You know how specific names sometimes become a generic term, like, say Xerox? It’s a brand name but it’s often meant to convey any machine that has photocopying capability. Another is Frigidaire, which was a refrigerator in the immediate post-ice box era but that proper noun became a sort of nom de guerre for every other refrigerator brand. Well, old car sellers, flippers in particular, have latched on to the term “barn find” and use it for any old car that they hope to sell. It could be a ten-year-old sedan that’s been sitting in their aunt’s garage for six months, and suddenly, they have a “barn find” for sale. Well, today, I have da real ting courtesy of T.J. It’s a 1946 Ford DeLuxe coupe and it has been sitting in an Athens, Alabama barn since 1960. As usual, it’s available to anyone looking for a project and it can be found, here on Facebook Marketplace for $12,000.
Not a particularly rare car, Ford’s total ’46 production amounted to 468K units which was respectable considering this was the first post-war model year and the previous year’s production amounted to zero. The coupe was available in Super DeLuxe and regular ole DeLuxe trim, 12K and 10K copies, respectively. As for this car, which I believe is a DeLuxe, it has supposedly had only one owner and it now looks like it’s actually perched up in the barn’s loft. It’s covered in surface rust, dust, and other barn mung but it looks complete and still reveals signs of its original Dynamic Maroon finish. The rear window is missing but it shows as the only absent component – though admittedly, there are no images of the front.
Once again, we have a seller who has not bothered to include an engine image. Yes, we know, per the listing description, that it’s a 100 HP, 239 CI V8 “flattie” with a manual transmission, and of course, it would be a non-runner. The engine image is important because firstly, in this or any other case, it verifies the seller’s claim, but it’s also an indicator of whether the engine is complete and intact – important if the next owner wants to try to rejuvenate the existing powerplant.
The interior is about what you would expect and is in keeping with the exterior’s barn-found vibe – it’s dusty, dirty, and stained. But, as with the exterior, it seems to all be there with the possible exception of the top part of the dashboard which appears to be missing something, a grille perhaps, or is that just an open ashtray? The entire environment really needs a complete redo but at least there’s only one seat to contend with and all of the original gauges are still in place. Another thought on that matter, many, today, like to replace original instruments with newer digital display or digitally driven analog pieces. For my money, nothing is better than having working, clean original gauges still doing what they were designed to do – these ’40s vintage components just have so much character.
There you have it, a barn find of a barn find! Next steps? It’ll probably get hot-rodded – this coupe design really lends itself well to that undertaking. As for the engine, that could go a few ways with a hopped-up flat head, a Windsor V8, or even the dreaded Chevy small-block, traditional or LS (dreaded if you’re a Ford purist -and I get it). The last consideration is the price, $12,000. That I don’t get, how about you?
Hagerty is right about 12K for a #4 car, which they describe as “runs fine”, but of course needs stuff.
So, yeah Jim, I agree that the price is a bit high.
So much for the impending crash of the classic car market.
“Kleenex”
Qtips,Dixie cups,Scottowels,Scotchbrite pads, Scotch tape ,Saranwrap, Windex , etc….In grade school our teacher had us think these things up about items called by brand names.I never called a refrigerator a frigidaire which was a division of GM at one time.
Looks as if Grade School had a big impact on you. :)
Don’t know if I can remember anything from grade school except my crush driven to school in a 1950 Ford ranchero that her father built. It might have been chopped and sectioned too, remember it being low.
In our house, it’s “the fridge” What I don’t get is marketing Frigidaire stoves, Hotpoint refrigerators, etc.
I forgot Crescent wrenches …dang it!
yup. God I miss those early 70’s days .
You can find a ’46, complete, painted decent, and running, for under $20k.
Sad but true. I’m concerned that this era, ’30-’40’s real barn finds like this are now unrealistic projects since reality is $30k or so will get you a very nice one and ya can’t go for a ride in this one for the $18k left on the table
These old Fords are neat but the owner sure needs an education on how to sell one. All that dust must have gotten into his brain pan to have thought up that price.
Price is double what this 46 should be given the condition and repairs needed. That rear window will be a tough find and lots of restoration dollars needed on the interior.Deep pockets needed to put this Ford back to a show car!
I think it’s flat glass and that’s easy.
Curved glass, not flat.
