1932 Ford Little Deuce Coupe on Beach Boys album cover

[raynsings4u]

This is so cool! Thanks for sharing this. :)

[glenburrough1]

Great little cpe., the one I had in 1948 I paid $105.

[minskbelarus]

Curt, you must be very proud. Great story, great song!!

[silverado271]

8 people dont know that a 32 ford is a deuce. 

[1955Cal]

Very cool, Can you imagine that being your Dad's car on the Beach Boys album cover and writing a song about it. That's great the son still owns it and it's back in the family. I'm also a big Beach Boys fan!

[75DrummerBoy]

This car is part of music history!

[MrGotsquashed]

He lost fame and fortune by a head. I never thought I would get a copy, but I did! Keep them legends alive!

[390merc65]

cool stuff..and to think ..all we have today are honda's and toyota's....i dought someone will make a song about them anytime soon ....nothing better then cool , old american iron ...and to think the only notoriety the imports get are from the fast and furious,,,,thats laughable.....i will take a gas guzzlin, tire smokin american v8 over a prius any day of the week

[NeonPsychedelicRobot]

@390merc65 Oldschool cars undoubtly have great style and everything, but, are technologicly primitive and generaky bad for the environment. Those cars have seen their days.

[390merc65]

@NeonPsychedelicRobot well thats mostly true..but believe it or not.i owned a 1970 maverick with a 170 c i 6 and 3 spd and it got 32 mpg's...not bad for a 1960's technical built car with point ignition and a carb ...but pit some wheels on it and clean it up ..it wasnt a bad car at all ..and outlived many japanese cars

[ALLERTORLOVER69]

drum brakes

[RandiRS4]

Great story, how much did the dad buy it back for in the end?

[fattony252]

 Dooshe Coupe

[CactassDupree]

Bitchen Dude U and Dad R  LUCKY

[hcaughy]

This made me cry...well, almost...beautiful legacy....was unaware Mr. Catallo was eventually able to buy it back...ok, might cry now

[jstrunck]

Plenty Bitchin'

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Love it.

The Beach Boys, this song and this car rock on.

George Vreeland Hill

[fattony252]

You are correct the line is I got the pink slip daddy. But if the owner didnt sign it the title isnt transferred. Drag racing is illegal so the police wouldnt be called either.

[fattony252]

While you are busy polihing your chrome pipes knobs and wheel spinners, I will be tearing up the road. My BMW was built by magical elves in the black forest in Germany, and its all speed, esp in So Cal.

[lowsten]

@fattony252 Congrats on your Hitlermobile.

[kreed1]

In the 40's My dad had one and I will look for the photo in my closet

He hot rodded it..and it was a beaut and he also had an old merc

[rovinvideo]

Wow do I feel stupid,for ever,I thought they said ,I got the big slip daddy,now I finally know what the Big Slip Daddy is

[henery22lr]

Nice 32 with a small block chevy

[174x5]

Fat tony, you came in the wrong door...Nobody here gives a rats ass about your fuckin' blow my weenie car because it isn't a hot rod and no matter what you do to it or with it it will never be a hot rod. Hot rods are built not bought. Even if you could blow off a fueler, your crate is still just a European factory snob car like you. Go blow a goat.

[MrPlymouthfury58]

fattony525 is a modern era dork he doesnt know how to work on a car never the less be a man id put my money on the deuce against your beemer in the quarter not to mention the deuce is worth more and always be worth more ... than the thing that you believe is so high and mighty... i bet its stock to lmao,u probably bont even know what blue printed really is.

[croc106]

Dude, you don't know how to work on a car, rlly? Shut it buddy.

[fattony252]

i dont care how much paint you have or how much chrome. I WILL DUST IT OFF with My B M W 530 tricked and blueprinted. I dont know how to fix cars, I just burn the tires off. You guys can sit at the Dennys with the shiny chrome wheels. I have my BMW ready to road race any body that wants to lose.

[kielego]

@fattony252 get the fuck out you rotten teenager!

[1horseman]

only with nitrous oxide

[fattony252]

bring the douche coupe out and my bmw will blow its windshield out

[Gregarious3]

@fattony252 You do not get it. At least to me, it is about doing it yourself, as much as you can. Having fun and being a part of your fellow motorheads make it special. I am sure your BMW is a great car, I hope you as least maintain it.

