After World War II, the hot rod scene truly exploded thanks to all the young military men coming back to the states and looking for something to do with their hard-earned money. While the scene has progressively grown from that era and many cars can be found that pay tribute to the original hot rods from back in the day, few of the very first hot rods remain. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist, as Jay Leno revealed last week in his weekly episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. Check it out above.

Images: Jay Leno’s Garage

Now this hot rod may look very similar to those you see cruising the streets and dressing up car shows in the modern day and age, but it has one thing going for it that others do not; it’s an original!

Built back in 1947 by Bob McGee, this ’32 Ford Highboy roadster is more than just a tribute to yesteryear- it may well be one of the only classically built hot rods left. Need proof? Well, this car was the very first hot rod to ever grace the cover of Hot Rod Magazine. How’s that for old school?

Just like with any hot rod, this particular car saw many renovations over the years along with many owners. But when current owner Bruce Meyer got his hands on it, he turned it right back into the iconic hot rod the industry first saw back in the 1940s.

Though many components on the car are not original to the build, Meyers did restore the ’32 back to its first modified state as best he could. Underneath the original chassis, Z’d frame and ’32 roadster body, you’ll find period-correct suspension components, wheels and tires, including vintage 4-groove Firestones in the front.

True to the original build, you’ll find subtle finishing touches preserved on the car from the 40s, like the hidden door hinges, 1-piece trunk, 3-piece hood, shaved radiator cap and a peaked grille shell. Also fitted to the car is a vintage Harpers Dry Lake Bed run certificate with the car’s 112mph top speed from its debut year. Under the hood is a period correct 1937 Ford 221 ci engine with copper heads.

Having once been Bob McGee’s, he was brought in on the restoration project to get the car back as close to its original built state as possible. The SoCal Speed Shop (before it was named such) did the honors of putting the car back together.

Now some 67 years after the hot rod’s original build, it’s being immortalized in a postage stamp. Not only does this mean big things for one of the most iconic hot rods ever built but also for the history of the hot rod industry as a whole!