The Highland Green '68 Mustang GT390 Fastback in Bullitt and the red Daytona Ferrari Spyder in Gumball Rally are a couple of examples of movie cars that have fascinated gearheads for years. Many of us would like to own these movie machines or some other vehicle from our favorite flicks. Some yearn to purchase the police cruiser from The Blues Brothers. A few of us think the DeLorean from the Back To The Future movies, all tricked out with the reflux capacitor powerplant, would be a blast to own. I've always had an affinity for the '63 Aston Martin DB5 coupe piloted by Sean Connery in two James Bond movies-Goldfinger and Thunderball. The notion of being able to jettison an objectionable passenger with the ejection seat would be fantastic, let alone slicing up some bad guy's tires with the knives that come out of the DB5's wheel hubs, or simply shooting the spy with the souped-up sports car's machine guns.
Dave's coupe is a true '32...
Dave's coupe is a true '32 highboy. The American Graffiti car had mini-cycle fenders above all four tires, which reflected California DMV requirements that all cars had to have fenders in the early '60s.
Let's face it, you're instantly cool if you're driving either a Highland Green '68 Mustang GT390 Fastback or a silver '63 Aston Martin DB5. It's almost like channeling Steve McQueen or Sean Connery, or at least adopting their tough-guy personas. Who among us automotive enthusiasts wouldn't like to own our favorite movie car? But realizing the genuine article might have already been destroyed or too expensive to acquire due to its fame, some of us build a replica instead.
Like the Bullitt Mustang, the American Graffiti Canary Yellow '32 Ford five-window coupe is an oft-replicated machine. Despite the fact that the coupe was cobbled together from a bunch of used parts, as were a multitude of hot rods from the '40s-'60s, it's the most recognizable and most famous hot rod of all time, thanks to the popularity of the movie. Dave Grabowski of Houston, Texas, purchased an in-progress Gibbons fiberglass-bodied '32 Ford five-window project and set out to create his version of the American Graffiti car. Rather than constructing an exacting reproduction of the coupe that the character John Milner (played by Paul Le Mat) drove throughout the flick, Dave built the five-window the way he wanted it. Making sure the highboy had the right stance and a bright yellow paint scheme assured that it would be mistaken as John's rod.
The mill in the Grabowski...
The mill in the Grabowski American Graffiti coupe is a GM 350ci crate engine rated at 330 horsepower. The original car sported a Chevy 327ci V-8 with a rare Man-A-Fre intake manifold and four Rochester 2G two-barrel carbs.
When Dave purchased the project, an original '32 Ford frame had already been fully boxed by the previous owner. The former owner also installed a four-inch dropped front axle with four-bar suspension and a So Cal steering stabilizer. GM front disc brakes supplied ample stopping power, while a Vega steering box ensured easy steering for the lightweight car. A Ford 8.8-inch differential suspended with leaf springs and shocks and equipped with Ford drum brakes made the chassis a roller once Dave added U.S. Wheel Chrome Steelies in the front and rear, 14x7-inch and 15x10-inch respectively.
Since the engine in the original article was a Chevy 327ci small-block V-8, Dave selected a GM 350ci H.O. crate motor and backed it with a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. John's ride had a BorgWarner T-10 four-speed manual trans. Another item the American Graffiti coupe didn't have was air conditioning. Richard Olejnik, owner of Copperfield Automotive in Houston, Texas, installed the engine and trans. He also fitted the coupe with a Vintage Air HVAC system replete with a chrome compressor to add more brightwork flash to the engine bay. Wayne Lee and Walter DaCruz performed the finish bodywork and paint prep on the Gibbons fiberglass five-window body before laying down Sikkens Prowler Yellow two-stage paintwork.
Three American Graffiti movie...
Three American Graffiti movie stars autographed Dave's dash: Paul Le Mat, Candy Clark, and Bo Hopkins.
To get the Milner/Grabowski coupe on the road, Dave just needed to wire in the instruments with a Painless Performance Products harness. Once done, he had to figure out how to trim the cockpit. The original coupe started life as a red car with a red interior. For the film, the seats and trim panels were dyed black. Dave opted to upholster his rendition of the American Graffiti car in tan leather, so he and his brother Jeff stitched up the custom seats themselves. To finish off the '32 in grand style, Dave was fortunate enough to have three American Graffiti actors in his car, and their autographs on the dashboard. Paul Le Mat, aka John Milner; Candy Clark, aka Debbie; and Bo Hopkins, aka Joe of the Pharaohs, all adorned the dash with their signatures.
While covering the Texas Cobra Club Spring Meet in Austin in '07, KIT CAR first became acquainted with Dave and Debbie Grabowski through their Backdraft Racing roadster that's called 8 Ball for its striking paint scheme. When we ventured over to the Grabowski house after the Spring Meet to photograph the roadster, the American Graffiti coupe stole the show. We decided to photograph the cars together, proving sometimes double the work can be twice as much fun.
Brothers Jeff and Dave Grabowski...
Brothers Jeff and Dave Grabowski created custom seats before trimming them in tan leather. The movie coupe originally had red vinyl tuck 'n' roll upholstery dyed black for the film.
Dave has always loved the original Cobras and was well aware of the cars' impressive racing history. He chose the Backdraft Racing roadster for its overall look and how it sits. After he took delivery of the turnkey-minus car, he again consulted with Richard at Copperfield Automotive. Richard and his team of technicians assisted Dave with the engine/trans install, as well as the overall tuning and completion of the roadster. Mr. Grabowski challenged the Copperfield Automotive crew by saying he'd never seen a Cobra equipped with air conditioning. Like Dave's American Graffiti machine, Copperfield installed a Vintage Air HVAC system.
Richard gave Dave and KIT CAR a big Texas welcome by hosting the photo shoot of the two great Grabowski machines at Copperfield Automotive. The limestone-comprised shop made for a most scenic backdrop, especially after we wheeled some of Richard's vintage filling station pumps as props onto the shop's center island. If we hadn't revealed this photography secret, would you have known the cars were replicas and the filling station was as well? If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then that makes KIT CAR the sincerest car magazine on the planet. At the very least, we're superlative in the art of flattery. That said, KIT CAR would like to thank the Grabowskis for letting us photograph and write about their cars, in addition to driving their Grabowski American Graffiti coupe. We also greatly appreciate Richard's Texas hospitality.
 Dave had a replica plate made...  Dave had a replica plate made and installed on his highboy. The THX 138 plate worn on the American Graffiti coupe paid tribute to director George Lucas' first major film, titled THX 1138, written and directed by George Lucas. |  |  A Ford 392ci crate engine...  A Ford 392ci crate engine powers the 8 Ball Backdraft Racing roadster. Notice the Vintage Air chrome A/C compressor. Have you ever seen a Cobra with HVAC? |
 As installed by Backdraft...  As installed by Backdraft Racing, Auto Meter gauges with a reverse-reading speedometer fill the 8 Ball's dash panel. |  Dave ordered the optional...  Dave ordered the optional red leather seats with black piping for the 8 Ball. |  It's easy to see why the Grabowskis...  It's easy to see why the Grabowskis call their Backdraft Racing roadster the 8 Ball. |
 |  Dave opted to obtain the optional...  Dave opted to obtain the optional passenger-side rollbar from Backdraft Racing. | |