[GIwillo]

hahaha wow!!!what a car.they did an awesome job these times! :)

[70454mike]

I just wonder if the guy with the BMW 530 built it from scratch like the rest of us, or did his mother buy it for him.

[MrStonemike]

"Eco-radicals hate hot rods! The American experience will die greatly if we allow "progressives" to disrespect and destroy what has made America great! Being an American has always been tied to our "love affair" with cars. I appeal to rodders to get informed and get involved, forcing us into buses is their aim!

[fattony252]

Bring it out to gray line Hill and i will blow your doors off with my BMW 530

[theshadow1932]

@fattony252 In your fevered DREAMS, fatty! Ain't NOTHIN' like American iron!

Norm

[widdyhabb]

@fattony252 You obviously don't know anything at all. Grow up!

[Doublefeature56]

"we were a poor family....my dad had to build his own thirty two ford hot rod"

[Doublefeature56]

Now days you go to a big city streetrod shop with your checkook and order a hot rod the way you want it. In 1957, my dad built a 32 five window with a Plymouth V-8 that we always called the skunk. I think the plan was once to paint it black with a white stripe but it was ruddy red primer until my older brother painted it red when he was in h.s.. He graduated in 1965.

[70454mike]

Wow! That's cool.

The best I can claim was meeting Ed Roth in the 80's. I was touring my Chevelle on the same ISCA circuit as the "Outlaw" roadster & we met.

The song probably refers to the "ownership pink slip" not the drag race one.

You would have to have a competitive legal drag car running in one of the legimate "classes" (ie. Stock or Superstock) in order to even know this. Besides you would probably have to be doing a record run or be in National event. Unfortunately no Beach Boy did.

[naderchaser]

@70454mike I just walked to my bathroom, where hangs a Rat-Fink clock that "Big Daddy" Roth signed for me at a car show in '96. He was kinda towards the end of his run, I could tell. His son(s) really ran the booth and answered questions. But Big Daddy spoke to me outright. He could sure cuss for a Mormon!! He began railing about "all the fuggin' illegals he saw around Tucson...lol. I asked him about a specific car...he goes "ahhh, I've built so many f 'ckin cars, who knows? lol. Joel in Tucson

[70454mike]

@naderchaser

It was a dark day when we lost him. Today's rods are the "same ole, same ole". The first decal on my Mustang (Stingray in the U.S) bike in the 60's was the Rat Fink!

The above coupe is cool but I would rather drive one of Ed's. Ironically the word was that some of his cars didn't run. But who cares!

[70454mike]

Very good! Actually I thought it might be the "2nd" generation Buick 400 (non-nail head) but it was not introduced until 1967.

Apparently the car was supposedly built with the help of the Alexander Bros. & later had it's roof chopped by Barris. Could be an urban legend though.

[CJurasin]

@70454mike Back in the '70s I had a Barris Custom '55 Chevy and it had the same placques on the side. I called Barris Custom City and wanted to talk with someone to verify that it truly was a "Barris Custom". Guess who answered the phone??? Mr Barris Himself......and he said "I often wondered what ever happened to that car". Later on I sold it to a guy in Seattle who then sold it to a Barric Custom Collector, and the last I heard it's in his collection in Hawaii.

[70454mike]

Anyone know what engine that is. Obviously the song is not about this car. It's an overhead. It looks like a 394 Olds or a 401 Buick.

It's a shame about the death of one of the Alexander bros. I showed a car in the winter throughout the 80's in the ISCA show circuit and the judges were still talking about that pair. They built some killer show cars. I felt there were better than Barris (two gaudy)

[CJurasin]

@70454mike  Probably not a Buick motor.....the Buicks had what was called a "Nail Head" motor where the valve covers were in a vertical position as compared to most V8s being at an angle.

[thedoowopden]

great story, good memories for the fella

[biddaddytang]

RIP Larry Alexander. For those who don't know Larry and Mike Alexander customised and the car and made that unique grille that's shown on millions of records today. Larry passed away today and it's great that his work will forever live on.

