Despite what you might see on television or the internet, not everybody has an unlimited budget and mad skills when it comes to building a hot rod.  Many times a hot rod is a vehicle that has been updated or altered in small ways.  Take for example this 1936 Ford five-window coupe for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Hamilton, Ohio.  While the body and most of these details are still as Henry Ford made them, there are some differences here and there that separate it from an original condition car.  These incremental changes tell the story of a Ford that has seen a lot of use over the decades.  Do you think the $19,995 price is a reasonable ask?  If it were yours, would you make more modifications or return everything to stock condition?  Thanks to Ted for the tip on this cool old hot rod!

Let’s start with what little we are told about this coupe.  The following is the whole text of the ad: “Runs and drives Supposed to be the original miles on it. Has minimal rust on the car.”  With that tiny and vague bit of information, all we are left with is looking carefully at the pictures and interpreting what we see.  Starting with the first picture above, we see a very stock-looking 1936 Ford five-window coupe rolling on a set of later-model steel wheels.  These are different than the stock wheels and indicate that the car has been converted from mechanical to hydraulic brakes.  Ford introduced a hydraulic brake system in the 1939 model year, and the parts were unchanged up to the time the last 1948 model rolled off the line.  Converting an older car to hydraulics was a very common occurrence despite many people’s pleas that a properly set-up mechanical system was just as good.  The picture also shows that the car has been converted to sealed beam headlights sometime in the past.

The second and third pictures don’t show a lot of changes from stock.  Looking closer at the spare tire assembly shows that the crime trim between the two pieces is either missing or has been painted over.  The picture also shows an original hubcap covering the center of the assembly.  Unfortunately, this is not a locking hubcap assembly that was a seldom-seen option on these cars.  It also has a single taillight which is evidence that this was a standard rather than a deluxe.  In the third picture, a close look at the running board reveals either the original ribbed rubber covering or a very good aftermarket reproduction.

The fourth picture is our only still shot of the interior.  There is a video in the ad that shows this area in a little more detail.  Peering through the glass we can see the usual red-on-white interior seen in many home-built hot rods.  The package tray in the rear has a cutout for a speaker, and it has an eighties-style speaker cover screwed to it.  The steering wheel is out of what I believe to be a fifties Ford car, and the steering column is likely from the same vehicle.  In the video, we can see that the dash has been painted over in red rather than the body’s main color.  Around five additional instruments have been inserted into the center where either a radio or an ashtray would be located.  The floor has been carpeted as well.

Picture five shows the inside of the trunk.  These coupes could be had with either a rumble seat or a trunk.  We can see the structure of the package tray behind the front seat somewhat clearly.  This is very different than the stock setup, which would have allowed for access to the trunk.  Many coupes were sold to traveling salesmen and accessibility was of great importance to these customers.  It would be nice to see what the metal is like in the trunk given that the rubber weatherstripping around the edges melted long ago.

The sixth picture gives us a glimpse under the hood.  Nestled in those tight confines is a later model Flathead engine with an aftermarket manifold, carburetor, and the usual set of chrome acorns.  This car should have a 21-stud block instead of the more reliable and less-prone-to-overheating 24-stud version you see here.  Overheating is a common problem with all versions of the Flathead and the presence of an aftermarket aluminum radiator is a good clue that this car was no exception.  Other pictures reveal an electric fan placed in front of the radiator, the presence of an alternator, and a plethora of rubber-insulated wires instead of the stock cloth-covered wiring.

Taken as a whole, this is a nice coupe with plenty of potential.  Nothing has been done to it that cannot be reversed to return it to stock condition.  These coupes are favorites of those who run The Great Race classic car rally every year.  Properly built up, 1935 and 1936 Fords can be reliable, proper handling vehicles if you are looking at doing multi-day touring events.  Hopefully, this one will get restored and driven frequently.  They are good cars with fantastic styling.

What would you do with this 1936 Ford if it were yours?  What changes would you make?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.