Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson

This custom 1932 Ford B400 (Lot #732) – one of the last cars conceived by legendary hot-rod imagineer Boyd Coddington – will be crossing the block at No Reserve during the 2019 Palm Beach Auction.

Inventing a brand-new take on a classic American hot rod requires an element of expertise and insight that only a handful of people in the business possess. One of them was Boyd Coddington. The car you see here is as unconventional as you can get, but at the same time, it is as advanced as today’s technology allows.

This Boyd Coddington-built 1932 Ford B400 convertible (Lot #732), selling at No Reserve during the upcoming 2019 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, looks like the hot rod of a rich juvenile delinquent back in that day ‒ when power, suspension and stance mattered most. Just like now. This well-preserved all-steel body was re-created by Coddington’s Shop of Wonders and would become one of the most unique hot rods the market has seen.

A handmade, racing-inspired, custom chassis was designed to house a Roush-built 358ci fuel-injected Ford V8. Its wild-looking induction system gives off a kind of Hilborn vibe thanks to a vintage 8-barrel configuration.

A roller cam, lifters and rocker arms play their part in keeping this mill calmly going about its business of making easy horsepower, and plenty of it. An MSD ignition keeps the sparks flying. A modern 4-speed automatic/overdrive transmission backs this high-performance engine. Its tubular headers were constructed by hand and look like modern art. The rest of the exhaust system is also a one-and-only product, and exits in a very cool single oval exhaust outlet mounted right below the mesmerizing sight of the chromed rear differential.

The car has fully independent suspension and utilizes coilovers at all corners. Power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes control forward motion with ease. A power rack & pinion steering system brings it all together.
With the help of Marcels Custom Metal Shaping, this car’s classic original steel body was re-crafted, creating a longer hood and side panels, with appropriately modified fenders to match its racy new profile. Another one-of-a-kind piece is the steel lift-off top by Carson.

The interior is completely modern, yet doesn’t ignore, or mask, its nearly 90-year heritage. Power seats, covered in high-grade leather, look as good as they feel ‒ and smell. Wool carpet adds to the luxury. Custom gauges highlight the wood-grained dash and window moldings, which are more like masterpieces than mere trim items. Vintage Air keeps passengers cool, allowing this machine to be enjoyed by its new owner regardless of the climate.

This was one of the last cars Boyd had his mind and hands on before his passing. And just like all of his projects, this ’32 utilizes only the best products, and greatest depth of skill available, to bring this creation to life, all of which are verified in the Official Boyd Coddington American Registry with a certificate of authenticity.

The beauty of the car-collecting hobby is the always-present prospect that one might be able to find a car that is so special, and so perfect for your particular taste and desire, that you are rendered helpless when it appears in front of you.

This is that car. It was conceived by Boyd Coddington himself, one of our culture’s most influential hot-rod imagineers. It was designed and 90 percent built by the master himself in his shop in La Habra, California, and finished by a number of renowned professionals. Regardless of the status of your present collection ‒ and even if you are just beginning a new one ‒ here’s the opportunity to own a hot rod that personifies the very essence of burning rubber and looking cool, straight from the master.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at the entire 2019 Palm Beach docket, click HERE.