1932 George Choma Ford Coupe (Deuce of Hearts) 

Lent by Rich Hallam

Rockville, CT. Choppers member George Choma finished building this coupe in 1958 after purchasing the car from his grandfather who had bought it as a new car in 1932. George’s friend and fellow club member Bud Braun assisted with modifications, the final bodywork and gave it the beautiful roman red paint in exchange for George’s help on Bud’s car. Club members frequently helped each other out with their cars, often trading one set of skills for another. Both George and Bud worked nights at a local plating shop and dipped their project pieces in the chrome tanks in between plating jobs.

This car typifies a New England channeled hot rod, where the floors were removed, and the body lowered over the chassis to create a lower silhouette. The compromise is leg room, but peeking inside, George Choma was creative and managed to nestle in some added leg room between the frame rails. To help get the car as low as possible, George took the extra measure to “Zee” the frame, a popular modification to help make the car as low as possible.

George affectionally named his creation the “Deuce of Hearts” while it was being shown at the 1959 Rod & Custom world’s fair in Springfield Mass. Between driving it sparingly, George showed it at other shows throughout New England including the famed Hartford Autorama in 1960.

Few hot rods from the early period remain as intact as this one and due to the conservation efforts of its owner, Rich Hallam, it has been lovingly brought to safe running and driving condition. Rich also took care to preserve its patina, the 1958 paint job and chrome remain exactly as applied.