The beauty of Hot Rods is that they aren’t what could be termed “cookie-cutter classics.” That means that every car is unique, reflecting its creator’s tastes and desires. This 1935 Ford 3-Window Coupe perfectly reflects that, from its paint shade to its interior trim and mechanical specifications. The builder followed what appears to be a sensible path with the latter, helping ensure that the car is both reliable and low-maintenance. The Coupe has generated significant interest since the seller listed it here on eBay in Holland, Ohio. Twenty-four bids have pushed the price to $30,100, though it remains below the reserve.
If you’re going to create a Hot Rod, commencing that process from a sound base is a wise strategy. That was the seller’s approach, utilizing a Ford 3-Window Coupe body devoid of rust and patches. After ensuring the panels were straight, they applied the eye-catching Dark Green Metallic paint, giving the car a subtle, classy appearance. The dark paint shade allows the bright trim to really “pop,” and with the paint maintaining a deep shine and appearing free of major blemishes, the overall impression is positive. Interestingly, the builder decided to avoid the chrome or alloy wheels often used on these classics, opting for steelies with chrome trim rings and hubcaps to genuinely capture the old-school look. The tinted glass is crystal clear, and the running board rubber is excellent.
The seller followed a relatively conventional path with the Coupe’s interior, retaining a bench seat. The upholstered surfaces feature Gray leather, and apart from slight wear on the driver’s side, it presents exceptionally well. I would probably hand the car to a leather specialist fairly quickly to treat the visible wear before it deteriorates further. The dash houses a selection of retro-style gauges, the carpet looks pretty impressive, and the driver grips a sports tilt wheel. The interior features power windows, and I suspect the buyer may also receive air conditioning. Below the surface, the builder followed a wise, conventional path. They ditched the car’s original mechanical components, teaming a Chevrolet 350ci V8 with a three-speed Turbo 350 automatic transmission. Power feeds to a Nova rear end, with the front equipped with a tubular Mustang setup. The small-block’s specifications are unclear, but it’s a safe bet that the driver will have more power and torque at their disposal today than when the Coupe was shiny and new. The sensible mechanical setup should be bulletproof, and maintenance should be a breeze. The seller confirms that the Coupe runs and drives well, making it a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
Some classics hit the market, barely creating a ripple and remaining largely ignored. That criticism can’t be leveled at this 1935 Ford 3-Window Coupe. It appears that many people are drawn to the idea of owning an old-school Hot Rod, as reflected in the Listing View and Watch List tallies of 296 and 71, respectively. The auction has approximately three days left, leaving scope for every relevant figure to climb before the hammer falls. If you’ve ever considered owning a Hot Rod, could this Ford be a contender?
Yes I have considered owning a hot rod My favorite would be a ’32 Vicky. I haven’t even seen one in a long time. I also love a ’40 Deluxe Coupe. Those are still out there. But a ’35 half FORD, half cheebie, nope, not for me. It sounds like the automatic transmission has a turbo in it. Is that like a torque converter? I’ll let someone else have this one.
A very nice looking cookie cutter hot rod. Is there anything more generic then a 350 Chevy and a TH350?
The small block Chevrolet 350 with turbo hydramatic 350 transmission have been a reliable combination since 1969. Why change something that works?
because its lame to ruin a ’35 Ford with a Chevy 350.
LAME
booooo
you know what else works ?!,
a 302 ! or even better a flat head that belongs in it.
You mean like a Flathead V8?
I think the word is reliable, not generic
Ruined a good Ford…………….Could be a lot better and the price is high also.
Good job with the Chevrolet engine swap. Really improved the drivability of the car!
I remember looking as a young kid for a car like this but with a flathead souped up Ford V8. Names like Offenhauser, Hooker, Muncie come to mind. GLWTS.
I like it!
I would have preferred 350-48=302 Ford but it’s a common swap made on hot rod coupes.
The Flat heads were great to increase ponies. ( other than running old school the newer V8 late models were cheaper and more powerful)
Bah, sorry Ford lovers. SBC is by far the most available and affordable power train out there. Read ’em and weep.
Read ’em: They’re cheap
Very pretty car! “Ruined” because it’s not
a Ford engine? Ridiculous. No hot rod is original by definition.
I don’t think the debate over power train choices matters much. If you don’t like a SBC in a Ford then don’t buy it. But guaranteed someone else will. This is a really nice looking ride and I would personally be quite happy to cruise it. GLWTS.
Looks a lot like the stuff we were
building in the late ’60s/early ’70s. And like it or not, most of them were built with small block
Cheebie power. Back then, these
small blocks were everywhere and boy, were they cheap too! All
you had to do was go down to your local boneyard, do some wreck conaisance, and nine times out of ten, you’d find what you were looking for in one day.
And you found ’em in pretty much
all flavors from mercy mild to scorchin hot. And to help you get
everything bolted together, good old J.C.Whitney had most all the mounts, adapter kits, and hardware you’d ever need to get the job done and done right. Oh
sure, Ford made good engines back then too, but they didn’t seem to be as available as the Chevies were. And if you were like me, and read Rod & Custom
Magazine, you saw a column called Bench Session, where guys
like Tex Smith, Bud Bryan, and John Thawley would walk you through the process of putting those mouse motors into anything. Used to buy ’em and read ’em while traveling town to
town in the early ’70s. Great way
to make the miles pass by quicker till I discovered alcohol.
But that’s another story. Nice car,
I really like it!
WTF! Where do you guys come from that think any car owner or builder like my self gives a Rats Ass what engine you think I should have put in my car. I have had more early Ford Hot Rods than I can count all basic but all different. But no matter what I had at the time, some character came along and shared with me, that I had used the wrong engine! I don’t ever remember ever asking. But it was apparent that he felt it was his purpose in life to let me know about my mistake.
My ’32 5 window Ford and ’34 pickup both had modified flat heads in them but if I hadn’t been in college I would have put late model engines in them. As it turned out I wound up building an Olds powered ’53 Studebaker coupe while in college. Couldn’t resist it. Wouldn’t resist this beauty either.