’32 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster

Generations come and go, and the same holds true with automotive generations. With every new group comes new automotive technology. You might call it “automotive evolution.”

Known as one of the pioneers of hot suspension components, land speed racer Jerry Kugel began selling uncaged Jaguar independent rear suspension (IFS) kits to hot rodders in 1969 out of his shop, Kugel Komponents in La Habra, California. His ability to stay ahead of hot rod design and styling components prompted his business to outgrow the original shop. Kugel moved to a larger facility in 1985, where he’s been ever since. Sons Joe and Jeff and daughter Jerilyn, who are land speed racers themselves, are part of the Kugel Komponents team.

A recent endeavor of theirs was the design and development of the Mirage hi-boy roadster you see in these ­­­­pages.

When Joe Kugel decided to build one of his own epic roadsters, it took two years to complete. Using Kugel Komponents front and rear suspension, Muroc-style windshield and rearview mirror, the foundation started with tapered frame rails by Thunder Road Rod & Custom. The frame cross members, suspension pick-up points and brackets were done by Kugel Komponents. A sleek fiberglass custom 1932 Ford ­hi-boy roadster body from Greeneing Auto Company includes 2-inch raised rear wheel wells; the doors and cockpit were extended 3 inches; the lower body line was straightened; and a ¾-inch channel at the cowl and 2-inch chop of the grille shell were carved out as well. The Kugel Komponents Mirage hi-boy roadster is a rolling business card for the company.

The roadster debuted at the 2013 Goodguys Del Mar Show where it received the prestigious Boyd Coddington Memorial Pick Award. Congrats!

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Engine:

• 1995 350-ci LT1 Corvette, EFI by F.I. Hot Rods, tuning by Eclipse Engineering. Sanderson headers with 2 ½-inch stainless exhaust and Stainless Specialties muffler with electronic cutouts.

Transmission:

• GM 1995 4L60E automatic four-speed with overdrive.

Paint:

• BASF Grigio Silverstone Ferrari Gray by Marcos at Freedom Auto Body.

Body Mods and Paint:

• 1932 Ford custom Kugel hi-boy roadster (fiberglass body) courtesy of Greening Auto Company. Marcel’s Aluminum hood and chopped 1932 Brookville grille with a Dan Fink Metal Works grille insert. Rearview mirror by Kugel, side mirrors by Hagen with Kugel stems. Greening Auto Company headlights and Billet Specialties taillights.

Frame:

• Thunder Road Rod & Custom frame rails, Kugel frame.

Suspension:

•  Front: Kugel IFS, inboard cantilevered stainless steel pushrod F1-style with stainless steel tubular upper/lower control arms, QA-1 shocks and Eibach springs.

Steering:

• Kugel rack-and-pinion.

Rear:

• Kugel/Winters quick-change independent rearend stuffed with 3.84 gears. Kugel IRS with tubular stainless steel lower control arms with QA-1 adjustable shocks and Ebach coil-over springs.

Brakes:

• Front: Wilwood 13-inch vented, cross-drilled and ball-milled rotors with six-piston calipers; Kugel master cylinder and 180-degree pedal assembly.
• Rear: Wilwood 11-inch vented, cross-drilled and ball milled rotors with four-piston calipers.

Wheels:

• Boyds Legacy series F-22 forged
• 6061T-6, aluminum. Front 17 x 7 and rear 20 x 10.

Tires:

• Front Firestone Wide Oval 215/45-17 and
• Rear Firestone Wide Oval 295/45-20.

Audio:

• Pioneer head unit, 4 x 4 speakers, rear side panels installed by Kugel Komponents.

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