George Choma’s ’32 Ford Coupe “Deuce of Hearts”
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. One cannot help but notice the extensive chrome plating on this car, including the frame, front and rear axles, springs and more.
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. One need not look far to see the unique and hand made parts displayed on this car. George purchased a powerful and new Oldsmobile engine at a local dealership in 1956, then bored the cylinders to attain more cubic inches. George also took the time to port and polish his cylinder heads, adding a hot cam, multiple carbs, and magneto, along with a wild set of handmade chromed headers and a ribbed aluminum sheathed Thunderbird column, this car was a force to be reconned with, on the street, strip and at the show. The engine is backed by a 1937 LaSalle transmission which was considered by many hot rodders of the time to be the hot set up
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. Even the interior is as it was originally stitched. The gorgeous pin stripping is said to have been done by famed striper, Von Dutch while on a bus tour attending shows to promote his talent, sadly it wasn’t signed so it can’t be proven that was the work of the pin stripe master, but it sure is unique.
On Loan From Rich Hallam
Specifications:
Engine: 345 C.I. Oldsmobile V8
Horsepower: 315
Engine Modifications: Iskenderian E-4 Camshaft, 1958 Oldsmobile ported & polished heads, Edelbrock staggered four carburetor manifold, Scintilla vertex magneto
Chassis: Engine relocated 12” to rear of engine bay, modified Ford Thunderbird steering column, 2 ½ inch dropped front axle, 1941 Ford hydraulic brakes, 1937 La Salle transmission
Body Modifications: 1932 Ford body channeled 7” over frame, custom padded top, hand made firewall
