The Gershenberg ’32 Roadster: Subtle Improvements

Ryan’s post on the Cannarozzi ’29 really stoked my flames for a Roadster post, so here we go. You may recognize Jerry Gershenberg’s Deuce from the July 1954 Hot Rod magazine, featuring comic duo Martin & Lewis hamming it up in a full color “Rod Test”. If you study that cover photo and compare with these shots from October 1955 Car Craft, you’ll see Jerry made subtle improvements to the roadster, which he had only purchased 2 years earlier. The front cycle fenders have been removed, along with the blackwall tires and slotted full wheel covers. The red ’32 now sports fresh big & little whitewalls with baby moon caps and reverse wheels in the rear. He also began chroming key suspension and steering components, perhaps to counter the amount of red paint covering brightwork like the horns and windshield frame. This particular roadster has always been interesting to me as to where exactly it came from… It sure feels like an early East Coast hot rod (channeled, chopped grille, big steering wheel) that was slowly getting the mid 50s ‘California look’ from Jerry. To add to the mystery, I have no idea where the Gershenberg car ended up after this shoot in ’55.