There has been some controversy centered around the launch of this car. A great deal of the talk stemmed from the production delays of its sister car, the Dearborn chopped three-window Deuce. Between the individuals who simply would rather the car never reach full-production status, and those who tend to be skeptical of anything new anyway, it has been a grueling task for the Hot Rods & Horsepower group. However, the huge majority of those rodders, as well as shops, who have placed their deposits for an early car are waiting their turn patiently. To our knowledge, four of the coupe bodies were delivered, at least two of which were early hand-built jobs.

In the midst of all the wait comes this brand-new and, dare we say, quite revolutionary roadster/convertible, and a whole new wave of “…there’s not a chance.” Opinions surfaced. We took the high ground, as we have sat and listened intently to the plans for HRH, have visited facilities where some of the early work had been done, and are of the opinion that what the company has set out to do is not much different than any of us, only HRH bit off a whole mouthful. 

We obviously think the car unique enough, and we convinced HRH that it would be in its best interest to allow us to introduce the car to all the readers so that those of you who wished to be early in line could get your minimal deposit placed before the car hit the show circuit. Our responsibility, we felt, was to get the news to you and have you make up your mind as to how impacting you felt this package would be. And that is exactly what we did. To date, more than 80 cars have been sold, with deposits, and perhaps more by the time you read this. So, we did our job.

If you have ever considered the possibility of creating something so totally new, basically from the ground up, then you well know that the challenges in doing so can be considerable. With little in the way of a track record and no more to go on than knowledge, hard work and blind faith, it can be difficult for some to realize the same dream that’s absolutely clear to you. The naysayers be damned, time does march on, and what you find here is the very first real roadster/convertible completed, mostly hand-built and using a Brookville body as the basis for this first display car.

Whenwe first introduced the new Dearborn Deuce roadster/convertible, we provided insights to the numerous advancements incorporated in this new flip-top roadster with the power windows. We also explained how American Sunroof Corporation assisted in developing each design aspect of the creative top mechanism, clamshell cover and windshield, that totally retains the look and the feel of a true roadster. With that article came hundreds of inquiries from people wanting to learn more about this innovative approach. We stand by what we said at the time—that this car will rewrite rodding history.

A great deal of time and effort, and expense, was exhausted long before the car you see here came to fruition. This is to be expected when developing a project this revolutionary—this is, after all, a today’s rodder’s package. To see the prototype HRH roadster/convertible up close and fully functional is, to our way of thinking, a great accomplishment. It has initially proven to be everything HRH has promised and hopefully will silence its critics, as well as satisfy a whole host of enthusiasts in search of a “roadster” with a common-sense design approach. Most everyone who has checked out this new convertible is impressed with its style and features. You can see the satisfaction in their faces, and hear it in their questions surrounding this novel solution to rodding’s most popular vintage and model.

People will ask why the new design is called a convertible rather than a roadster or even a cabriolet. After all, it has roll-up windows and a roadster does not; it also has a foldaway top, just like a cabriolet. So, which is it? It’s both, actually, and therein lies its attraction. In looking at HRH’s new rendition of the classic roadster, it’s easy to see how this new company has made good on its promise. HRH has created one of the best-looking body packages to come along since Henry first sprung his Deuce on an unsuspecting world. You can see it in the small details, the front windshield posts, the curved side glass, the flip-lever over-cam top locks, and in the overall appearance of these details, where the new elements blend with the looks of old, creating a totally unique breed of street rod.

Offered in several different iterations, this new roadster package allows builders to center on whatever style suits them. For those looking to keep things simple, the body comes in a basic form so that you can add the top later. Initially, we mentioned a power-operated top, but for now that will not happen. The top is just too easy to operate by hand, like many other small convertibles. With no electrically operated top, the curved glass is still power assisted and can utilize Hot Rods & Horsepower’s SmartBox electronic control, now labeled under the HRH Full Authority line. With effective weatherstripping keeping out the elements, it’s easy to understand why the Dearborn Deuce roadster/convertible has attracted so much attention. 

Each HRH body comes fully assembled, regardless of the top options chosen, and like the Dearborn Deuce coupe, the roadster/convertible is made up of all-new stamped-steel panels that are welded together, using jigs, to ensure a rigid, well-fitting structure. All the while, fit with numerous refinements and reinforcements, these bodies, with their cross-braced floor and footwell lower door structure, should outlive the originals and better fit our needs as rodders—the convenient clamshell flip-up notwithstanding.

Beyond the obvious features, these Deuce roadster/convertibles also incorporate stretched doors that are 3-1/2 inches longer than the originals, allowing improved ingress and egress into a much more spacious interior. And, if you are looking for a more traditional approach, you can opt for exposed hinges; or, if you wish, you can turn the doors around and go suicide. Notice, too, that the door glass incorporates a compound curve, much like that of the door panel itself, and both side windows are electrically operated. Once inside, you’ll appreciate the wide-open space of a flat floor, and for the taller rodders among you, there’s even a dropped floor pan option, offering even more headroom, although there is a lot of available headroom as is. Other features include a recessed firewall that allows for a wide range of engine choices and a steel dashboard that ties in nicely with the cowl and doors. Add in a removable transmission-tunnel cover and you begin to see the forethought that went into the overall refinement of this body design.

One of the more clever aspects of this body is, obviously, the “tulip panel,” positioned just behind the passenger compartment. With the flip of a latch, the panel pops up to conceal or reveal the nicely shaped cloth top. To put it up manually, simply raise the tulip panel, fold the entire top forward, lower the tulip panel and fold the rear section of the top back down. Once the top is loosely in place, it is secured with cam-over latches that lock it down in front, as well as one on each side in the rear. All are easily operated and secured.