I’m thinkin as is around 3k with pics supplied.This car must smell to high heaven of mouse turds and urine.Cool car though.
Maggy you are a trip, I laugh every time I read some of your adjectives, “mouse turds” I wouldn’t expect that term from someone of the finer sex.
God Bless America
,,,oh jeez you sound like my old lady. LOL. Take care and yes God Bless America.
$35-4500, would be all I could give. Needs to much and to many unknowns. It may possibly have an overdrive on the transmission, as i see a “T” handle on the far left side of the instrument panel. Ain’t nothing like hearing a dual carb “flattie” racking off the cherry bombs going down a hill. Music to my ears.
I would say that Coke sign is worth a pretty penny…
Overpriced for what it is, that and very little effort on sellers part for providing at least engine pictures to justify his inflated price. It’s worth about the same as the 38 Plymouth business coupe BFs had last week.
That is not a 1946 Ford. It is a 47 or 48. Price is ridiculous. 4K car max. Needs everything. Sorry, pass.
Alabama, Is this a pre-Tornado ad?
I agree it is not a 46, it might be an early production 47. Either way the price is at least double what it should be. As for Frigidaire, I think it was a geographical and era thing. When I was in the military Vietnam years. The west coast guys called a soft drink a pop, the east coast called it a soda. I don’t know if either is used much now.
And right there in the middle, Missourians called it sode-pop…
Hi Joe, Early 47s had 46 stainless and parking lights and bumpers, guards. I have a friend with an early production 47.
I agree, not a 46, probably a 48. Need to see the front to be sure.
This one is going to need a going through from front to rear inside and out, before it is worth $12K.
8banger, That’s really funny! I never thought of that and I have heard that term too.
I’d be calling H and H for a rebuilt flatty then add a later model gearbox and diff………..
Hotrodbuilder, I have seen several 46’s titled as 47’s and the only explanation I have heard is, Henry didn’t want to waste extra parts. Which seems logical for him.
46 has 3 chrome strips on the trunk.
I have seen cars and trucks that were built in one year and not sold until the next year and because they were still new cars, the state Dmv thought they were the current model. The serial number on the frame will tell what year it is. State titles are not necessarily correct. Ford did use up parts in early model production. My point was that a 1946 vehicle could not have been built with 47 trim and bumpers. Also the gauges in 46 were black with red lettering. 47 and 48 had white face gauges with gold lettering.
I imagine a serviceman coming home from the war and buying this as a reward for making it home to himself. Of course, it might have gone to someone who didn’t have to fight, but was flush with cash from working in a war factory too. In England, after the war in those years, it was tough times, but I was told that In America there was a feeling of joyful; exuberation. If you hadn’t lost anyone in the war then the post war years were some of the happiest anyone had ever remembered, and cars like this were a part of that.
All locking plyers are not Vicegrips and all slip joint plyers are not Channel locks.
Pliers ha
That is a $1k car and they should be glad if they could find someone to haul it away.
Hotrodbuilder, I am not arguing with you,I totally agree. We have all seen paper work and titles that didn’t match the car, and it was the actual paper work that came with the car. I looked at a car and the owner insisted it was a 32 Ford because that was what the title stated. It was actually a 31 Model A ,a big difference regardless of paper work.
Hi Joe, I had a neighbor stop by my house about 10 years ago when I had a couple of Model A’s parked out front. He said he had a 32 Cabriolet in his barn. I went to look at it and it was a 1930 Ford Standard coupe with an older amatuer refurbishment. He was willing to part with it for only $15000. I politely declined his sale offer.
$12K missing a window that’s going to be at least another grand? I may be way off base here, but I think that beauty is overpriced as is.
I believe if it’s the original engine, It’s only 85 HP flat head.
The 1946 Ford sales brochure is attached, it states the flathead rating as being 100 HP.
JO
I don’t know where some of you get your prices. $1000 for rear glass? Rear glass here $325
https://www.theglasshouse1.com/products.htm
Agreed on glass prices. But a seller whose asking price of $12k on this car and offers no front and engine bay pics doesn’t make many guys want to buy it.
You’re 100% right. I was just commenting on how uninformed some people are. As far as rarity there are many on the net for sale. There are 3 complete sets of cpe glass on EBay right now for $500 and free shipping