Luzader’s ’22’

Whenever you read, hear or even think of the name Harry Luzader, I’m assuming the image of a high-riding mint green Deuce five-window comes tearing across your mind, pulling the front wheels in every gear. For those of you unfamiliar with his Model B, perhaps you’re better acquainted with his equally sanitary Opel. Sporting a trademark of excellent craftsmanship, the name Harry Luzader isn’t easily forgotten.

And that’s why a key fob from Luzader’s 22 Motel piqued my interest. In traditional mid-century motel fashion, the front featured the address: 3636 William Penn Highway, Monroeville, Pa. I reasoned that there had to be a relationship between the hot rodder and the motel. Plenty of drag racers held other jobs — like “Big�? John Mazmanian and his refuse company. But that’s a story for another time.

A quick glance at the White Pages indicated that Mr. Harry Luzader still lived in Monroeville, Pa., so I gave him a call to figure out the story of Luzader’s 22 Motel.

Harry says his parents purchased the place in 1950, and expanded it into a 40-unit, family-style motel. Growing up, all the Ludazers helped around the 22. In their spare time, Harry and his brother wrenched on a 1938 Ford in a rented garage across town. When darkness set in, the coupe terrorized the local street racing scene. As soon as Harry turned 16 years old, he bought a 1932 Ford five-window equipped with a lowly four-cylinder.

While still in high school, Harry’s father passed away. Mrs. Luzader said she wanted her children to stay close, so she had a six-bay garage built behind the motel.

“There were two bays that were really big, and we campaigned the car out of there,�? Harry says.

The 22 served as the home base for the Luzader team, acting as a perfect place for tune-ups and major modifications to the Deuce and Opel. Harry says by 1983, his mother was getting up there in age and sold the motel.

“Nobody wanted to update it,�? he says. “The land was more valuable than the motel business.�?

Like many family-operated motor lodges, the building was later demolished to make room for a modern development. Harry continues to stay involved in the hot rodding scene to this day, and has owned Luzader Auto Parts & Service since 1983. His mint green five-window was named one of the “75 Most Significant ’32 Fords” of all time and has been the subject of a number of H.A.M.B. threads.

-Joey Ukrop  

Images collected from eBay and the H.A.M.B.