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Victoria BC, July 21 2019 - They say good things come in threes - well, do the math and figure what good things come in thirty-twos. Then multiply by 650 - the number of 1932 Fords that drive cross continent to git to Northwest Deuce Days in Victoria British Columbia - every 3 good years. You could also say Deuces are Wild.
Now stretching over 3-4 days, Deuce Days has fast become a cultural touchpoint; a tourist attraction; an event that puts millions of dollars into the local economy; and an automotive love-in that warms the hearts and eyeball of a of lot of appreciative people. While only limited to 1951 and older model year automobiles of any make, the obvious focus of Deuce Days is 32 Fords - with a nod to the 5 window coupe.
You have never seen so many 32 Fords, mainly because this is the biggest gathering in the world for them and they keep increasing in numbers. Die-harders drive their rods and things thousands of miles to be here - license plates abound from California, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Illinois and everywhere in between. You know even with that trick jag suspension the ride is going to hurt after a while. And have you ever looked out a 6" high windshield for a few miles?
Ford sold around 300,000 units in the 1932 model year - a testament to the significant improvements made on design. Today the average person would be hard to pressed to name the actual model names for 1932 Fords - Model B and Model 18; the latter more famous for introducing the lowest cost V8 in the market.
Rather, 32s are described by their body style and door configuration - and there is something for everyone:
five window coupe (2 door) "Deuce"
roadster (2 door)
cabriolet (2 door)
sedan (2 or 4 door)
pickup truck (2 door)
sport coupe (2 door)
station wagon (4 door) "Woodie"
panel & sedan deliveries (3 door)
convertible (2 door)
phaeton (4 door)
With such a diverse product line based on the same original parts bin, a massive aftermarket has developed over the years with new parts unthinkable 87 years ago. Personalizing your own is as much a part of the game as it is history - that's what you do with your 32.
If you have the patience and strength to wander all of the streets and parks and landings full of cars around the Inner Harbour and BC Legislative grounds, you can get to see 650 different variations and treatments of 32. While black probably reigns on the old color wheel, no color seems out of place on the body of a Deuce. It is a brain popping experience that is Northwest Deuce Days.
Up next: 2022
https://www.northwestdeuceday.com
Photos and Story by
Randy Berg
Copyright 2019