This week, Richard Chiaro shares some photos of his awesome, 1932 Highboy Roadster.
Rich has owned the ’32 for over sixteen years. First purchased as a roller from an older gentleman in Arizona, who had to give up on the restoration due to health issues, he knew the car needed pretty much everything. He started off building the car very basic and running as a rat rod.
A few years ago he decided to turn it into a really nice driver, but not, he stresses, a trailer queen.
He built the small block Chevy motor, intending it to be very mild and street friendly. The motor is a 350ci 4 bolt main, new rotating assembly, with a mild roller cam and roller rockers. The supercharger is a GMC 6-71 with a pair of matched Edelbrock Carburetors from Allstate.
The transmission is a TH350. He bought a 2004R transmission out of a Buick Grand National, which is a direct replacement, and plans to install it this winter. The transmission swap will give him a lower 1st gear as well as an overdrive for better highway driving.
The rear end is a posi 8 inch Ford out of an old Maverick “Grabber” and it weighs about 100lbs less than a Ford 9 inch.
Rich did all the bodywork and the convertible top himself, but had had a friend do the paint. A shop to did the custom interior.
He drives the roadster to every car show with the exception of very far events or out of state shows, where he trailers it for practicality.