The Doane Spencer ’32 Roadster: A Highboy Icon and Early Hot Rod Trendsetter

The Doane Spencer ’32 Roadster

The 1932 Ford roadster, often referred to as the Deuce, holds a place of reverence in hot rodding culture. Its classic design and adaptability have made it the symbol of the hot rod movement, and of all the legendary Deuce roadsters, few are as iconic as Doane Spencer’s highboy. Built in the 1940s, Spencer’s ’32 roadster helped define an era of post-war hot rodding, setting the standard for both style and performance.

The Origins of the Spencer Roadster

Originally owned by Spencer’s high school friend Jack Dorn, the roadster was purchased by Doane in 1944 for the modest sum of $500. Dorn had modified the car with a split V-shaped DuVall windshield that had originally belonged to Spencer’s previous car, a Model A. After crashing the Model A, Spencer handed the windshield to Dorn, creating a distinctive look that would become the signature element of the Deuce.

At the time of purchase, the roadster was equipped with a 1937 Ford flathead V8 engine, full fenders, and a filled grille shell. However, Spencer’s vision for the car was far more ambitious. He quickly removed the fenders and transformed the roadster into a highboy, giving it a more aggressive stance. The flathead V8 was swapped out for a 258 cubic-inch Mercury engine, which Spencer tuned with twin carburetors for increased performance, preparing the car for both the street and the dry lakebeds where racers sought speed records.

Making History at El Mirage and Beyond

In 1947, Spencer’s roadster earned Best Appearing Hot Rod at the Pasadena Roadster Club’s Reliability Run, a notable achievement in the Southern California hot rodding scene. The following year, it was displayed at the first annual Hot Rod Expo, further cementing its reputation as one of the finest examples of the highboy style. But Doane Spencer wasn’t just interested in looks—he was a racer at heart. He took the roadster to the famed El Mirage dry lake, where it reached speeds of 126 mph, a blistering pace for a hot rod at the time.

By the early 1950s, Spencer’s attention was drawn to the Carrera Panamericana road race, a grueling border-to-border race across Mexico on the Pan-American Highway. In preparation, Spencer made several modifications to the roadster. He rerouted the exhaust through the frame rails for better ground clearance and added extra crossmembers to strengthen the frame. Unfortunately, the Carrera Panamericana was canceled in 1954 after multiple fatalities, leaving Spencer with a car prepped for a race that would never happen.

The Roadster’s Decline and Revival

As Spencer moved on to racing a modified 1955 Thunderbird, his legendary ’32 roadster was parked behind his garage, left to collect dust. The car’s next chapter began in 1958 when Rod & Custom editor Lynn Wineland purchased it from Spencer. Wineland made several modifications, including installing a Ford Y-block engine and adding custom headers. However, his ownership was brief, and in the 1960s, the car passed to his friend and fellow Rod & Custom staffer, Neal East.

East owned the car for nearly 30 years, driving it regularly and even returning it to its former glory with a 1946 Mercury flathead V8 engine. By the mid-1990s, East was approached by car collector Bruce Meyer, who was determined to preserve the car’s historical significance. After much convincing, East sold the car to Meyer, who promised to restore it to its original state.

A Legendary Restoration

Meyer, known for his commitment to preserving hot rod history, enlisted the Peter Chapouris Group (PC3g) to handle the restoration. With experts like Jim “Jake” Jacobs on the team, the roadster was meticulously restored to the same configuration it had during its glory days under Spencer’s ownership. The restoration was so well-executed that the car made history in 1997 when it won the Class R Historic Hot Rods category at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It was the first year that hot rods were allowed to compete on the famous manicured lawns of Pebble Beach, and the Spencer roadster’s victory was a testament to its timeless appeal.

The roadster went on to capture accolades at other prestigious events, including the Amelia Island, Meadow Brook Hall, and Louis Vuitton Concours events. Speaking about the car after its restoration, Meyer told Car Tech magazine, “This car has to be the holy grail of hot rodding… He [Spencer] was an artist and a genius. That’s why this roadster still inspires people.”

A Lasting Legacy

Today, the Doane Spencer roadster is housed in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where it continues to inspire hot rod enthusiasts and car collectors alike. Its significance goes beyond its sleek design and high-speed performance; the Spencer roadster represents a defining moment in the evolution of the hot rod as an art form and a symbol of American automotive ingenuity.

The ’32 roadster remains the quintessential hot rod, and few examples have had as much influence as Doane Spencer’s highboy. From its origins on the dry lakes of Southern California to its victories on the concours circuit, the Doane Spencer roadster is a true legend in the world of custom cars—one that continues to define and inspire the hot rod community nearly 80 years after it first hit the road.