THE CHRISPYN ’32 FORD COUPE
matched the rod, Mike decided to build the custom bench seat that is currently covered in
got his money’s worth out of all those tires. The rod and Mike have been all over the country including out to the West Coast three times, the top of Pikes Peak, the East and Gulf Coasts many times and almost always with his wife Laura. Mike spent so much time at NSRA events, the NSRA hired him to be an NSRA Event Director from 2004 to 2018. He still loves cruising to events even though Laura passed away a few years ago. Once Mike recovered, he’s found a great new lady, Brinda, and they are busy cruising the country in the ’32 and her cute little Nova Mike has rebuilt for the second time this last winter.
saddle colored leather from Moore & Giles (and yes, it’s automotive rated). The interior features a custom center console and package tray, a roof console holding Sony tunes hooked to his iPhone, Specialty Power Window’s wipers, Vintage Air, an IDIDIT column topped with a ’40 Ford wheel, custom LED lighting, square-weave carpeting and Ball’s Rod & Kustom power windows. The Auburn-style dash currently runs VDO gauges, but over the years it’s had a few sets of gauges, including Dakota Digital, and all of them have been set to the current mileage when installed. Mike currently has 181,407 miles on his coupe and many more to come. If Mike had kept all the different wheel and tire combos he’s had on this street rod over the last 50 years he would need a separate garage to store them all. What a great metaphor for Mike’s ownership of this classic rod and the best part is he
All told, Mike has painted the ’32 ten times. The green and yellow version was a full smoothie, but what I liked best was that the paint was the same underneath, including flames, pinstriping and all.
The five-window has had its burgandy R&M paint for more than 15 years (Mike has done quite a few other projects including a Nova, a ’32 Vicki and a ’66 Bug), but updates to the ‘32 keep coming. The steelies pictured here now have wide whites on them and Mike switches them out with the Americans, depending on his or Brinda’s mood. Mike has met a ton of rodding celebrities throughout the years, but it was extra special to get to work with many of the legends in his time as an NSRA Event Director. Dennis Anderson (aka Gravedigger) is a rodder and a great guy just like Mike.
One easy way to spot Mike’s car is the molded-in flames on the passenger side rear quarter. Mike simply formed some bar and then welded it in to make the look. The molded in Hagan mirrors are also a great way to spot the rod no matter the color or fender configuration.
52 JUNE 2025
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