This 1932 Ford Coupe is an original car that has been in storage since 1984. Having recently emerged from storage, the owner is now seeking a new home for it. This appears to be a solid project car that has sparked some interest with buyers. You will find the little Ford listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Fullerton, California, and is being sold with a clear title. The interest in this little Ford is reflected in the auction bidding, and this has already reached $55,000.
The owner says in the ad that the car has not had any rust or body repairs. The car certainly looks pretty good, although the quality of the photos is a bit on the ordinary side. It looks like all of the glass is also present and in good condition. We don’t get a look at the interior, but the seller states that the dash is uncut. He also says that he has all of the garnish moldings for the car. So far then, it all looks pretty promising.
When the ’32 Ford was introduced, this is what all of the talk was about. This was the car that introduced the buying public to the whole concept of being able to buy an affordable car fitted with a V8 engine, which had previously been the preserve of expensive or high-performance cars. This is the 221ci flat-head engine, and this is where there is more good news about this little Ford. Following its time in storage, the owner drained the fuel tank, rebuilt the carburetor, and the car now runs and drives. The seller also states that the car has covered a genuine 57,000 miles, which is quite conceivable given its general condition, coupled with the fact that it has been in storage for 34 years.
This is a great little car that offers the new owner a couple of possibilities. Now that it is running, it could undergo a thorough mechanical check, and it could then be returned to the road. Alternatively, the new owner could undertake a full restoration on the car, and return it to its former glory. Which way would you go on this one?
Please let her as is…a possible survivor….but sadly it will probably be turned into another street rod.
I agree w/ Sir Mike, and hope that since you can now build a 32 from a catalogue, that this will be left alone, as-is.
Not too many survivors left…
Keep it original
I agree with you Mike. Be sad to see this chopped up.
The person that does that deserves a special place in automotive purgatory.
No, this won’t be chopped up, but that metallic green its wearing has to go.
Henry never would have approved of that color. In fact he never would have approved any color but black. Why you ask?
Simple: black paint was the fastest drying paint back then, so the Ford line could turn out more cars each day if they were painted black than if they were painted any other color.
Ford changed from the only black paint policy in 1926 to help move the obsolete Model T You could get a green Model T in 1926
Had a factory green ’27 T coupe… the 26/7s were the best Ts – Drove it everywhere and it never missed a beat!
Henry Ford was known to say, “You can have ANY color you want, as long as it’s black.” LOL
Same car was featured here in 2016 with the same poor photos with bidding over 80k. Apparently they were looking for more back then and won’t let it go for less now.
Seller apparently is unrealistic in expecting $100,000 for an unrestored car.
It listed with as a no reserve auction, he’s not holding out for a particular number.
Where are you coming up with $100,000?
Steve R
Oh WOW! If I had $100K, I know exactly where I’d spend it and I wouldn’t touch a damn thing except for a mechanical rebuild.
What a nice car, has to be one of my favorites in all the world, I would put juice brakes off a ’40 Ford, degrease the drivetrain and have fun with it.
a@ Ronald
I agree on the brakes but save all the original brake parts.
Pull the body, drop it on an aftermarket chassis, chop the top and install and LS.
Just kidding. If anything, I would soup up the flathead with period correct 50’s parts like a multi carb intak and aluminum heads, and do a few mods as long as they were reversible. Did these still mechanical brakes? Juice brakes are needed if driving on the streets much…
No hydro until ’39.
I’d go a different route with a 331 Cadillac motor. There. I said it.. so sue me folks!
Andre, Andre, Andre, —– what are we going to do with you ?!
Whew you would think the Good Lord would keep something this original alone, even the green, poss some different wheels and some period correct speed equipt. Good luck to the new owner!!
Cheers
GPC
Adam, I’m guessing you’ve never heard of a “Little Deuce Coupe”.
I was hoping Uncle Bob would have commented, so I could just say “Ditto”. I knew the first thing ,out of the box, would be it has to be kept all original or it is a travesty to the Automotive Gods and you will rot, in the junkyard Hell in the sky. Also, when will people forget the old wife’s tales of ,all old Fords are black.
I don’t know for sure ,but I doubt that this car was just found ,out of thin air. Uncle Bob may know and I am sure with one or two phone calls, I would have the info. Thirty-two Fords of this caliber, are like Cobra’s, Ferrari’s, Aston Martins and just about any high in car you can name, Every Marque has a distinct following and in that group, there is a sub group who are the real players, the elite, and they tend to know where every example is of that model , and its availability. This car can not be a secret to those select few and they will establish the price of this car, and will probably be the likely buyer / flipper. I don’t know the sellers name, but by his comments, I am sure I know him or have heard of him, this is a small world of a select few who have the money and knowledge to obtain a car of this quality.
It will be interesting to know who buys this car and the price ,as it will certainly confirm some of the assumptions, and rumors of what state the early Ford market really is, at this point in time.
This looks like the original engine under the hood. So many of them were pulled and a more modern flathead dropped in. IMHO I couldn’t really blame them as the original engine did have some teething problems. However, they DID manage to fix them. As far as the car is concerned it should have a preservation restoration and then get driven. To hot rod this would be a serious mistake.
I think you’re right, Geomechs, the flathead looks to be the original from ’32, right down to the carburetor.
This is one to pretty much leave, as is, with some maintenance so that it could be driven.
An original Deuce three-window coupe is pretty rare…
“the first of 5 more 32’s & a warehouse of parts that will be sold” Damn, guy have five of them!
32 Coupes also came in Dearborn blue. Typically with black fenders. The little V-8s weren’t that reliable. Easy enough to bolt in a later flatty and top shifter and no sacrilege has been committed. I’d do juice brakes too.
Yep….been on the market before…..and the market money is dropping. Guess we’ll see – not sure why he just doesn’t run it through BJ . Wait – is that -that green color we all love…nice car even in that green.
Detroit Lubricator carb , this is real deal leave it for the restorers.
me likey! Fuel it up, and drive it
Leave that baby as is,only way to go,original should stay original!
This classic Henry Ford steel will go to whoever has enough cash to own an original car to keep it original.All that is asked is to please don’t power this iconic ‘32 with a “dime a dozen” tin SBC! It would be a disgrace.Power up that Flathead! Amen.
He may have said it “MAYBE” but that doesn’t make it true , at least forever.
Model T’s yes ,starting with Model A’s ,several colors were available with fenders being black. and that changed about 1935. However everybody loves the quote. Henry said allot of things, read is biography sometime!
I may get crucified for this: While I obviously love the beauty and romanticism that comes with the originality presented here, I would be fighting the urge to throw a bunch of period speed parts on this thing and turn it into an early-60s-style street terror.
Don’t hack the body, keep all the original components so it could be returned to stock, don’t mess with any existing paint or patina. BUT find a trick, real-deal vintage supercharger/intake/carb setup and some other true vintage hotrod bolt-ons, maybe some old pie-crust slicks out back with steelies, and create something really interesting.
Fun is the most important thing!
Keep it original.
Use aftermarket to build what Deuce style you like of the best icon 32.
My 32 Phaeton hot rod style Wescott fiberglass body 2 inch chop and on fenders is the greatest.
Because I’m getting older it will go and we will get some type enclosed classic for travel but we won’t be able to top the 32 and how unique a Phaeton is. Most keyboard jockeys well have to Google Phaeton.
Install the original wire wheels and drive it.