Fast-forward to 2006, where a Stateside holiday for Pete had him eyeballing a beat-up ’32 pickup at the local Friday night cruise that he frequented. Soon the old ’32 was etched into his mind, making for an easy build choice.<\/p>\n

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Under the front is a 4in dropped Super Bell axle sporting So-Cal batwings and a stainless four-bar. Steering is thanks to an XY Falcon box<\/em><\/p>\n

“When I heard of some ’32 pickup bodies being available about six years ago, I grabbed one,” says Michael. With the body sussed, the pickup’s direction was then agreed upon. “It wasn’t always the way, but Dad now understands where I’m coming from and was supportive of me directing it artistically.”<\/p>\n

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Next, the pair purchased a ’32 rolling chassis off good mate Geoff Western. “I knew who’d built the chassis back in the 80s, and all of the suspension, mounts and steering box were already there. We changed a lot, but that was easier than starting from scratch,” Michael says of the time-saving decision.<\/p>\n
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“We bought a shortened bed in San Diego, then a month later a stock bed – exactly what we wanted – turned up in Indiana,” Michael explains. “Luckily our friends Gen and Andy lived ‘only’ eight hours away from there, doing a 20-hour round trip to get it and drop it at the shippers in Indianapolis!”<\/em><\/p>\n
Up front, the Windsor and C4 were sold off to make way for a Japan-built ’75 Toyota 4V engine. “We finally got around to using the Far East engine and transmission that Dad had bought from a late-90s swap meet. It’s a neat, oddball motor with Hemi heads; an alloy block with the crank up high,” Michael says of the light and economical V8. “And it looks to be in such good condition with low miles.”<\/p>\n