"The 1932 Ford continues to have a tremendous impact on many aspects of the automotive world and on contemporary culture," said Larry Erickson, Ford Motor Company chief designer. "It was a landmark car for Ford Motor Company; beginning a period of styling dominance for the company and, most significantly, offering the world's first mass-produced V8 engine. Then, years after its introduction, the '32 Ford played a major role in another revolution -- the development of the hot rod. These cast-off cars, built in backyards and small garages, performed far beyond their original capabilities and often rivaled the performance of the best in the world. Hot rods are a uniquely American form of automotive expression."