Little Deuce Coupe by The Beach Boys

Little Deuce Coupe

1963

The Beach Boys

Back in 1932, Henry Ford's fabled company introduced a flathead V-8 powered ride that would, a decade and a half or so hence, begin it's reign as the most modified, most beloved of all hot rods...the 1932 Ford Model 'B' coupe, or as it's more popularly known the Deuce Coupe. Usually chopped, channeled, lowered, and boasting either a Flathead that's been modified to the point that its a flathead in only the basic design of the block, or more commonly, the biggest, meanest V-8 that the owner could both afford and mount in the engine compartment...generally a Small Block Chevy. Note I didn't say 'Under The Hood'. Traditionally, hot rods, be they Deuce Coupes, or other brands of ride, had their engines exposed, and displayed, with the block painted to coordinate with the body color, with as much chrome as was practical and possible. Well-executed, they were and are awesomely beautiful machines.

Another decade and a half or so down the road, in 1963, Brian Wilson and Roger Christian set out to write a tune about that very ride, and in doing so they preceded to knock out yet another classic. Brian Wilson handled the music, and Roger Christian penned the lyrics, and they recorded it at the very same recording session where a little tune called 'Surfer Girl' was knocked out. Surfer Girl would be the single's 'A' side, and would be one of The Beach Boy's first Top 10 hits. Little Deuce Coupe was tapped to be the 'B' side, and became the The 'Boys highest charting 'B' side (as well as the third and final 'Surfing Song A Side/Car Song B Side' single) when it shot up the charts to snag #15 on the Hot 100 seven weeks after it's Mid-August '63 release. It'd stay there for a single week before dropping off of the Hot 100 four weeks later.

The concept of the song's pretty simple...the owner of one of these classic street rods listing the tech details and performance figures for his own 'Little Deuce Coupe' as he boasts about his ride. (We can thank Roger Christian for the accurate technical nomenclature, and Brian for so seamlessly adding the Beach Boys' signature sound to the lyrics when he put them to music). Of course, the song became a legitimate classic and is to this day a staple of Oldies stations everywhere. It popped up on Richmond's own 107.3 a couple of times over the last week. It'll be 'Walking a Thunderbird Like She's Standin' Still for decades to come, trust me on this!

So Enjoy! Little Deuce Coupe by The Beach Boys.

  

And as a bonus...Same classic arrangement but featuring one of the most modified...and, IMHO, best looking...of all the 'Little Deuce Coupes...Clarence Catello's ride, now owned by his son Kurt.


For a history of Kurt's ride, Click Here