The most iconic Ford to turn into a hot rod is the 1932 coupe, but this partially rebuilt 1934 five-window model isn’t all that far behind. It’s on the market for a sad reason, but the new owner should be able to get it back on the road fairly easily. It’s here on eBay with a $28,600 bid and not that much time left to make an offer.
The owning couple have owned their coupe since 1960, and it was a runner back then. “My husband and I dated in this car,” the owner said. “In the 1980s we started to restore it. We rebuilt the motor, upgraded the electrical work to 12 volts, which is partially done. The car has been garage kept for 40 years. No rust that we could find. Since the passing of my husband, I’ve decided to sell it. The motor is from a later model maybe ‘40s or ‘50s.” The body is in primer, and only surface rust is visible. It does look like its been sitting for quite a while.
It looks like a Ford flathead V-8 in there, but more knowledgeable Ford folk can chime in. That motor has a nice period feel, but other ’34 five-window builders have gone more modern. Kansas’ Pete Weber, for instance, went with a 331 Chrysler Hemi, and his build is instructive of what could be done with this ’34. Of course, the owner could also return the car to stock, but that seems unlikely at this point.
“I always thought that ‘33s and ‘34s [Ford coupes] were sleek and graceful,” Weber told Motor Trend. “Coupes are traditional and timeless, and highboys always look good.” Weber’s car lost its fenders, becoming a highboy, gained a Rootlieb steel hood, Bob Drake grille, International headlights, 1937 taillights with LEDs, and a roof insert in grained vinyl.
The copper-painted wheels on Weber’s car are from a 1936 Oldsmobile, and sport Coker tires. There are stock Ford brakes in the back, and finned Buick drums in the front. A custom dark green PPG paint job completed the car.
So the question is, do you want to do what Weber did—start with just a minimal-rust body and build up from there, or get ahead of the game with this partial restoration? The latter course requires the buyer to accept some of the late owner’s choices, which don’t seem to have been bad ones.
This has the makings of a nice car. The ’33 and ’34s really had nice lines. The 59-AB heads do indicate later models but can’t remember the years. As I experienced with my ’32 late ’40s Mercury powered coupe, you can get a bunch of power out of them without a lot of work. The ’39 transmissions we had were a bit weak for drag racing but worked well for normal daily driving. Notice the “s” on transmissions…..
There is a printing error. This car 🚗 has 6 windows.
They are called 5 window coupes. The windshield doesn’t count as a window. Do note that the rear window rolls down with the little handle on the right side. Had the same arrangement on my ’32 5 window. Open the windshield and the back window and have all the cool you want.
No – it’s a windshield….
If the windshield isn’t a window then I suppose it’s transparent steel…
Don’t ask me. The designations on these cars have been there since the ’50s. Don’t know who started it but it is what it is.
Jerry….It’s obvious…You know nothing about these cars….Just sit back a learn. For example: A 3 window…..actually has 4 including the windshield….As Bobhess stated….Windshield is not counted.
So there, Jerry.
It’s a 34 with a flat head,it is not a blank canvas.
And the stock original motor was a ?
Probably a neat car. Absolutely crappy photos. Even worse text description.
“No rust that we could find.” Is that the same as giving a never-rusted guarantee, or is it just used car ad weasel-wording?
Well that’s why you need to see the car in person. I would never buy any car I haven’t personally inspected
These cars do indeed allow many choices/options. Back in the 50’s I remember seeing many such cars modified to personal desire and taste. One fellow I knew put a Olds V8 in his, another a GMC straight 6 heavily modified, both were very fast cars for the times. At our local drag strip you’d see many of these running every weekend running 100+ mph in the 1/4 mile. They usually kept two sets of rear tires mounted on wheels for quick change at the race track. One set had slicks for racing while the other set had street tires, as slicks weren’t street legal in California.
P.S. Does anyone remember Atlas tires? they had a street legal slick with one tread on the outer edge making them legal. My brother had a set on his 55 Ford pickup.
God Bless America
@bobhess-thanks for sharing that information. I never realized the rear window rolled down in these cars. It seems like Mr. Ford thought of everything. I hope this classic brings all the money for this widow as it’s up to 32K now.
Roll down rear windows started with the Model A and was an option most often found on deluxe coupes. Standard coupes rarely had the feature.
Those were Atlas Bucrons. They weren’t slicks but you could hardly see the tiny cuts in the tread. They were super soft rubber that gave great traction but were only good for about 10000 miles of normal driving. I worked in a company owned Standard Station on hwy 66 when I was younger and loved Atlas tires. You could follow a set of Bucrons down a wet street by the dry footprint with two little wet stripes. They would nearly squeegee the water off the road. SS Inc. 3171
The engine in that car is a 1937 at the earliest. Its water pumps are mounted on the block.
The 1932 through 1936 engines had water pumps mounted on the fronts of the cylinder heads.
Think of it this way: A windshield blocks the wind and side and rear windows are for looking out of the car to the sides and rear.
Nice ride for someone that knows……..
I don’t understand the B/F authors write-up on this car, who is Pete Weber and where’s his car, because I guess we are comparing the two cars. I agree the pictures of the car aren’t very good and the information is worse.
The bid is around 30 Thousand now and from what I see and having owned a 34 5-window for almost 60 years, I think it could be worth that. But not much more with out a closer look and more information
Feel sorry for the seller, but unless you really need the money, how could you sell a car after your spouse has deceased, that you have dated and courted in. For me it would be like selling one of your children. I feel sorry for her.
Wayne from Oz, Hope this makes you feel better. I bought my 34 Ford 5 -window in July of 1963. My wife and I dated in it, when it was my only car. Our two kids grew up riding in the rumble seat (not a good idea) but we were young. The car is still with us and it is understood, it will be given to my son and daughter. They assure me they will never sell it. I tell them ,I don’t care there are no strings attached. I just know I won’t sell it. It will be passed on and they can do whatever they want with it.
This car rocks..make it fast..make it cool and make it safe…ish…Wayne from Oz did you say they “courted”in this car…I’ll never forget my first “courtship”…or the fog on the windows