Unbelievable ’32 Ford Hot Rod Secrets Revealed! | Lime Rock Historic Festival 2024
Back in 2024, Classic Auto had the opportunity to see many stunning vintage and custom vehicles at the Lime Rock Historic Festival in Connecticut. While we often see stunning hot rods at various car shows and Concours d’Elegance events, we were pleased to see a truly special ride: an expertly restored 1932 Ford Hot Rod Roadster known as the Pacific Gun Sight Special. This remarkable hot rod has a rich and well-documented history dating back to 1946.
The Pacific Gun Sight Special’s owner, avid car collector Kim McCullough, walked us through the incredible history of this exceptional Highboy Roadster, from its creation in 1946, all the way to its recent restoration, complete with notable races along the way. Let’s take a tour of this one-of-a-kind piece of motor history.
History of the 1932 Ford Hot Rod Roadster
For nearly a century, motorheads have crafted countless hot rods from the 1932 Ford Roadster, often colloquially known as the “Deuce.”
1932 marked a critical year for Ford, as it was the year when the automaker introduced the flathead V8 engine. Ford’s first iteration of the flathead V8 had an engine displacement of 221 cu in and 5.5:1 compression, producing 65 horsepower.
Ford’s new flathead V8 made it more accessible for the average American to obtain impressive speed performance. This high-speed performance, combined with its lightweight construction, made the 1932 Ford Roadster a perfect base to mold stylish and powerful hot rods.
From there, countless enthusiastic car and speed lovers developed one-of-a-kind hot rods, including the Pacific Gun Sight Special Highboy Roadster.
Pacific Gun Sight Special ‘32 Ford Roadster
The story of the Pacific Gun Sight Special began in 1946 with World War II veteran Mack McKinney. McKinney built this stunning hot rod while running a Union 76 station in Palo Alto. He constructed the hot rod on his gas station’s dirt floor, designing the vehicle exclusively for drag racing. McKinney raced his breathtaking ride all over Northern California.
After enjoying racing his creation for a few years, McKinney sold his 1932 Ford Hot Rod Roadster. Like McKinney, the car’s new owner was passionate about racing as well as motors. He loaded the car’s engine bay with a four-carburetor Offenhauser motor, and he simplified the car’s mechanical components with only the essentials. Ultimately, he made the car lighter and faster by eliminating any extraneous parts that could slow down the vehicle.
The same motor configuration is still inside the car today, thanks to its current owner. A few years back, Kim McCullough had the vehicle fully restored to make it as close as possible to its 1952 specifications.
With the Highboy Roadster’s engine compartment optimized for racing, the Ford’s second owner ran the car at the Bonneville Speedway in Utah in 1952. Before the race, he needed a new set of tires, but he couldn’t afford the $100 price. Fortunately, his employer offered to pay for the tires, provided he used the vehicle to advertise the company. He worked for the Pacific Gun Sight Company, hence the car’s name and lettering.
After the car’s second owner, the Pacific Gun Sight Special changed hands several times. Still, the vehicle remained active in the racing world, as it was showcased in the Grand National Roadster Show
every decade and participated in numerous local shows and races in Northern California.
1932 Ford Roadster Hot Rod Recent Ownership
Kim McCullough has been the proud owner of this ‘32 Ford Roadster for seven years. Before Kim relocated the 1932 Ford Roadster Hot Rod to her home in New Jersey, the Pacific Gun Sight Special had spent its entire life in Northern California.
She purchased the vehicle from California resident Jim Palmer, who served as the owner and dedicated custodian of the for 45 years, preserving its essential history.
In addition to transferring the car, Jim Palmer supplied the car’s complete provenance, dating back to the vehicle’s construction, as well as the entire documentation of the work done on the car. While the ‘32 Ford Roadster has undergone work over the years, it is still fundamentally the original build.
When Kim McCullough purchased the Pacific Gun Sight Special, the first thing she did with the car was run it at The Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood, New Jersey, which is a race on the beach that pays tribute to 1940s drag races.
Kim still enjoys the thrill of drag racing her ‘32 Ford Roadster and taking it out on the open road. Unlike many collectors, she believes in enjoying her one-of-a-kind car rather than just letting it live out its days inside a garage.
With its incredible pedigree, striking restoration, and well-documented history, it’s no surprise that Kim’s 1932 Ford Roadster Hot Rod won “Most Outstanding Ford” at the 2024 Lime Rock Historic Festival’s Concours d’Elegance.
Protect Your Cherished Piece of Motor History
If you’re the proud owner of a 1932 Ford Hot Rod or another vintage or classic vehicle, you need top-tier classic insurance to protect it for years to come. Here at Classic Auto Insurance, we create tailored policies for our clients to safeguard their classic rides, whether it’s a custom 1930s Hot Rod, Muscle Car, Luxury Car, or another classic or rare vehicle.
You can get robust, affordable classic car insurance that’s based on agreed-upon value by calling 888-901-1338, or get an instant quote here.
