The ’32 Ford 3-window B-520 Deluxe Coupe (Deuce Coupe) is the highwater mark for street rod builders because it was the perfect platform for their creativity.
The deuce was a dirt-cheap car back in the 40s and 50s because a ’32-ish Ford was merely a used car in a post-war world.
The three and five-window deuce coupes were the go-to cars for builders, but the mid-late 1930s produced some other spectacular rooflines from other manufacturers.
Jerry Sutherland
The first example is the 1936 Pontiac 3-window coupe. This car was positioned slightly higher than a Chevrolet in 1936 on the GM customer scale.
The big selling point on this car was the aggressive roofline because it had a forward tilt that blended with the trunk and said it’s ready for action. They didn’t build many—that’s why you don’t see street rod versions of these Ponchos at many car shows.
The second example is the 1937 Plymouth P-4 coupe. This car was built for the lower-end buyer, so it didn’t offer the same fancy stuff as a 1937 Chrysler.
The ’37 Plymouth did offer another great profile because the P-4 had the perfect street rod stance right from the factory. You won’t see many of them today, but the ones you do see are ultra cool in stock or street rod versions.
The 1936 Studebaker Dictator Coupe is the third dark horse in this race. Studebaker was known for its practical, reliable cars, but the ’36 Dictator had a style of its own.
The name wouldn’t sell in today’s world, but the Studebaker Dictator had a distinct profile. It was fancier than the Pontiac or Plymouth and its swoopy lines were pure Studebaker—plus it was finished off with some very unique rear windows. This car has a custom look before you even bring out the cutting torch.
The 1937 Hudson Terraplane 71 Deluxe Utility Coupe is the fourth example of a classic non-deuce coupe 30s classic.
This car was another great example of an aggressive roofline. It had a built-in rake that custom car builders try to recreate, so would-be custom guys saved a lot of work with a Hudson.
The problem is, these cars are extremely rare and prized in the classic car community, so you’d have to find a basket case to build a custom. Nevertheless, the street rod guys can still use that incredible profile as inspiration for perfection.
The fifth and final example of a classic 30s profile is the 1937 Packard 120 Business Coupe. Packard was trying to develop an affordable car at this point because the Great Depression wasn’t a time to sell high-end cars.
This car was more barebones than the classic Packards, but the swoopy roofline and the Packard name gave these cars affordable class and style. Again, they didn’t build many of these coupes, so the odds are against seeing a street-rodded Packard—but if you do, it’s going to stand out in a big way.
As you can see, the Deuce Coupe was the King of the Street Rods but the 1930s had some serious contenders.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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