The 1932 Ford Victoria has always been a popular choice for hotrodders over the years because of its ultra-cool style even before it undergoes a custom makeover.
Art Sanders is a big fan of the ’32 Ford Vicky, but he took a different route with his Vicky project.
Jim Sutherland
The fact ’32 Ford Victorias are very popular in car guy world ignited an aftermarket of replica bodies that already included custom features such as a roof chop to honor the long-standing tradition of hotrodders and custom builders.
The net result is a sleeker overall design without the complications of tricky cutting on an original ‘32 Vicky to achieve the same effect. Throw in the fact most 1932 Ford Vickys are long gone after 92 years and car guys like Art are happy to get an opportunity to build the custom ride of their dreams.
10 years ago, Art also chose an aftermarket frame for his ’32 Vicky; one that featured modern automotive engineering like rack-and-pinion steering, disc brakes and could house a 350 Chevy small block.
The engine is coupled to a 700 R4 automatic transmission to give the ‘32 Vicky hot rod a solid balance of performance and reliability on the road. Art also added EFI to squeeze even more performance out of the 350, along with better mileage thrown into the mix.
The entire project took about three years, according to Art. He is a hands-on car guy who owned a plumbing and heating business, so he had a tradesman’s eye for detail, even though he was in a non-automotive trade.
Details really mattered during the build because the 32 Vicky body is fiberglass and required “a lot of (electrical) grounds”, in Art’s words.
The Vicky build carried a long-standing hotrodder’s tradition because it has components borrowed from donor vehicles, including an electric front seat from an Oldsmobile and a rear seat out of a Mazda van. Both were included in Arts’ game plan for added comfort on road trips. He also added AC to enhance the comfort levels inside the car.
The aftermarket ’32 Vicky body is very tight according to Art–in fact it’s so tight he needs to crack a window to shut the doors. The net result is no wind noise and a very quiet cabin experience for passengers and driver, even at highway speeds.
The car also has electric wipers and a full gauge package to monitor its engine’s vital signs while on the road.
The net result is Art built a classic custom hot rod with completely modern components and can hit the road for extended periods of time any time the spirit moves him. The motivation to drive his ’32 Vicky is very strong because Art has logged over 32,000 (and counting) miles behind the wheel of his car since he completed the build process.
Art has attended many car events over the years and still loves to hit the open road in his ’32 Ford Vicky. It’s an unbridled enthusiasm he shares with every other dedicated car guy.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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