The Case:
A man in Benicia, CA owns a 1932 Ford roadster that, upon purchase, had an engine too powerful for normal driving. Our contributor suspects his car was used for dry-lake racing, a sport that had its heyday in Southern California in the 1930’s, and 1940s.
In 1932, although America was in the midst of the Depression, Henry Ford forged ahead, designing a new model ’32 car with the first powerful V8 engine affordable to the masses. Was our contributor’s car among the popular hot rods raced out at the dry lakes?
History Detectives high-tails it to California to investigate one of the most iconic hot rods of all time.
Related Content
Feature:
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Japanese House
How did a Japanese house come to be at the San Francisco World's Fair just months before WWII began?
-
Related Investigation
Fillmore Pardon
Did President Fillmore pardon a Native American convicted of murder?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Iwo Jima Map
What role did this map play in one of World War II's fiercest battles?
-
Related Investigation
Hindenburg Artifact
Was this device snatched from the burning wreckage of the ill-fated zeppelin?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Lost Musical Treasure
Are these fragments of a lost moment in American musical history?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Poison Pin
Are these prototypes for poison suicide pins carried by spy plane pilots during the Cold War?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.