I had never heard that Ak Miller built the car that Pete bought, but this is how it looked when Ralph Guldahl owned it and rented it to the movie studios. Mick
Horse vs. Pete Henderson Roadster In early 1945, pioneer southern California hot rodder Ak Miller was approached by a stranger who wanted to bet on a race between his horse and Miller's roadster, a 1932 Ford with a LaSalle V-8. The stranger's proposal was a drag race on the highway from one telephone pole to another, a distance of sixty yards. Miller discussed the proposal with Connie Wendell, owner of a '27 T with a Cadillac V-8 engine. They discovered that the most famous race horse of the day, Seabiscuit, could run sixty yards from a standing start in 4.2 seconds. Miller and Wendell raced each other from pole to pole and neither could cover the distance in 4.2 seconds. But a friend, Pete Henderson, had a '32 roadster powered by a flathead Ford V-8 which they found could accelerate sixty yards in 4.0 seconds. So it would be Henderson's Deuce versus the stranger's horse. Word of match spread, and a considerable number of spectators was on hand for the event, which was held on California State Highway 39. Apart from the bet between the stranger and the hot rodder, there were a lot of side bets among the spectators. The roadster was to run on the pavement, while the horse and rider would be in the dirt alongside. The race would begin when the starter dropped his hat. But when the starter lifted his hat from his head, the horse took off. Henderson, caught off-guard immediately punched the accelerator. His roadster caught the horse and passed it just before reaching the second telephone pole. Henderson and his hot rod had won a greater victory than Miller, Weidell, and Henderson realized at the time. The stranger had been traveling around the country with what turned out to be a quarter horse, which reached maximum speed in about three strides and, over a short distance like the sixty yards, was even quicker than a thoroughbred like Seabiscuit. Story by John Lawlor in "The American Hot Rod", published by Dean Batchelor
I could have told you that. Ak's first, and only '32 roadster was the LaSalle powered one that also had an ungainly Chevy knee action front end adapted to the Deuce frame. Ak was never a conformist.
Thanks for posting the story. Even though facts weren't in alignment it brings other interesting history to the forefront in the setting things on the straight and narrow. In a form of connection I just posted a pic in the Linda Vaughn thread and I believe she is with AK. That is an awesome Hotrod. Really like the bobbed fender look.
Henderson had the year prior bought a Deuce roadster that had already been hot rodded for $400. He took the 1939 Mercury flathead V-8 to Don Blair, who stroked it 1/8 inch, bored it more than 3/8 inch, and installed a Bertrand camshaft, so-called Denver high-compression heads, a Weiand intake manifold, a pair of Stromberg 48 carburetors, headers, and a Spalding dual-coil ignition. Question...Does anybody know who built the Hotrod he bought for $400.00. He obviously juiced it up after the purchase. Just curious...
The Henderson Roadster was covered in a Rodders Journal issue years ago. The article detailed the restoration and history. Some how it was damaged at Pebble Beach in a transporter. It is back to a beautiful restoration and is one of the best. I saw it at the 75th celebration of the '32 Ford in Pomona and was very impressed.
Issue #32 thanks @Fogger. Coincidentally there is an article on AK as well. http://www.roddersjournal.com/shop/issue-32/
$192,500 according to the RM/Sotheby website. The car was lot #173. You can try this link, hope it works: https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/aucti...r213-1932-ford-pete-henderson-roadster/534976 Out of my budget for sure, I couldn't even afford admission to the auction....
The Jalopy Journal
