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The Lou Bingham Coupe: 1932 Ford, original steel Ford body, full fendered, 5 window (chopped 4") coupe, 4" drop axle.
1955 Olds engine, Hydromatic transmission, Lincoln brakes, '40 Ford steering column, early Olds rear end, white rolled and pleated interior (1958), maroon paint (1962).
Built in 1949,with a diary: 1949-2009.
Documented History of a Hot Rod written by owner builder Lou Bingham.
Rodders Journal calls it a genuine Icon and a running piece of Hot Rod history.
Lou purchased the coupe from Nolan White "Noted Bonneville Racer" in 1949.
Lou built the chopped 32 full-fendered 5 window in the late 40's and early 50's with on going changes for daily driving and racing.
The Coupe has documented history as Salt Flat & Dry Lake Race car while being driven as transportation for Lou.
The Coupe and Lou made 27 trips to El Mirage and 6 trips to Bonneville, first trip covered extensively in Dec 1953 Rod & Custom magazine.
This story has been reprinted many times.
Magazine & Hardback Coverage: Rod & Custom: June 1953, Dec 1953-Bonneville...The Hard Way. Hot Rod Magazine: Sept 1955 Street Rod Builder: June 2000-Diary Of A Hot Rod.50 Years OF Rod And Custom: 2001. Rod & Custom: Feb 2001, Rod & Custom in the 1950's: 2004 Street Rodder: Sept 2006, Goodguys Magazine: March 2006, Rodders Journal Poster: 2006, Rodders Journal issues # 32-Five Window Coupes, #34, #35, #40, #41, #42, #43, #44, #45, #46. Cover-Vintage Air catalog: 2006 & 2007.
Displayed at Peterson Museum for "75th anniversary of the 32 Ford" during Deuce week 2007.
The Lou Bingham Coupe made 6 trips to Bonneville 27 trips to El Mirage,
1958 Record in Class,
1960 Record in Class,
1960 Fastest with coupe body 137.82,
1960 Record (with Roadster body on Coupe chassis, with Coupe fenders) 147.78 that stood for 15 years.
1960 Ran with Roadster body without fenders 162.74.
In 1966 Lou took his bride to be, Ann, to Las Vegas in the coupe to get married.
Soon afterwards, the Coupe became the family's second car.
Recent activity: Lonestar Round-Up – Best Hot Rod and Goodguys – Period Perfect award.
Street Rodder Magazine called Rodders Journal issue #32 "the finest group of Deuces ever assembled in one magazine" with references to the Lou Bingham Coupe.
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....CLICK any picture for a larger view....
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..recently...........................
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..beat near to death. january 2010....
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..I snapped these pix in the Operating Room 04 04 2011....
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....CLICK any picture for a larger view....
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.chop and lead work from the fifties.next two pix.......
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..scroll to page 33 at this link.. dec 1953 Rod and Custom Magazine.......
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..quote from Bob McMillian.........
.Fast forward to about 1958.....
."On my daily drive to work I noticed a '27 Ford Roadster Pickup parked in a Mobil Station on La Jolla Boulevard. One afternoon I stopped in and inquired and found out that the owner was a fellow by the name of Lou Bingham. Later I helped Lou with a '32 Ford five window he was building. He wanted to chop the car and the best guy around was a bodyman by the name of Bill Barber. Trouble was, Bill did his best work when he was about half toasted. One night, we invited him over, bought him a case of beer, and at about 2AM he chopped the coupe. He did a masterful job, and in fact, that car recently appeared in Street Rodder magazine. It ended up with a guy back east who restored it to its' original glory. Lou campaigned the car at El Mirage for several years before he finally sold it. I even took the coupe to El Mirage and ran it a couple of times when Lou couldn't make the meet, in order to rack up club points. Along about the same time, Lou decided to build a Bonneville car. He acquired a '29 Ford roadster body (steel, of course) and built a full on race car. The entire body was cut into pieces and was fastened to the frame with dzus fasteners. After Bonneville, the whole body was removable so we could clean the salt off the car. That car is running today at El Mirage and Bonneville, and is currently owned by another San Diego Roadster Club member, Doug Eyres, Russ Eyres' brother.
The first year I went to Bonneville with Lou was 1961. Lou was a San Diego Roadster Club member and I remember asking to join the club. At that time I was still a San Diego cop. The club told me that they didn't want a cop as a member of the club. Oh well! In 1963, I left the police department and was promptly accepted as a member of SDRC. I continued as a crew member on Lou's car until he broke the engine on a record run in 196X and retired the car."
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I had the pleasure to see the car + speak with Lou for an hour or so, what a pleasure !!! shortly after I left the storm hit in arizona that we all hate to see the results of .I shall remember the fine time we had , Thanks to Lou for his sharing + caring . BD Drayton Valley Ab Can.
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