[70454mike]

For what it's worth & with all due respect, the pink slip refers to the "time slip" you would receive after a time run at a drag strip. I it would display the e.t. & mph thereby proving how fast the car really was. These pink slips would be displayed at the local drive-ins simply for bragging rights. Someone earlier had already nailed this one down. I doubt any bank would finance a car like that.

This car with a six hundred hp engine (or more), with slicks would run 0-60 in well under 5 sec.

[naderchaser]

@70454mike Well, with respect back, this supposed car would never come close to 600 horse. It's a flathead, more like half that. The fastest prod. cars of that day were the 62 fuel injected 327 Corvettes, they turned the quarter in the low 15's high 14's And the pinkslip is NOT the drag strip timing slip. I used to drag race. They never were pink. C'mon man, you know that too. I really think that I will try to get ahold of Brian Wilson on this.

1

[CJurasin]

@naderchaser Don't contact Brian on this or you'll be embarassed.... The "Pink Slip" (as every car guy knows) was slang for possessing the TITLE of the car. Some of the braver and loud mouthed guys used to race each other for their "pink slips" (titles aka ownership). Also, I notice on the side of the car right in front of the door what looks like a "Barris Custom" placque. Did Barris have something to do with this car??

[naderchaser]

@CJurasin Oh I hear you, CJurasin. If you'll note, I've been the one stating all along that the pink slip in the song is exactly that.....the California title. Read all the other posts, and you'll see my angst. Some wild ideas about what pink slip supposedly says.

Hell, I wouldn't know how to contact Brian anyways. But this sure made me feel like doing so.

[CJurasin]

@naderchaser You're right.......I didn't read the thread, just your one post.  ;-)

[naderchaser]

To Mikestheman3: You are correct, the word "mill" was used back in the day, I said it too in the mid 60's. But...was the rear end, pumpkin, whatever you want to call it, ever referred to as "the big slip daddy"?? Answer: I never heard it. Perhaps you are thinking of a "limited slip" aka: "posi" rear end. Now, one thing just popped into my mind. How's about one of us going to one of those "free lyrics" sites and finding out if it's "big slip daddy" or "pink" slip daddy. Wish we could wager!

[naderchaser]

@naderchaser Well, I can see that I'm gonna have to put a phone call in to my cousin Brian Wilson, and ask him directly. I try not to bug him for ANYTHING, because everybody else has all his life. But, I want this solved. I should have the answer by tomorrow (Friday 8-12) evening....and I'll post it in here immediately. Oh wait, my cousin is Brian Sanford...not Brian Wilson. Ahhh shit....I thought we could put an end to this thing. Dag nabbit........the dad blasted luck anyhow. Joel in Tucson

[NaturalTVtm]

Great story!

And yeah, the Title to a motor vehicle in California is still called "the pink slip".

It's been that way for decades and it's still that way today, 2010, and it's still called "the pink slip" and it's still pink!!!

[ROGER459]

A Pink Slip is the Original RUN slip from a Speedway... validating the Speed and Time of the Run.

Thanks for the History and Story. Great Car..!

[mikestheman3]

@ROGER459 a pink Run slip would make more sense than ownership pink slip if that's what their saying. But, they're saying what is in the coupe starting with the engine, then the clutch, the trans then the rearend. I remember as a kid reading in the 50s Hot Rod magizines that some of the stories on the featured cars told of the engines, Cad Lasalle trannys, etc. and some would have a limited slip rear end which they called the big slip daddy. Big & pink sound alike, wish Brian W. would step in!

[naderchaser]

@mikestheman3 You're saying that back in the 50's and 60's, guys would refer to the limited slip rear ends in their rods as "the big slip daddy"??? Now, you guys are flat-out CONJURING. NEVER was any part of any car or hot rod referred to as "the big slip daddy". For the record, most of the top-notch rods from that era didn't have limited slip rear ends, they had Halibrand "Quick-Change" rear ends...for ease in quickly swapping out gear sets. "The Big Slip Daddy"....hahaha.

[mikestheman3]

@naderchaser Duh, Big Slip Daddy was slang like Flathead "mill"! Just listen to the lyrics, the song starts off with "I got the Fastest set wheels" "She's My Little Deuce Coupe" this already states he has owner ship. Then he tells about the drivetrain right down to the rearend. Then in ending he tells how fast it is. Read some of the Hot Rod magizines from the 50s many slang words were used. No one really uses the word mill today, back then, Buick mill, Olds mill. Just like cool Daddy "O"

[fattony252]

@mikestheman3 Brian wilson talked a little funny when he was juiced. I think what he was saying was"it got the big slicks daddy"meaning the car had racing tires.

