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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This is one of the street drag-racing tales that were popular in mid 1960s in Southern California. The lyrics make more sense if you're into cars. The mechanical parts mentioned are all actual automotive parts or technology, including the "flat head mill" (engine) and the "lake pipes" (which are long chromed exhaust pipes that run along the rocker panel). One artistic stretch is the vision of an old Ford Model A reaching 140 mph - the shape has too much air drag to reach that speed, unless you tow it behind a DC-10 jet. (thanks, Chris - Thornhurst, PA)

A deuce is a car produced by Ford in 1932 (the "2" in 1932 is the "deuce"). Most of them had big V8 engines and were popular for drag racing. They weren't just coupes - they also came as roadsters and sedans.

Brian Wilson wrote this with Roger Christian, a DJ who was really into cars. Christian helped write "Dead Man's Curve" for Jan & Dean. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Session drummer Hal Blaine played on this. He played on many hit songs, including The Beach Boys' "Fun Fun Fun" and "Surfin' Safari." It was one of the first songs that Brian Wilson used session musicians on, replacing his brother Dennis on drums. (thanks, Neil - raleigh, NC)

Here's a visual and more info on the Little Deuce Coupe.

Comments:

Tim must have grown up in the '70s in my neighborhood, because we always called Chevy IIs Duece Coupes too. I guess that's not what the song was about though. OOOPS
- Charles, Nashville, TN

I am building a house decorated in a 50's-60's theme. The den-livingroom will be the beach boys. Half surfing[tiki bar]half little deuce coupe[nosalgia hot rods].ronzy,endicott,ny
- rollyn, endicott, NY

A deuce coupe is a 1932 Ford Coupe. 1932 was the year that Ford changed from the Model A to the Model B. If someone says they've got a deuce coupe, its a 1932 Ford. Any hard core hot rodder willl tell you this. And whoever said a 1932 Ford isn't capable of going 140 because of aerodynamics needs to check the NHRA record books. In the Gas and Altered classes they reached speeds in excess of 200 mph. in the 1/4 mile.
- Mike, Big Sandy, TN

I'm from Australia and I don't know alot about American cars but I do admire them. I was surprised when I saw the '32 Ford. I thought the Little Deuce Coupe would be more modern. The 63 Nova looks pretty tame for something that will "walk a Thunderbird like she's standing still".
- Thomas, Forth, Australia

i hate to disagree but i think the deuce in deuce coupe refers to something other than the year model of the car. i think the deuce refers to the fact that many of these hot rods were equipped with three 2 barrel carburetors (deuces). look at the album cover . they are clearly visible.
- bob, mableton , GA

The pink slip was carried around in case someone wanted to race for each others car.
- Nathaniel, Cleveland, OH

In the parlance of the 60's, a duece coupe was a hotrod made from a 1932 Ford Coupe. Usually, it was NOT a Chevy, although the engine (usually a flat-eight) could be from anything. One of the Wilson brothers (I forget which one)owned a Duece Coupe.
- BobPape, Austin, TX

I had a "Little Deuce Coupe" at one time, but it was a 1932 Studebaker Dictator with a Rambler 327 and a pushbutton automatic. I built it out of junk parts, and I sold it in 1968 when I needed money. I regret it, but it was better than pawning my circa-1936 Bosch tabletop radio (replete with Nazi insignia and worth over $8,000)
- Darrell, Eugene

This is definitely about a tricked out, souped-up, bitchen, '32 Hot Rod Ford, which is one of my all time favorite cars (not - lol - a Nova). I went to school with the Boys at Hawthorne in the late 50s and early 60s. Carl and I were good friends until they busted loose on the music scene in the early 60s and the '32 deuce was a prize to get back then.
- Moss, Idaho Falls, ID

"Little Deuce Coupe" does in fact refer to 1932 car, probably a Ford. Look at the album cover! I do not claim to be an expert on antique cars by any means, but that is clearly a very old car, not a 1960's two-seater.
- Ariana, E, MD

I believe "little deuce coupe" means a two seater car. It does not have a backseat. I do not think it means a 1932 model car. Go figure.
- Don, B G, KY

Tom Cruise played an absentee dad in the movie War of the Worlds. Not knowing a single nursery ryme, this is the only song that he could come up with to comfort his little girl (Dakota Fanning) upon the aliens landing.
- Kevin Witt, Haymarket, VA

I think it was Timothy White's book that said Hal Blaine's drumming was laid over Dennis's -- probably for a gruntier or fatter sound. Brian was in the studio and the other Beach Boys on tour at the time 'Little Deuce Coupe' was recorded -- Al Jardine had come back and was substituting for Brian on bass. It's like Glen Campbell, then a popular LA session musician also, said -- that he filled in at the group's convenience for recordings and that the Beach Boys were as good as any other musicians in LA. I believe it was Dennis on 'Surfin' Safari' and all other tracks until the 'Surfer Girl' album -- because all the recordings were done in Capitol's studio until then and Brian (or Murry as manager) would have had to pay to have additional musicians at a session, apart from Capitol being fussy about letting outsiders in. That's partly why Brian and the group went independent from Capitol in 1963.
- Gary, Auckland, New Zealand

Sorry Tim, but this song is not about a 63 Chevy Nova. I know this purely based on the line "Just a little deuce coupe with a flathead mill". Note "flathead mill" No Chevy Nova ever came with a Flathead engine, and by 1963 there were far better engines to drop in them such as the 283, 327 and even the 409 if you had the cash. By the way, Mopar or no car.
- Mark, Philadelphia, PA

great song. you all have it wrong though . the song is not about a 1932 ford . it is about a 1963 chevy nova
- tim, west chester, PA

I grew up in Southern California during the 50's and 60's. One line in the song may be unique to California..."There's one more thing, I got the pink slip daddy." The "pink slip" was the proof from the state that you own the car.
- Marty, El Prado, NM

This is a great song. They preformed it live with the beatles while in india with maherishi. I have heard the song with the beatles, and it is even better than the origonal, if that's possible.
- gavin, hampden, MA