There isn’t a hot rodder alive who hasn’t heard of the 1932 Ford. Though quaint and traditional in their stock form, the cars were putty in the hands of masters when guys like Gordy Kordowsky got a hold of them.

Kordowsky with his Deuce Coupe, circa 1958. Photo credit: Kustomrama.com

Kordowsky was born and raised in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, by far one of the quietest places in America when it came to hot rodding in the late 1950s; at the outset of the man’s career, there were reportedly only three low-slung, go-fast automobiles residing in the area, and Kordowsky was one of them.

Sporting an open hood, whitewall tires and dog bowl wheels, Kordowsky could be seen around town with his best friends, Bruce Rosengren and Dick Hanson. They owned a ’36 Ford cabriolet and a ’34 Ford coupe, respectively.

Because of school, life duties, or sheer disinterest, the Deuce Coupe eventually found its way into a storage locker owned by Louis LaBossiere. LaBossiere took great care of the car while under his watch, and occasionally cruised the main street when the mood was right, and became so smitten by the car that he bought it off of Kordowsky in 1964.

LaBossiere and his son pose alongside the newly restored Ford.

LaBossiere then did essentially what Kordowsky had done, placing the car under lock and key for a number of years–41, in fact. It was 2005 when LaBossiere hauled the old Ford out of the garage once again, and shared it with a protege by the name of Jeff Bluedorn, whose interest and passion for hot rods was still growing.

Bluedorn took up the task of restoring the car to its former glory, but didn’t anticipate the length of time it would take to do so. Seven years passed before the car was completed, having suffered an issue with its flathead that needed extensive repair.

Finally, in 2012, the Deuce Coupe was ready to make its comeback, which it did by showing up at the GSTA Rod & Custom Spectacular in St. Paul. The old survivor earned a great deal of love and respect while there, and Kordowsky could be seen beaming at the sight of his pride and joy fully rejuvenated. A happy ending if ever there was one.

Old pals reunited: Kordowsky poses with his first love at the GTSA Rod & Custom Spectucular in 2012.

Found out more about this and other rods of yesteryear by visiting Kustomrama’s website, and be sure to follow them on Facebook as well.