[zack065]

@fattony252 "i got the pink slip daddy" is the correct line.

and shut up btw.

[naderchaser]

@ROGER459 NO NO NO NO and NO! A "Pink Slip" is what the TITLE to a motor vehicle was called. This is because the titles actually WERE PINK. I have had many "pink slips"...i.e....many California titles. What the guy in the song is singing about is he's actually boasting..."And one more thing....I got the Pink Slip Daddy"..meaning HE owns it......NOT any bank or finance company. You'd get the pink slip (title) when you'd pay off your bankloan on your car...or bought it outright for cash.

[naderchaser]

@naderchaser A Quick addendum to my first post: A title to a CALIFORNIA motor vehicle is called the "Pink Slip". Specifically California only.

If you don't believe this, call up any California MVD Dept or Bank Auto Loan Dept. and ask THEM what a "Pink Slip" is. You'll get your answer.

[billy29]

Never understood the hip. Just a little deuce coupe with a flat head mill? Get it !!  FLATHEAD MILL....FLAT HEAD!!!! Ford FLATHEAD!!!!

[dowopper51]

@billy29 I always wondered the same thing, the car didn't fit the song with OHV. Also, I always thought they said "big slip daddy" not "pink slip daddy" The big slip daddy was a limited slip differential back then. Anyway, great song, great car, love em' both. I remember when Hot Rod posted that coupe back then.

[1pollo1rabbit]

That doesn't even look like a deuce anymore.Should of used Milner's coupe for the album cover.This thing looks like a space ship.

[maccasmakesmesick]

Great to see it made its way back to him before he passed.

[5769JJ]

Thank you for posting....best part was you sitting int he car with arm out the window....look on your face....priceless! You KNOW your dad built that car!

[jimmycoolcap]

This was WONDERFUL !!!!! Thank you so much!!!!

[JustaSideOrderOfLove]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Very VERY VERY Happy That It Is Still In The Family! Always Been One Of My Fav Cars! <3

[asfanmod88]

did you win or the toyota fuck up,or was it usa maddness

[ronetteloverz]

P.C. Yeah, it figures.

[integgy95]

Funny thing is my friends 2010 Toyota Camry would probably beat that '32 Ford in a drag race.. The new Camrys will do 0-60 in 5 seconds.. My Integra could probably give it a run for it's money.. It's a nice car tho..

[ronetteloverz]

Yeah, the Toyota will floor itself and just keep going. If it's

got a retrofit of Prius brakes, it may not stop.

[Jared1970Monte]

You think a 2010 Camry is going to outrun a Blown 32 Ford???????????????????? ROFL That 2010 Camry couldn't outrun a bicycle.

[ringo244]

great story

[theshadow1932]

What an all around GREAT story. An iconic car survives all those decades and finally, "comes home".

Congrats, Mr. Catallo

Norm

[1812richardk2]

Great song about a Great car. Three minutes of pure musical bliss!!!

[Skeebo69365]

Awwe man!! What a great story to go with a great song. Thanks for sharing.

[TheEldoradoKid]

Was it really a nazi swastika or the classic "surfers" Iron Cross, which was a popular hot rod and custom bike symbol of the 60s...BIG DIFFERENCE! Don't mistake them even though they both had a history with the German Army! The Iron Cross is more of a general Germanic symbol which unlike the swastika, has been used for many centuries. In fact, I used to have one hanging from my rear view mirror back in the day in my own hot rod.

[TheStubbleking]

Congrats man! That's a good piece of American history!

[Clemmens5of6]

Amen, may we all one day own the pink slips! Frak, the banks are out of business!

Feels good, don't it?

[xjmoe83]

My mom's uncle was in that PA car club that bought it. It was called the Washington Timing Association out of Washington County, PA, right near Pittsburgh.

[garycobabe]

Chopped

[XourRat]

retarded ass grille lol

[mooseoftoose]

Yes. It looks like shit. Worst frontend ever

[hcliii]

My uncle did the interior of the car.

