10 Cool Facts About Milner's '32 Ford - American Graffiti

I know that I'm not the only one, but I've watched American Grafitti at least a dozen times. And I'd watch it again. 😁

my grandpa was in the movie and provided some of the cars. he was driving in the scene where the guy was leaning out the window to tell milner that someone was looking to race him. Paul Haun.

"Rock and roll has been going downhill ever since Buddy Holley died" best line in the movie.

Fact #11 The late great Jeff Beck was a HUGE Hot Rod freak and eventually met most ALL the legends in CA Hot Rod lore. He wrenched on his own cars and made a clone of Milner's coupe decades ago; he knew Rick Figari and visited a few times always taking notes on bits for his Milner coupe. Jeff had a huge "horse stable" style place that housed a boatload of cool Rods. RIP, Jeff 🎸

Glad to hear Milner's ride was eventually rescued!

I had a long conversation with Paul "Milner" Le Mat a few years ago. He told me several great behind the scenes stories from the filming of AG. Paul is NOT. a gearhead and doesn't hold AG in any special regard, other than it being one of his first jobs. He told me what he was paid to do the movie and it was a shockingly low number. He and none of the other cast members receive royalties. He stopped doing national public appearances because of some health issues but, he still does a few close to his home. Paul seems like a good guy who got his moment of fame. Which is more than most of us will get. Fascinating guy and very open about his life and Hollywood.

When the '55 Chevy was for sale in Car Craft magazine, I was in Wichita visiting family. I called Steve Fitch who graciously said come on over and check it out. Right there in front of me, in a single car garage, was a piece of American history. It was basically a race care - 454, tilt front end, roll cage, plexi for the window. You could see the bolt holes for the camera mounts on the side. Steve said he was selling the '55 to finance the '32's restoration. I asked to see the '32 and it was somewhere in Wichita in a warehouse. Steve was extremely gracious in letting us see the '55.

This to me is one of the best movie cars ever...

Where were you in 62? Brings back the memories of my time with my 32 Duce full fender. Had a 57, Olds J2 two 4s and the Olds B&M Hydro. TJ tuck an roll. Big meats in the back 8:20 15s and pie cutters in front. 57 Ford 9 inch with 4:11s Lincoln brakes and narrowed. Scary Fast. Eat most Chevy 409s and 426s Dodges/Plymouths. It got me a few tickets. Loved that car. My dad sold it while I was in Vietnam. Not happy when I got home…

I got to ride in this car just after the movie was released. It was sent to Barris Kustom in No. Hollywood, my father was the shop manager there, to get detailed for a McD's commercial that promoted the movie. We drove the car home and kept it there for about a week , and we cut a deal to buy the car after the movie promotions were all done. No one at the Studios figured the movie would be such a big hit, but it didn't take long find out it was and the studio promoters of the movie decided keep using it for promotions. I recall asking and was told the chopped top was done by the movie studio craftsmen, and those guy did some pretty cool work, but this car was a "quicky" and far from finished when we got it. The interior was pretty much old and unfinished. The chopped top had no headliner inside and the door panels were rough (or missing) too. I'm sure the car has had lots of additional work by now and it's probably in much better shape than when it was used in the movie. And Chopped Top 32 Ford Coupes are still among my favorite hot rods, even when they're beaters.

It’s a real shame that such an iconic piece of film history was left to rot on some Hollywood back lot! Thank God someone restored it!

Geesh is that move really 50 years old? That makes me um... glad I am still here

That is my dream ride and has been since I first saw it in the movie years ago. I am from that era being just a few years younger (I'm 74 now) than people portrayed in the movie. The music and everything resonates through my soul and being. If I had a replica of it now, mine would have a 350 but otherwise look like Milner's car. 🤗

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MILNER COUP IS ALWAYS HOT!!! A TRUE CLASSIC!!! A TIMELESS CLASSIC!!!

Milner is STILL the fastest- he just IS! Superb film, 'American Graffiti,' very cool, great soundtrack.

The coolest thing about this awesome car is Paul La Mat.. I absolutely love this car that Milner drove in the movie.

A 0.060" overbore and the camshaft were a nice touch to refreshing the 327 no doubt. Crazy that they couldn't unload the car for $1500 at the time, but there you go.

Good to hear that this iconic jewel is in good shape now. ❤

Jeff Beck built an exact replica & still owned it right up till his death. He even acquired the correct THX 138 registration number through the DVLA (the car is in the UK) so it legally wears the correct licence plates on the road 👌

I’m not even a car guy but I grew up with that movie and it hurts my soul a little to hear that A- they couldn’t find a buyer for $1500 & B- that it sat unused and unappreciated for so long that it sustained the same level of disrespect as a bicycle locked to a post in New York City.