1932 FORDS & BLUE SUEDE SHOES: Clyde “Ross” Morgan’s Fine Art Bronze Sculptures

Clyde "Ross" Morgan, sculptor

Well, it’s one for the money, 
Two for the show, 
Three to get ready, 
Now go, cat, go! 

From “Blue Suede Shoes”, the classic rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955 and immortalized by Elvis Presley the following year. 

The term “rock ‘n’ roll” became synonymous with the subversive values which influenced the lifestyle of teenagers of the 1950s. The genre’s lyrics defined a newly found identity that created a sense of belonging and a rejection of traditional rules. Encouraged by the music, teens emulated rebellious clothing and hair styles, challenged sexual taboos, and cruised the strips in hot rods. 

One of those inspired teens was Clyde “Ross” Morgan. Today, as a professional sculptor, Morgan has cleverly based a fine art series of four bronze and sterling silver sculpted 1932 Fords on the first four lines of “Blue Suede Shoes’” opening verse. Each of the featured cars are depicted circa 1950, with details that reflect a period restoration or customization. 

One For The Money

“One For The Money” portrays a fellow who has just pulled a ’32 out of a barn. He is deciding whether to buy it, and if he does, what will he do – customize it as a hot rod or restore it? 

“Two For The Show” is a 5-window coupe at a drive-in theatre. The couple in the coupe is sharing popcorn. If you look closely, Morgan says, you will find a nod to the King. 

Two For The Show                                            Three To Get Ready

 “Three To Get Ready” is a 3-window coupe parked at a service station while the attendant washes the windows, checks the oil, water, and tires. All that and 25¢ per gallon of gas was mighty nice! 

“Go Cat, Go!” is an action piece featuring an early ’32 Hi-boy roadster. This scenario was inspired by Tom Fritz’ painting, “Looking for that old time religion”, which depicts a couple being pulled over by a motorcycle cop. Some versions of this bronze only have the guy upon request. Morgan can customize it to complement the purchaser’s own ’32 deuce. 

Go Cat, Go

Each of the 1932 replicas were originally sculpted from various materials. Morgan then worked with eight talented artisans and craftsmen from across United States to produce the extremely intricate parts from his original designs. After the parts were molded, cast, finished, and assembled they were handed back to Morgan for delicate finishing and patina, with no two cars ever completed alike. According to Morgan, “Each subsequent bronze takes approximately three months to produce, very labor intensive!” 

Barn-Fresh Chickin Coope (courtesy of Clyde Morgan)

For the “Blue Suede Shoes” series there are only 32 of each body style produced, and as each edition is sold out the molds will be destroyed and cut up into 32 pieces. Each buyer will then receive 1/32 of the mold, ensuring that there will be no more produced than the original 32. All sculptures are signed, numbered, and come with a certificate of authenticity. 

Bargin Hunter (courtesy of Clyde Morgan)

Morgan was born in St. George, Utah, in 1942 and raised near Salt Lake City. His innate artistic ability was noticed at an early age, with his sense of perspective astounding elementary school art teachers. As an adult, his interest in form and design brought him success and recognition as an industrial designer. In 1983 Morgan refocused his life on sculpting and moved to the artists’ community of Sedona, Arizona. The inspiration for Morgan’s art has come from subjects that have long held his fascination. As a former professional river guide, his body of work has often reflected his interest in river-running, the Southwest, and the Grand Canyon. 

Desert Deuce (courtesy of Clyde Morgan)

His obsession with old Fords started with his first car, a 1931 Model A, a barn find which he purchased when he was 16. That Model A had a hefty price tag of $30, which forced him to work all summer hauling hay to pay for it. “When I was a teenager growing up in the middle of the hot rod culture, I felt quite frustrated as I didn’t have much mechanical knowledge, nor did I have the money to have one built, but I always wanted a hot rod,” Morgan explains. “After 50 years, I finally got two, a ’31 Model A coupe with ’30s era speed equipment, which is my daily driver, and a ’33 three window coupe, done in the ’50s style, with a small block Chevy.” 

Desert Gold (courtesy of Clyde Morgan)

The memory of his barn find influenced his first bronze car sculpture, “Barn-Fresh Chikin Coope”. Morgan created the piece from the ground up – frame, drive train, and all. He produced the “Chikin Coope” in two limited styles, 30 sculptures in the 1930 edition and 31 in the 1931 edition. 

Flat Out

Morgan’s passion for early Fords also inspired his 1932 Ford “Rusty Relics,” a series that comes in three body styles: “The Bargin Hunter” 5-window coupe; the “Desert Deuce” 3-window coupe; and the “Desert Gold” roadster. Each bronze and sterling silver sculpture, which depict abandoned desert finds, is limited to an edition of 32. 

Revered (courtesy of Clyde Morgan)

Other Ford-inspired sculptures in Morgan’s line include: “Flat Out,” a bronze and sterling silver 1932 3-window Hi-boy racer on the Bonneville Salt Flats; “Revered,” a sterling silver roadster with articulating parts; and a 1932 Ford chassis. 

1932 Ford Chassis

“Hurricane Hannah” is a non-auto bronze sculpture of seven-time U.S. National Motocross Champion Robert “Hurricane” Hannah. The 1/3 life-sized pose is based on the iconic photo that captured Hannah at the 1979 250cc US Grand Prix at Unadilla, New York, as he careened through “Gravity Cavity” into a spectacular moment in history. Morgan and Hannah have worked together before. In the mid 1970s Morgan was a designer and mold maker for the Scott Plastic MX Boots, later made famous by Hannah’s winning performances. Only 39 “Hurricane Hannah” sculptures will be produced. 

Hurricane Hannah

Morgan has won eight national public art competitions and completed many heroic-sized bronze monuments and memorials for public display including Utah’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the 9-foot tall Dale Earnhardt Tribute in Earnhardt’s hometown of Kannapolis, North Carolina. His most recent public art project is “Enduring Freedom” – Arizonans who have given their all in the fight against terror. 

Morgan’s favorite sculptor is Western artist John Coleman. Like Colman, Morgan’s Western- and Southwestern-influenced sculptures display historical themes, which are a different facet of his portfolio. Many of these sculptures are nationally and internationally acclaimed and are in both private and public collections around the world. 

Although his non-auto sculptures keep Morgan busy, he still is, without a doubt, a hot rodder at heart. “I get many requests for other car bronzes, but the time to create, tool up, and cast a ‘one-off’ is usually cost prohibitive. I do have some other designs on the docket that include portions of different iconic vehicles with people interacting. Stay tuned!” 

For additional information and prices contact: 

Morgan Studio 
P.O. Box 2141 
Sedona, AZ 86339 
928-284-2929 
ross@clyderossmorgan.com 
www.clyderossmorgan.com

 

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PHOTO FINISH 

 

Gail and Mark Menner 1932 Ford Roadster

                         Goodguys 2017 East Coast Nationals, Rhinebeck, NY