[Clemmens5of6]

Long live Jay Leno! If only he would do more than showing up for a free?, Concert, yeah right! He has too much respect for his cars! Just kidding Jay! It's not about politcs anymore, just who will scratch my back, that is for a union due! peace

[Seattlecarnut]

Awesome car! Awesome story behind the Little Deuce Coupe. I've heard the Beach Boys' song, and I've seen pictures of the car. But I've never heard the story behind the famous car. Nice!

[superstreet56]

The late great Boyd Coddington built those cars and Mike Love was the beach boy.

[appapo3]

The creator of cadzilla for zz top offred to customise a duece coupe for the beach boys. The question that one of the beach boys asked"'what do they look like ?" The car customizer was totally blown out the water by the question.Sorry can't remember which beach boy or the name of the famous car customizer

[ronetteloverz]

Did this car ever have a flathead or was it always

an ohv?

[ChiliPepperMan28]

Im sure at one point there was a flatty i9n it seeing as there was no such OHV engine in 32. After customization the SBC was thrown in and topped with the wicked 671 GMC blower. Gotta love it.

[assgod1]

its not an sbc it looks like an early caddy or oldsmobile mill

[azpatm01]

Thanks for posting on Youtube.

[ITR862]

I really love this car. Give the Danbury mint a call and get a copy of their awesome replica of this car. So amazingly detailed. My favorite diecast is this one, norm grabowski's Kookie T, and the Hirohata Merc. And who can forget The California Kid. Anytime i want to see hot rod history i can just look in my display case.

[warcat69]

My understanding has always been that the car on the cover was a car described in another song on the album, Ballad of Ole Betsy, which even in the song says Betsy was "born" in 32. Maybe it connected to both, who knows.

[heydudekev]

love that car!!

[CampyNeighbor]

Very much before my time...but still, bad ass!!!

[1pollo1rabbit]

I am going to exercise my freedom of speech by saying that this car is the most overdone piece of junk I've ever seen.I mean 32 fords are cool just this one isn't with it's stupid fins and ugly grill.The American Graffitti duece is a better choice.

[Dixiekraut]

Say what you will..but that was a style back then..overdone or not...and it is a piece of authentic American Hot Rod history.

My beef is that the song talks about a "flathead mill"..which this doesn't have.

I agree with you about Milner's Coupe in "Graffiti"....but his ain't a flathead either...and no lake pipes to boot.

[sirstrongbad]

That's the car that was picked for the cover not really the car they're singing about..

[creepshowfan201]

my uncle built it

[creepshowfan201]

my uncle built it

[Amethysting]

I agree- the Frenced headlights- the blower and the wide front wheelbase are futuristic- you must be refering to the yellow coup in Grafitti- agree, that would be my pick, but this one here is still Bitchin !

[herbienbrian]

no friggin way!!! that car still exists?!?!?

This just made my day :] !!

[creepshowfan201]

ya my uncle built it

so ya ive sat in it

[greatgambino]

you liars! that isnt even a flathead! ahhhhh the words "just a little deuce coupe with a flathead mill, but.....

[homeboy25327]

G A Y !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hubs88]

Beautiful car!

[creepshowfan201]

my uncle built it

so ya ive been in it

[cmf1965]

This '32 is reminescent of the customized hot rod era The L.D.C. album (IMHO) should have had a 3 window or 5 window)coupe with a flathead motor as the song is about that type mill. Finally a single set of "Lakes Pipes" would have done well. (Yes I said "LAKES" That is the correct name - even though Mike Love on the lead sings edit " ...she purrs like a kitten, 'til her lake pipes roar..."

A truly great B.B. song with lost Beach Boy David Marks on the record.

[iwojima654]

actaully david marks had very little to do with L.D.C. Album, AL Jardine made his return and played and sang on L.D.C. :)

Which I am glad because Al is so much more talent than dave.

[cmf1965]

I specifically ststed David Marks was on the record. I noticed you didn't comment on my other remarks. (Or were they David re Marks...???!!! Roger Christian had more to do with the album, than Al Jardine. As far as Al being so much more talent than D.M. - that's comical...my vote goes to David. His musical studies, work, & guitar rhetoric, far exceed's Alan Jardines. But hey...so what...!!!

