Bill Peterson's 1932 Ford

A photo of Bill with the roadster taken sometime around 1956-57. A black and white version of this photo appeared in print in the September of 1957 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. For a long time, Bill was the manager of the Portland Roadster Show, and the car actually won the 1956 Portland Roadster Show, becoming its first Sweepstakes Winner. This photo appeared in the "Turn back the clock by Pete Sukalac" section of Street Rod September 1972. Photo by Pete Sukalac.

Another photo from the first Hot Rod Magazine photoshoot. These photos were taken in the middle of what later became the Lloyd shopping center in Portland. Photo by Pete Sukalac.

A featured story on the roadster appeared in the September of 1957 issue of Hot Rod Magazine, after Bill had won the Sweepstakes at the 1956 Portland Roadster Show. A drawing of the roadster appears in the trademark for the Portland Roadster Show. The photos for the story were taken by Pete Sukalac.

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Bill traded the car to Bob and Terry Tindle for an almost brand new 1958 Chevrolet Impala coupe in 1958. In 1959 the Tindle's won the Street Roadster Class with the car at the Oakland Roadster Show, and it went on to land the cover and centerfold of Hot Rod Magazine September 1960. Eric Rickman shot the car for the 1960 story.

Chuck Lawrence purchased the roadster from the Tindle's family in 2005. After buying it, Chuck commissioned a five-year frame-off restoration. Dale Withers rebuilt and repainted the car, including original pinstriping. Paul Reichlin reupholstered the interior during the restoration. After Chuck passed away, the car was advertised for sale on Facebook.

Rumblers car club member Del Clark of DeLand, Florida came across the historic hot rod for sale on Facebook. Del, who has been building 32 Fords for over 20 years, jumped at the opportunity to become the caretaker of a historic hot rod, and he didn't think twice about buying it. "I told my wife that I want to seek out a 32 Ford that is better then I can actually build," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2020. "Shortly after I saw the ad for the Peterson car and I couldn’t pull the trigger fast enough! In my humble opinion, I think it’s the most beautiful 32 Ford ever built," Del added. This photo was taken in June of 2020, when Del took delivery of the car. Photo courtesy of Del Clark.

Chuck kept the car in a climate-controlled garage. It looked and ran great when Del took delivery of the car in June of 2020. Del has several cars, so he wants to keep preserving the roadster, and he doesn't think it will be driven at all while he owns it. Photo courtesy of Del Clark.

Photo courtesy of Del Clark.

Photo courtesy of Del Clark.

In February of 2022 Del advertised the car for sale on eBay. The historic hot rod was listed as an auction with a reserve. Click here to check out the eBay auction listing.

1932 Ford roadster owned by Bill Peterson of Portland, Oregon. Built by Bill and Dee Wescott in 1955, the roadster was given a mild makeover where the purpose was to make the clean lines more visible. The frame horns had already been cut off when Bill bought the car, so he and Wescott built a panel for the rear end. Then they bobbed the fenders slightly to level with the rear panel before they installed Pontiac taillights and custom made tubular bumpers.

First Sweepstakes Winner of the Portland Roadster Show

Once completed, the roadster won the 1956 Portland Roadster Show, becoming the first Sweepstakes Winner of the show. A year later it landed a featured story in the September 1957 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. "It takes so little to make the 'thirty-two jump - in appearance as well as performance," the story stated. Described as a street rod, the car was powered by a modified Mercury flathead when Hot Rod Magazine shot it. The mill was hopped up with a Harman & Collins street grind cam, Silvolite pistons, Edelbrock manifold and heads, and a fully balanced 1952 Mercury crank. The exhaust headers ran lakes plugs. Inside, it was fully upholstered by Chuck Blanchard in off-white Fabrolite plastic. Foam rubber was used to form well-contoured seats, and red piping was used to match the Festival Red exterior paint. A Stewart-Warner engine-turned panel was used to replace the stock instrument layout, and the carpet was done in red with white piping. The trunk was also upholstered, and a Cragar dropped front axle provided a forward rake on the car. Bill dressed it up with wide whitewalls, Dodge Lancer hubcaps, and bright white pinstriping. A year later, the roadster was also featured in the June 1958 issue of Car Craft Magazine.

Traded for a brand new Impala

Bill traded the car to Bob and Terry Tindle for an almost brand new 1958 Chevrolet Impala coupe in 1958. In 1959 the Tindle's won the Street Roadster Class with the car at the Oakland Roadster Show, and it went on to land the cover and centerfold of Hot Rod Magazine September 1960. Eric Rickman shot the car for the 1960 story.

Restored by Chuck Lawrence

Chuck Lawrence purchased the roadster from the Tindle's family in 2005. After buying it, he commissioned a five-year frame-off restoration. Dale Withers rebuilt and repainted the car, including the original pinstriping. Paul Reichlin reupholstered the interior during the restoration. Chuck never drove the car on the road after the restoration was completed, and he only showed it once at the World of Wheels show in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Sold to Del Clark

In 2020, after Chuck passed away, Rumblers car club member Del Clark of DeLand, Florida bought the historic hot rod from his estate. Del came across the car for sale on Facebook. Del, who has been building 32 Fords for over 20 years, jumped at the opportunity to become the caretaker of a historic hot rod, and he didn't think twice about buying it. "I told my wife that I want to seek out a 32 Ford that is better then I can actually build," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2020. "Shortly after I saw the ad for the Peterson car and I couldn’t pull the trigger fast enough! In my humble opinion, I think it’s the most beautiful 32 Ford ever built," Del added. Chuck kept the car in a climate-controlled garage. It looked and ran great when Del took delivery of the car in June of 2020. Del has several cars, so he wants to keep preserving the roadster, and he doesn't think it will be driven at all while he owns it.

For Sale

In February of 2022 Del advertised the car for sale on eBay. The historic hot rod was listed as an auction with a reserve. Click here to check out the eBay auction listing.

Magazine Features

Hot Rod Magazine September 1957
Car Craft June 1958
Hot Rod Magazine September 1960
Street Rod September 1972