SP Rides: HI-Road to the HI-Boy
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Year, make, model: 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe (Hi-Boy)
Owner: Richard Carvalho
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired
Hobbies: Cars, handyman
Color: Metallica Blue with microflakes
Engine: 327 tunnel ram with dual carburetors
Suspension: Full Pro Street, Ford 9-inch suspension
Exterior: Chopped shell
Wheels: 15-by-6-inch front, 14-by-15-inch American Racing with Hoosier tires
Richard Carvalho comes from a hot rod family. His dad and four older brothers all loved modifying and tinkering with them. Being the youngest, he didn’t come into his own until reaching the age of 14, where he started to learn and appreciate the intricacies of building cars.
He’s owned a variety of vehicles and built just as many. Although his first car was a 1963 Chevy Nova, his first modified hot rod was a 1968 Chevy Camaro. Like any 25 year old, he hopped the car up to his heart’s content and so began a long history of auto enthusiasm.
Along with years, experience and knowledge increases, and this is obviously shown in Carvalho’s 1932 Hi-Boy. He’s owned it for more than 20 years, and this car was a former center-steering racecar.
“It was in a million pieces. The doors and firewall didn’t line up, the trunk was welded,” explained Carvalho.
After the car changed several hands, Carvalho acquired it and began the build.
Over the course of our conversation, I realized that Carvalho is a very humble man. I learned a massive amount from him about automotive modification, but one thing stood out: he cares immensely about his family. This car was simply not built, it was created out of a labor of love by both himself and his two sons, Richard and Raymond. Starting at very young ages, Carvalho involved his sons, educating them on the ins and outs of automotive work. The end result is simply phenomenal.
Together, this family has created one of the most beautiful hot rods I’ve ever seen, much less had the chance to shoot. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know much about hot rodding, but it’s hard to deny the undeniably gorgeous vehicle that graces these pages.
Self-painted by Richard Carvalho Sr., the entire car shines with blue micro-flake that screams with depth across the hand-beaten bodywork. The American Racing wheels and Mickey Thompson street-slicks are set off in a staggered super-muscle stance.
The entire car is immaculately detailed in stainless steel and painted to perfection along with intricate bits of polished aluminum that absolutely gleam. Carvalho spent years traveling to the mainland, sourcing and acquiring original components such as the mirrors and suspension components.
This ride is chopped, Pro Street spec, and updated to modern standards. The car even features a trick Corvette brake kit and a full speaker system that will rock your socks off. It has tons of cool little features, including a fully electric-opening rear trunk.
This vehicle has been completed for more than 18 years, and yet looks as if it was just finished last week. Carvalho’s son Richard had it for a while and changed it up, but recently it’s back in Pop’s hands and has reverted to his original specs.
This vehicle took, literally, thousands of dollars and several years of hard work and dedication to build. It’s a stunning, pristine example and a priceless family heirloom. I asked Carvalho if it was worth it. His response was, “Of course. I enjoyed myself working with them and teaching them. It wasn’t only me. It was a family thing.”
What’s even more impressive is that he is now building a 1934 Pro Street Hi-Boy to go along with his 1932.
“I’m going to have twins,” Carvalho said.