[iwojima654]

I disagree but, I think that AL is more better person over all, but david marks did have a attitude problem, that's why him and murry had a fight and he left. I just like AL overall better, also just for a side note, on the liner notes on the L.D.C., it says that AL did sing and play on it with david.

[wackedoutdude]

i would kill for a deuce 3 window. I love this song as well. What was the spec in little deuce coupe does anybody know?.

[rhythmrancher]

"I get pushed out of shape and it's hard to steer, When I get rubber in all four gears"

Pure Americana meets pure genius...awesome!!!

[peacenikkle]

Americans should look at this car .you will understand what made America great.that anything is possible.the American spirit.where has it gone???

[ChameleonWeb]

Just letting the C.E.O's know, We will give your last check 2U!, in person!!!

blood sweat and soul?

ok,

had too much of the bud, 2 b wizer!!!

[jazzstars]

It was on the cover of the JULY 61 issue of hot rod magazine , not june as stated by his son. vrrrrooom

[ChameleonWeb]

Hey Big Three! We the People still hold the "Pink Slip!"

Thanks "jay" for your spirit...

[srvinfinity]

Good One!

[srvinfinity]

THIS----Is---BITCHEN, BOSS, SOUL!!! So Cool.

Thanks for "THEE" 'Lil Deuce Coupe'!!

[Hubs88]

Rolling history, so cool!

[iwojima654]

lots of rare beach boys songs on my channel!!!!

[dvfball33]

American vintage and Muscle cars are just badass

[PiMpiN92432]

I'm 15 and that car is awesome along with The Beach Boys!

[54spiritedwill54]

its great to see this car it looks great. and its nice to hear its history!!

[11241944]

I had one when I was 17 years old, I am 63 now years old. Man I wish I had it now. Nothing as nice as this one, But 3 carbs. and it would run. Girl getter!!!!

[ILoveLauriePartridge]

This is such a COOL story! My best friend died at 59 5 yrs. ago and I acquired his Hot Rod subscription from '58 to '78 which included this car. Try picking up old "Hot Rod magazines". Best stories out there!

[jimet409]

Sweet!

That car is THE lil' deuce coupe. Thanks to Chili for the memories!!

[c2daj2datee]

That Car Is KILLIN ANY BENZ BEAMER OR MAYBACH EVERYTHING DEAD!!!!!LIL DEUCE COUP ..........U DONT EVEN KNOW............

[kookadams]

that is really fucking cool!

[thamesvan]

How much did he have to give to buy it back,not $5500 I bet?

[thamesvan]

One of the most famous rods in history,you must be so proud of your dad,thanks for the update

[eastcobbstables]

This car is a piece of history. I'm so glad his Dad was able to buy it back before he passed away. PINK SLIP DADDY!!!!!

[fiddlerpin]

I saw the coupe at Lead East a few years back. Thanks for posting.

[Wiky100]

Thanks for uploading this

[melodymaker84]

bitchin!

[SouthernRR4501]

I'm dreaming of a '32 Ford with a Ford aluminum 427 Big Block painted in Black Cherry with red ghost flames. That front end on that thing is ugly. Sorry, but I hate it.

[ChameleonWeb]

Sir,

Maybe you should drink some more Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, and the more you drink, the prettier that front end shall be!

Peace...

[EightLongArms]

According to the article in Autoweek (Aug 13, 2007), Clarence "Chili" Catallo built the car. After it appeared on the Beach Boys album cover, he sold it for $5,500. Toward the end of his life he managed to buy it back. The guy in the vid clip is Chili's son.

[phamtomsurfer]

mira que me había preguntado muchas veces qué habría sido de este coche, y mira donde está.

 Beach boys forever!!!!

[ratfinkin]

sweet thanks bro

[Cherokee5of6]

Detroit is on the 409, because "We the people" will bring her back! Don't mess with the "Motor City! Peace People!

[isogrifo6]

N-Neat!

[CycolacFan]

If I recall correctly it was first built by the Alexander Brothers then later redone by George Barris and it was Barris who chopped the top.

Great that the car survived all these years

[AUSY18]

its great to see this car it looks great. and its nice to hear its history!!

[m22rockbox]

Walk a thunderbird like its standing still! Great car, great song