Have you ever dived headfirst into a project, only to lose enthusiasm after the reality of the work needed slapped you squarely in the face? If you are anything like me, your life has been littered with unfinished projects. Sometimes that is not a bad thing. Take for example this 1938 Ford coupe for sale on Craigslist in Copperopolis, California. This disassembled and somewhat forlorn Flathead Ford is surprisingly solid and original. Why is it disassembled? Perhaps the plexiglass covers over the headlight buckets and missing seats are clues to this being a racecar project that never saw the light of day. This lack of follow-through has ensured another prewar Ford coupe has a chance at life. Would you be willing to pick up this project car with the owner entertaining bids north of $10,000? What would you do with it once you pressure-washed off all the detritus? Is this solid Ford deserving of another chance? Thanks to T.J. for this Flathead find!
While prewar Ford coupes have always been a hot commodity with the hot rod crowd, they were also the weapon of choice for what we would call today “street stock” and “modified” racing. Not just in the South, but all over the country, would-be racers would purchase a Flathead-powered Ford coupe, strip out the interior, remove the glass, weld up a roll bar, do a few other standard modifications, find an old helmet, and get to work on the nearest dirt oval. Smokey Yunick talks about the early days of racing after the war in his spectacular autobiography. Some of these observations include wooden roll bars, doors tied shut between the rear pillar and the quarter window by an old leather belt, and dipping gasoline out of open drums to refuel the cars in the pits.
The picture above shows why I think this started as a stock car project. Headlights on a 1938 Ford consisted of an almost teardrop-shaped lens that was backlit by a 6-volt bulb. Sealed beam headlights wouldn’t arrive until 1940 for Ford and were soon mandated by law due to their effectiveness. Pulling out the original lenses and bucket and replacing it with a piece of aluminum or plexiglass was one of the first modifications done to a coupe headed for the track. If my theory is correct, then it is good that the would-be racer abandoned the project without doing further damage.
According to the seller, the car was parked in 1965 and disassembly for restoration was started. There is no mention of the unusual headlight modifications. We are told that the car is solid and straight. The rust is described as “no rust through just mild patina.” While one person’s patina is another person’s pain in the neck, the seller seems to be quite correct about the rust being just surface rust. There are no signs of rust through evident in the many pictures that the seller kindly provides. All you see is a healthy dose of surface rust.
Not that it matters at this point, but the seller lists the mileage on the car at 13,504 original miles. We are told that most everything is there except for the seats. One could assume that the seats and interior were also jettisoned before the possible stock car project ground to a halt. The seller also tells us that the original 90-horsepower Flathead V-8 and 3-speed manual transmission are still in the car.
The shot above shows just how solid this car is. Trunks suffered disproportionately in the rust department on coupes when the weatherstripping around the opening rotted away. From what the picture allows us to see, this one is solid. It also looks like white house paint was used to cover the metal. Automotive paint doesn’t peel away like that, or does it?
If you look past the guano, grime, and general filth, this may be a great restoration project. 1938 Fords are a bit of an acquired taste style-wise, and you don’t see them as hot rods that much. What it would be neat to see in this case is for the new owner to build it up as a tribute moonshine hauler. Numerous cars somehow survived that rough and tumble existence to pattern this car after. While the $10,000 or better offers the seller is looking for might never come their way, it would be nice to see the car go to someone who would respect the history of these cars. It already survived one close call with destruction on a dirt track.
What would you do with this 1938 Ford coupe? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
I would pass and buy the 1937 restored for 27k.
This is ruff for 10+ grand needing much more coin.
Its cool for the past but other than that needs a special owner with deep pockets and storag.
GLWS!
Call me crazy, but I say finish what the guy started, make it into a vintage oval track modified. There has got to be places to race these, yes?
I’d love to have this car.
Nice put maybe the fish won’t bite – still listed.
I love this car. The led headlights options alone.
I’m drawn in by the dim lighting again. Some extra parts and some missing I’d expect.
Bring a hazmat suit.
I looked over the pictures of the ad on cl, this is a 1938 Ford coupe, but there’s the front clip of a 1939 standard. Front fenders, grille, and hood side panels are 100% 39 standard. Easy to miss the subtle design changes between the standard and deluxe models, especially with the 39/39 Fords. I grew up with my dad having a 39 standard coupe, and later, a completely original unrestored 39 standard Tudor sedan.
Solid looking car, asking price is a bit steep though.
I looked over the pictures of the ad on cl, this is a 1938 Ford coupe, but there’s the front clip of a 1939 standard. Front fenders, grille, and hood side panels are 100% 39 standard. Easy to miss the subtle design changes between the standard and deluxe models, especially with the 38/39Fords. I grew up with my dad having a 39 standard coupe, and later, a completely original unrestored 39 standard Tudor sedan.
Solid looking car, asking price is a bit steep though.
These year Ford coupes were highly prized by hot rodders in the 50s and 60s. And to me, it has custom build written all over it. Body looks solid with minimal rust, and thankfully, original engine is still there.You could spend hours with a pressure washer on a first cleaning and follow it up with some sandblasting. There’s a mobile blaster guy who’d love to do this one. I would too if I had the room. Someone’s gonna have a blast working on this one.
Price is to high to
I came home from the hospital on march 15th 1946 in our family’s 1938 Ford tudor Standard, Pop always had trouble with the fuel pump, finally replaced it with an electric pump.
I would be a player at half that price…
I would love to build this car if I was a few decades younger but alas that’s not the case.
Asking way too much for this project car. It is going to take every bit of 30k,40K, or even a lot more to make this into a beauty. Pass.
Mark I agree with you there could be some debate about the year and model
of this car, even if the photos and info was more complete. I have even had this “discussion” when looking at complete cars in person.
Right. The car is definitely a 38, but that nose and hood side panels are 100% 39 standard. I witnessed enough debate over the years with my dad’s two cars. The body chrome is in the shape of a shepherd’s hook on the hood side panels for the 39 std. The photo shows this plainly with the body line stamping mimicking the chrome. The grille centerpiece is also 39 std.
If someone is buying this car for a custom build, it makes little difference if it’s a 1938 or 1939. It’s definitely, in that ballpark years for Ford Coupes. It’s priced on the high side, by about $5000, but it has a straight body and very little rust. And where are you going to find another one in this condition?