1932 Ford Roadster - The best of the 2019 Victorian Hot Rod Show

Morris traced the car to Gary Wright, a Queenslander who bought it in 1962 and turned what was a Hi Boy into a deeply-channelled (9 1/2 inches) roadster, adding a Ford Y-block V8 with triple 97 Strombergs, a ’39 Ford gearbox and diff, reversed Mercury wheels, 3-inch Moredrop axle and mixture of Ford and Holden mechanical and trim parts.

Painted in Gulfstream Blue and trimmed in black vinyl, Wright won a bunch of trophies with his low-slung roadster before selling it to another rodder, who changed the engine, paint, wheels and trim. Subsequent owners added their own flavour, too - keeping some parts and removing others.

When it came to Morris in 2004, the roadster was little more than a body and shortened grille, but he nevertheless spent more than a decade restoring the rod to its C1965 spec. Some parts from its time in Wright’s ownership were found, but many others were lost, so period-correct replacements were used.

To say the finished article is amazing is an understatement. It’s also remarkably authentic to Wright’s original creation.