint and body work was done by Barefoot Gary in Orange County Ca. The dash is an original ’32 three window steel unit with a perfect glove box door. The gauges are SW and work perfectly. The column is original ’32 Ford with a ’38 steering wheel. The interior is as it was since 1950.
The Men
Bob Joehnck:
Land Speed Hall of Fame. Joehnck organized and founded The Goleta Drages which was the first 1/4 mile drag race. He has countless speed records with his legendary motors and inventor of the Edelbrock C4B intake manifold. He also owned and raced the Pierson Brothers coupe with a blown Chrysler Hemi.
Jack Quinton:
Race car owner and driver from 1950-1962. Original driver of the Lanthorne Brothers (So-Cal coupe) in addition to this coupe.
Rudy Rodriguez:
Restored this car to period perfection. He is a master of details, fit, and finish. His latest ’32 Ford Roadster was purchased by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and is showcased in Gibbon’s book “Rock and Roll Gearhead”.
Racing Highlights of the ’32 Coupe
Bonneville Salt Flats
1951 137.404 Mercury Flathead
1953 141.28, 296 Mercury Flahead
1961 173.00 Supercharged Oldsmobile
1962, 198.30 Supercharged Oldsmobile
El Mirage
1952, May 128.57, Mercury Flathead,
June 127.84 Mercury Flathead
Oct. 137.004 Mercury Flathead
19953 April 134.50 Mercury Flathead
June 141.28 Mercury Flathead
Drag Racing
Goleta Drages (founding member)
Pomona
Santa Maria
Santa Ana
San Diego
Press
Hot Rod Magazine, March 1954
Don Montgomery’s Drag Racing Book
Rodders Journal No. 14 Goleta Drags Story
History of Edelbrock Book
Speedvision’s Drag Racing Documentary
