Snopek Kustoms Built TREMEC-Equipped Classic 1932 Ford Coupe

1932 Ford 5-window coupe

Using an original 1932 Ford coupe body, Matt Snopek built his version of the classic American hot rod with design subtly that keeps you coming back for more looks at this beautiful machine. He only departed from era-correct design and equipment in one area – the 5-window has a TREMEC TKX 5-speed transmission for reliability and driveability.

It all started in 2015, when Matt bought the coupe body, a DeSoto Hemi and a custom built chassis for it from the shop where he was employed. Matt tucked it away while he refined his idea for the build and sought out the necessary parts to make his vision for the 1932 coupe a reality. During these years, Matt started his company, Snopek Kustoms, and found a customer, Vernon Mackillop, who shared in his vision for the 1932 5-window coupe.

“I’ve always been into traditional hot rods and customs,” Matt explains. “I like to build cars with a lot of subtle changes while always keeping proportions in mind.”

As the build concept, which Matt dubbed the Arlo Coupe, was finalized, Matt sold some of the parts he got with the car to help finance purchasing what he wanted to fit the Arlo Coupe’s look. When he acquired the car there was a DeSoto Hemi with the assortment of parts, but using it in the coupe was never an option for Matt. Only one engine would be right for the build: a classic Ford flathead V8.

Uncommon Engineering was tasked with making the front accessory drive that would connect everything while retaining the desired look. They also built a wooden mold to cast a custom aluminum intake for mounting the supercharger to force feed the flathead and help make decent power. The fuel is delivered by a pair of vintage Stromberg carbs that Matt built the linkage setup for. Bolted to the flathead is a TREMEC TKS 5-speed transmission built by Liberty’s Gears with Quick Slip coated gears. It sends power to a Ford 9-inch rear.   

The body of the 1932 Ford Arlo Coupe is all steel and mostly original sheetmetal. True to his craft and building classic builds, Matt works with lead on areas that need work more than a quarter-inch thick. To keep the proportions just right, the front end was shortened and the top chopped just enough to have everything in balance. Then the steel was prepped and primed for being sprayed in PPG Deltron urethane black. Inside Fat Lucky’s Interiors in Arizona did the interior stitching, using material from an out-of-business custom suit tailor that made zoot suits to give the interior some extra depth and detail, as well as the gangster look that the owner of the car desired.

“A lot of work from very talented people helped me complete this build and fulfill vision for it. I love seeing people check out the carbs, and watching their eyes keep moving from one aspect of the coupe to the next.”

TREMEC 1932 Ford Alro Coupe 5-Window Built by Matt Snopek
When Matt Snopek acquired the 1932 Ford body and chassis for the Arlo Coupe in 2015, the chassis had already been built, but the original all-steel body was untouched. It was stored for a few years while Matt gathered the necessary parts and the design took shape in his head. Traditional hot rods have always appealed to Matt, and to build them he learned traditional techniques like working with lead and other classic metalwork methods. A key part of Matt’s designs are keeping everything in proper proportion. Most won’t notice at first the front end of the Arlo Coupe has been shortened. This was done to bring the front of the car into proportion with the back.
TREMEC 1932 Ford Alro Coupe 5-Window Built by Matt Snopek Engine
Even though the Ford coupe came with a DeSoto Hemi when Matt bought it, he did not for a second entertain using it for the build. In his mind, only one powerplant could go in a classic 1932 hot rod build: a supercharged Ford flathead V8. Everything about the look of the engine had to be perfect and fit the classic hot rod style. A rebuilt vintage Mallory points distributor lights the air/fuel mixture. Matt enjoys seeing people check out the Stromberg carburetors sitting on top of the blower. Sending the flathead’s 311 horsepower to the 9-inch rear end is a TREMEC TKX 5-speed transmission from Liberty’s Gears with Quick Slip coated gears.
Interior View TREMEC 1932 Ford Alro Coupe 5-Window Built by Matt Snopek
The Arlo Coupe’s interior may look simple; it’s anything but. Fat Lucky’s Interiors in Arizona stitched the seat covers and door panels with a special touch. The coupe’s owner, Vernon Mackillop, loves black vehicles, hence the PPG Deltron black urethane exterior. One of Vernon’s key requests on the build was to give the car a ganster look, so Matt gave the interior some extra detail. Lucky’s Interiors found a tailor shop that made zoot suits and had gone out of business. He bought the material used on the seats and door panels to enhance the interior’s looks but with a true period feel. The gauges keeping tabs on the flat head are NuVintage USA units, accented by a classic engine-turned aluminum surround.
Rear Exterior View TREMEC 1932 Ford Alro Coupe 5-Window Built by Matt Snopek
Matt’s adherence to old school techniques includes paint and body work. While the 1932 Ford Arlo Coupe is all steel and mostly original sheetmetal it did need a little work. But instead of using modern fillers Matt worked with lead and old school body techniques to make any repairs thicker than a quarter inch. When it comes time for color. A goal of Matt’s with this coupe build, well, all of his builds, is for anyone checking out his creations their eyes to not stop moving. Always looking from one aspect of the car to the next, with each lap around noticing something new they didn’t see on the first pass.