Craig Knight, President of...
Craig Knight, President of Hot Rods and Horsepower (top left),standing next to Edsel Ford, the Dearborn Deuce and families touched bytype 1 diabetes.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world's largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research, announced an exciting new fundraising initiative with Ford Motor Company and Hot Rods & Horsepower, LLC, manufacturer of the Dearborn Deuce. For 2007, Hot Rods & Horsepower is producing, under license from Ford Motor Company, a limited edition 75th Anniversary 1932 Roadster -- which is known today as the "Deuce." There will be 100 75th Anniversary Deuces produced, with the entire proceeds from the sale of the first issued vehicle benefiting JDRF.
"We are grateful to the Ford Motor Company and Hot Rods & Horsepower for their support of JDRF," said Arnold Donald, President and CEO of JDRF. "The Ford Motor Company has been a terrific partner since 1983, and has raised tens of millions of dollars for diabetes research. It was through our Ford relationship that Hot Rods & Horsepower became another wonderful corporate partner. We are truly grateful to both of them for their creative and generous approach to helping raise funds for type 1 diabetes research."
For this program, Edsel Ford II, who is the great grandson of Henry Ford, will sign and drive the first issued 75th Anniversary Deuce, which will be sold at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ in January 2007. This highly collectable car has a retail value of over $200,000, and the entire sale proceeds will go to JDRF. Additionally, Mr. Ford will personally sign 10 more 75th Anniversary vehicles, and their combined sales will generate another $250,000 for local JDRF chapters.
"It's about the kids, and it's about the cure," said Craig F. Knight, President of Hot Rods & Horsepower. "This is the second year that Hot Rods & Horsepower has donated the entire proceeds from the sale of a Dearborn Deuce hot rod to benefit JDRF. This organization is driving research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications, and we are delighted to be working in tandem with the Ford Motor Company to help fuel their efforts."
The original 1932 Ford Roadster was designed by Henry Ford's son, Edsel and is best known for introducing the first mass-produced V8 engine. Its simple, elegant and functional design, together with its tuner-friendly engine, formed the back bone of the hot rod movement in the American automobile experience. Today, the 1932 Ford Roadster is a design standard and is now considered the "Quintessential American Hot Rod."
The Dearborn DeuceTM is the first all-steel '32 roadster body designed to incorporate a fully-integrated and completely concealed modern convertible top with electric side windows. The body also features a deeper cockpit to increase leg room, expanded trunk capacity, longer doors for easier entry and exit and a fully reinforced superstructure. The 75th Anniversary Edition Dearborn Deuce features a performance show chassis with 4-wheel independent suspension, disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, custom wheels, Pirelli performance tires, custom leather interior and finished trunk, console, air conditioning, CD player, custom instrumentation, modern halogen head lights and LED tail lights, tinted glass, wipers and the choice of an automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. The 75th Anniversary edition will accept a number of different Ford engines. Additionally, the vehicle is available as a "High Boy" with no fenders or as a full fendered car. And, unlike the 1932 original that was only available in black, the car is available in a variety of specially created custom colors.
The first issued, Edsel Ford-signed, 75th Anniversary Deuce will be on display at automotive events around the country. For more information on touring schedules or for information on acquiring one of these very rare collectable vehicles, please contact Mr. Knight of Hot Rods & Horsepower by phone at (203) 557-3256 and email: cfknight@optonline.net.
About Ford
The Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., is one of the world's largest automakers, with approximately 318,000 employees in 200 markets on six continents. Its automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit and Quality Care. Ford Motor Company observed its 100th anniversary June 16, 2003.
About Hot Rods & Horsepower
Hot Rods and Horsepower is a high-performance engineering and marketing company that manufactures hot rod bodies and a full range of components to enable customers to order everything required to construct an all-steel Deuce street rod. They offer steel bodies, steel chassis and fender packages, all-steel rolling project cars, and complete turnkey component hot rods, all made from the finest components available. Their flagship product is the Dearborn Deuce(R), the world's first all-steel 1932 deuce roadster with a modern convertible top and power windows.
About JDRF
The JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes--a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1 billion to diabetes research worldwide. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.