Certain buzzwords always seem to attract more attention when making a buying decision. If you’re buying a house, terms like “model home” or “contractor’s home” often fetch a higher dollar or convey greater value. When purchasing a car, the list of buzzwords can be lengthy, including “mechanic owned,” “award winner,” “owner built,” and/or “professionally built.” Each of these terms expresses a higher level of attention to detail or unwillingness to compromise quality.
Recently, when lifelong hot rodders Janine and Jim Butler stopped to visit Doug Jerger at his shop, Squeeg’s Kustoms in Mesa, AZ, to see one of the nationally known hot rods Doug completed, Janine spied Doug’s personal Deuce roadster in the back of the shop and just had to take a closer look. “It just had the right stance,” Janine said. As to why she was drawn to it, “The colors were perfect and the attention to detail was second to none.” Janine’s eye for detail was shared by the judges at the Grand National Roadster Show, where the roadster had recently competed for the AMBR (America’s Most Beautiful Roadster) award, and took home an “AMBR Outstanding Detail” award.
The Butlers listened intently as Doug explained how he built the car for himself, a project he had started nearly eight years ago. Doug’s father “Squeeg” was still running the shop, but Doug was anxious to prove himself worthy on his own build. Starting with a set of original Deuce rails, he intended to build a very traditional styled open hood roadster. Doug enlisted the help of Chauvin Emmons and John Nickle to assist with the suspension design and chassis welding, but soon the plans changed to building the Deuce to a more modern standard.
Doug went on to explain, “I ordered up all the body sheet metal from Rod Bods, but specifically requested they not be joined together, as I wanted the ability to make modifications to the body on the bench before assembling the separate panels.” Doug’s plan worked out perfectly, and to give the Deuce a little more attitude, he channeled the front ¾-inch while raising the back ¾-inch.
Once the body and grille shell were set in place, a longer custom hood was hammered out by Terry Hegman to accommodate the Deuce’s six-inch longer wheelbase and the inboard shocks tucked behind the ’32 grille. What started as a simple highboy project had transformed into a full-on custom street rod, with nearly every part either modified or a custom-made one-off piece. Power for the Deuce came in the form of a fully smoothed and polished Dart 383 aluminum block, polished RHS heads, and a polished supercharger with one-off pulleys. Delivering the power to the custom-made nine-inch rear axle is a fully smoothed and polished 700R4 transmission.
Doug went on to explain the hundreds of body modifications, including the custom-made lift off top made to emulate the lines of a coupe roofline. But, Janine’s mind was already made up, and she was determined to make sure the Deuce came home with them. Jerger built the car with no intention of ever selling it, and was not really ready to let it go, after all, it had taken him seven years to complete and only been driven about 1,000 miles.
Jim Butler had something Doug wanted just as badly, a very clean ’34 Ford three-window coupe. The ’34 was a survivor hot rod that remained unaltered since it was built in ’62, complete with a three-deuce setup, numerous louvers, and black leather diamond tuck interior with plenty of well-earned patina. “I drove the wheels off that car for years and loved every minute of it,” Jim proclaimed.
Negotiations soon heated up between Jim and Doug, and a coin flip finally settled their difference in price. Neither Jim nor Doug would say who won the toss, but Jim concluded, “I gave him my ’34 and a bucket full of cash, but in the end we both got what we wanted.” Then he added, “I loved that old coupe, but I love my wife a lot more.”
The Deuce soon found its way home to Prescott, AZ, but don’t kid yourself into thinking this former show car would spend its life in a garage. The Butlers feel strongly that the only way to enjoy a car is to drive it, and drive it, and drive it! Within the first two weeks alone, Janine racked up well over 1,000 miles. She could be seen headed across the Arizona desert in the early morning accompanied by her teacup Chihuahua headed for the L.A. Roadster Show or simply commuting to work.
The Butlers have a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship former owner/builder Doug Jerger put into their roadster, but like any good hot rodder, they have considered a change in wheels and tires to reflect their own preference in Halibrand styled wheels. We suggest they wait; after all, Janine should have the current set worn off soon.
Specifications
1932 Ford Roadster
Janine & Jim Butler, Prescott, AZ
CHASSIS
Chassis by: Original ’32 Ford
Suspension (front): Four-inch drop tube axle, custom spindles, custom cantilever suspension with inboard coil-overs
Suspension (rear): Custom one-off rear housing, polished nine-inch center, triangulated four-bar, coil-over shocks
Rear Axle, Ratio: 4.11:1
Brakes (front/rear): Wilwood disc
Other: Spindle mounted front hubs, custom adapted to fit early Ford spindle
DRIVETRAIN
Engine Make, Model, & Material: DART, GM 383, Aluminum
Displacement: 383ci
Pistons: JE Pistons, 9:1
Rods: Eagle H-beam
Crankshaft: Eagle, forged, 3.750 stroke
Power adder: Supercharger
Induction: Custom fuel injection
Injectors: 5216/HR nozzles
Transmission: GM 700R4
Engine Management: Accel GEN7
Ignition: MSD, MSD 6AL
EXTERIOR
Paint & Body by: Doug Jerger, Squeeg’s Kustoms, Mesa, AZ
Hood: Custom, by Terry Hegman, CA
Body Modifications: Cowl laid down to match plane of hood and grille, doors auburned to interior dash line, custom removable hard top, chopped/laid back/narrowed Duvall windshield, peaked King Bee headlights, tapered body lines, wheel wells re-radiused, thinned /pinched/ peaked original ’32 Ford grille, etc.
INTERIOR
Upholstery Material, Color: Custom dyed deep red leather,
Carpet: German square weave wool carpet
Other: Custom pedals, levers, shifter arm, dash bezel, steering wheel, etc.
Gauges: Custom, Classic Instruments