In Living Color

Just last week, we were focusing on a stout ’56 Chevy Gasser powered by a dual-quad W-motor. It had all the right mid-’60s cues, including the rolling stock, stance and overall sanitary construction. Although the story on that one is still progressing, we all faced the same major dilemma with the nose-up sedan—we couldn’t come up with any original color pictures.

According to the PHR article, that car was orange. Molbdate to be exact. In our mind’s eye, the car looked perfect basking out in the Southern California sun. Sometimes all we get is a duotone dot pattern, and I guess in the end that’s better than nothing. As the week progressed, I couldn’t drive that car’s color combination out of my head.

Orange. Black. Chrome. Polished aluminum, magnesium, stainless. Black Naugahyde and hand lettering. Instead of suppressing these thoughts, I decided to break out the article about the Superior Muffler Austin. The little Altered graced the May 1963 cover of Popular Hot Rodding “in living color” and was the subject of a one-page feature within their Gallery of Great Cars.

Like many racecars during this period, the fiberglass ’32 was a combined effort among three friends: Skip Gibson, John Peterson and Mel Madison. The Santa Maria, California-based trio worked with Top Gas expert Lefty Mudersbach to create a unique chassis suited for maximum weight transfer. In the front, the car uses torsion bars, while a pair of coils suspend the quickchange rear. Power comes from a Hilborn-injected 301 cubic inch Chevy—perched way up high—that could run on either gas or alcohol.

You can’t help but love the simplicity of this car. It’s like a full-sized model kit built using all the right parts, from the American Racing 12-spokes to he piecrust M-H slicks. Oh, and the cut down Model A grille shell is the crowning touch. It all makes for an unforgettable combination—especially in all its orange lacquer glory.

—Joey Ukrop

Photos from Popular Hot Rodding, May 1963