The Bob McGee/Dick Scritchfield/Bruce Meyer Roadster: A Timeless Hot Rod Icon

The Bob McGee/Dick Scritchfield/Bruce Meyer Roadster

Few hot rods have the storied legacy of the Bob McGee/Dick Scritchfield/Bruce Meyer 1932 Ford roadster, a car that not only embodies the essence of early hot rodding but also bridges the past, present, and future of the culture. Often hailed as one of the most influential hot rods ever built, this iconic Deuce highboy has seen multiple lives, owners, and restorations—each adding to its rich history.

The Bob McGee Era

Bob McGee’s Deuce is one of the defining cars of the early hot rod movement. Built in the mid-1940s, it broke new ground for hot rod design and made a significant mark when it appeared on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine (Vol. 1, No. 10, October 1948). McGee’s roadster wasn’t just a stripped-down racer like many of the hot rods of the time; it was a well-thought-out, stylish, and refined car, complete with paint, upholstery, and several safety features—a rare combination during an era when hot rods were often the owner’s sole means of transportation.

McGee, who was both a student and a football player at the University of Southern California, began building the roadster in 1947 after purchasing it from a friend. It was already equipped with some of the essentials of a hot rod, such as a 1937 Ford flathead engine, but McGee took it much further. The modifications that McGee made, including a V-shaped split DuVall windshield, filled grille shell, shaved door handles, and hidden door hinges, set it apart from the typical hot rods of the day. McGee’s car also featured a unique three-piece louvered hood and a lengthened trunk lid, blending custom car touches with hot rod performance.

The car’s impressive appearance and engineering caught the attention of Hot Rod Magazine founder Robert E. Petersen, who featured it in the magazine, praising its balance of style, safety, and performance. McGee’s roadster was also the subject of the magazine’s first-ever Rex Burnette cutaway illustration, further solidifying its place in hot rod history.

The Dick Scritchfield Era

By 1956, McGee’s roadster was up for sale, and it was purchased by Dick Scritchfield, a hot rod enthusiast who would take the car into a new phase of its life. Scritchfield, who was already well-versed in hot rodding from his time in Missouri and Puerto Rico, where he organized drag races, immediately recognized the potential of the Deuce highboy. Under Scritchfield’s ownership, the car transitioned from a fast street rod to a bona fide Hollywood star.

The car’s clean lines and classic hot rod look made it a favorite in the movie and TV industry. The roadster appeared in several films, including Hot Rod Gang and Hot Rod Rock, as well as in numerous television shows, including Dragnet, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and even The Lawrence Welk Show. It became one of the most recognizable hot rods of the era, symbolizing the growing influence of hot rod culture in mainstream media.

Scritchfield also continued modifying the roadster, swapping the flathead V8 for a Chevy small-block 283 engine and adding over-the-frame headers from a Sanderson Chevy marine engine. He even used the car to set a record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, achieving a two-way average speed of 167.212 mph in 1971, making it the World’s Fastest Street Roadster. Despite these changes, Scritchfield kept the car as a street-legal hot rod, driving it in the same configuration it had at Bonneville.

The Bruce Meyer Era

After owning the roadster for over three decades, Scritchfield eventually sold the car to Bruce Meyer in 1990. Meyer, a well-known collector and preservationist of historic hot rods and race cars, understood the significance of the McGee/Scritchfield roadster and sought to restore it to its original McGee-era glory. Meyer enlisted the help of SO-CAL Speed Shop, under the leadership of Peter Chapouris, to meticulously return the car to its 1947 configuration.

The restoration was completed with great attention to detail, from the unique bodywork to the period-correct flathead engine. The car made its triumphant return to the spotlight when it was entered in the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it finished second behind another legendary roadster, the Dick Flint ’29 A. Meyer’s roadster has since become a fixture at various prestigious car shows and is recognized as one of the most significant hot rods of all time.

A Legacy Preserved

Today, the Bob McGee/Dick Scritchfield/Bruce Meyer roadster remains one of the most iconic cars in hot rod history. Its influence can be seen in the generations of hot rods that followed, and it continues to inspire builders and enthusiasts alike. Whether remembered for its sleek design, its numerous film appearances, or its record-setting run at Bonneville, the roadster is a testament to the enduring appeal of the 1932 Ford and the ingenuity of hot rodders who transformed it into a symbol of American car culture.

Now housed in the Petersen Automotive Museum, alongside other legendary hot rods, the roadster stands as a beacon of hot rod heritage. It represents not only the evolution of the hot rod but also the dedication of individuals like Bob McGee, Dick Scritchfield, and Bruce Meyer, who ensured that this piece of automotive history would be preserved for future generations to admire and enjoy.