Most of us are familiar with the common and classic television infomercial approach to upselling, “but wait, there’s more.” The seller of this very dusty 1938 Ford for sale here on craigslist in Urbandale, Iowa takes just such an approach with his ad.
This Ford is a Deluxe Tudor model, as the grille and hood louvers indicate. The seller says it has a later forties flathead engine in it, which may rule out the option of a restoration to stock for many potential buyers. And as shown in the pictures, having been in long term storage, the interior is completely shot.
While I personally have always preferred 1940-1 Fords to these 1938 models, these cars do have a great look and certainly have their share of fans.
Since this Ford has not run in some fifty years, it has rusty floors and will need other bodywork, not to mention a complete mechanical rebuild, it’s more likely a candidate for a street rod or period hot rod than anything else.
The seller claims this car is “rare,” but Ford made 101,647 of these Tudors out of a total run of 410,263 cars in 1938, so while it is certainly a very desirable old car, it’s not really all that rare.
The asking price is $3,950. I leave it to our readers to weigh in on that price. I think it’s probably pretty close to what it will sell for.
Now we come to the “but wait, there’s more” part of the story. Almost as a throwaway line at the end of the ad, the seller says “Additional pics are of more stuff that has to go.” I think those other items will hold some interest for Barn Find readers.
Here is a race prepped Saab Sonnett.
Two Fiat 850s with bodies appearing in very solid condition, and what looks like a Triumph TR3 in the background.
A late production two door Model T turtleback that appears to be in extremely good condition.
And a two door Mercedes, not sure which model this is, maybe a 1980 230 or 250?
I am pretty sure this is another Ford, this one with a later model OHV engine, perhaps a hot rod in progress?
Maybe one of our Iowa-based readers could make a visit to the Urbandale area to find out more about this interesting collection of barn stored cars. It would be great to learn the history of the cars as well as the gentleman who collected them. Thanks to reader Stewart E for pointing us to this intriguing collection of finds.
where did they learn to play cards? dont you always lead with your trump suit? shouldn’t that have been the sonnet?
It’s a Saab Sonett, S O N E T T.
I imagine Wayne Carrini would have an “anxiety attack” if anyone disturbed all that great dust.
Wow, these look like untouched and legit barn finds. Although I guess you could simulate the look with a sack of Martha White flour. The Sonnet is only the top draw to European collectors.
Usually on Craigslist when they require you to respond via Craigslist email requesting that you leave your personal email address is just a scam to get your personal email address for a third party email marketing BS. When you reply through Craigslist they can easily reply back to you via the same and do not require your personal email address. It would make more sense and give to some form of validity if they requested your phone number so that you could actually discuss this barn find, just beware……
By having bumpers, the model T looks like a 1927. It would be my pick out of this grouping.
T counld be a 26 or 27. Bumpers were never “factory” that I know of on a Model T, but an entire industry was build on providing accessories for these cars.
A Model T expert has advised me that the Headlight Bar was introduced in 1927
The term “turtledeck” is commonly used to describe the trunk unit on a model T roadster — not to describe a 2 door sedan
Lead with the Sonnet for sure. That I’m interested in.
Great find Barnfinds. I’d wash that Sonnet for free….and maybe even wax it.
The ’38 is definitely a full restoration. Any car THAT complete should NOT get anything but ‘as Henry built it.’ No problem with a later flathead in it; the 59AB is very reliable and will take that car anywhere you want to go and back again. The 30s were transition years for the flatheads. For example ’38 began the year with 21 stud heads but morphed into 24 stud by the end of the production year. They still had the same designation (81A) and kept the same distributor and Stromberg 97 carb.
I saw these cars on CL 2-3 years ago and spoke to the owner about the Sonnet and the Fiats. Beware a current add!
Bryan, just curious, when you talked to the owner, did you learn anything about the cars or where they are stored? I’m just thinking that if the seller’s asking prices were too high, he just held on to them. But I have been told I am too trusting, so who knows.
If I recall correctly the Sonnet needed floors and I’m thinking the Fiats had their share of rust. Price was high. I think the slanted headlight Fiat is a bit rare if I recall?
Bryan
Is it tr3 or morgan yellow?
It is in good condition?
I think that’s a Morgan, not a TR. ?
TR3. Windscreen frame, door opening, and fender line are dead giveaways.
The 2-door sedan with OHV, is a Plymouth or Dodge , 1935 or 36 not enough for me to tell, maybe a real Mopar guy could, but does it really matter!
Could be an old MOPAR now that I think about it, but my first thought aboot it was that it might be a Chevy, maybe ’37 or so ?
The flathead in the 38 has the distributor mounted on the passenger side of the engine which makes it a 49 or later. 48 and earlier had distributor mounted on the front of the engine and according to my manual, they had to be taken off and timed with a machine that only a ford dealership had. I had several of those old flatheads and only had two that actually ran smooth, a real bear to keep tuned
Good call on the distributor …
the benz could be 1977 to 1985 a 230 or 280 but in Australia the bumper and headlight where only on diesels I don’t thing 2 door diesels where made. rod Watson gold coast
A ’38 Ford is definitely more attractive than a run of the mill ’40. Street or rat rod it along with the other very old American cars. There are more than enough restored cars already, why not make them fun cars rather than showy garage queens? A rat rod gets driven alot and makes non-motorhead people more aware that there were cool cars way back then. The Sonnett is fugly as are the other imports. My opinion, no offense intended. These are located 250 miles away in my state, much too far to go have a look. If 50 miles, you bet I’d go and find out as much history as possible on all of them.
The last one can’t be a Ford, look at the front springs