Discovered in a dairy barn after many decades at rest you can certainly imagine the thrill of finding this stylish Deco era Ford Tudor. Thought to have been last registered in 1951, it is quite possible this Tudor has been stored close to 67 years. With a few isolated areas of rust, this Ford overall is quite solid and seems like quite a promising project. This dairy barn find could be yours for the buy it now price of $8,450. Check it out here on eBay out of Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
With a quick glance, you can see that the flathead V8 is still in place and quite complete. The engine has not been touched in who knows how long, so at this point, it is a mystery as to whether or not it is locked up. Also, it would seem that a battery lived in the engine compartment for quite a while as there is some rot around the battery tray area. If I had to guess the old battery eventually failed and wept out battery acid causing this controlled area of rot.
A fair amount of the interior has survived, but it is quite clear there was a leak in this barn. As you can see, the passenger front floor and rocker area appear heavily rotted, where you will certainly be cutting out a big section to repair this concern. The notorious banjo-style steering wheel is in very nice condition, versus the all too common cracked and crumbled appearance that so many succumbed to. The seats look fair beside the rip on the driver side front bench, and the back seat is crisp and clean. There is surface rust on the dash, and there also appears to be some minor rot along the driver side floor edge.
Perhaps the northern weather took its toll on this Ford when it was still on the roads? 13 years of road use in Massachusetts certainly could have done the trick on this Ford. The exterior does not show any apparent signs of rot, but there are obvious signs of surface rust. The running boards and fenders look good, and the Deco front end still holds a tremendous amount of charm. A few minor dents and dings can be found, but the exterior seems very reasonable. Are you a fan of this Deco era find?
I sure am a fan of deco era cars they had a classie look that can transport you to another time in history. The tail end of the depression followed by a world war did not give most people a chance to recover. And you would have been fortunate to have this car, considering what was coming four short years after it was built. Who knows what duties this car might have performed during that time, did it carry a family around or was it parked and waiting for a young man to come home from war, or did it carry a young woman and her coworkers to a factory to make war materials. I’d love to know its story. This looks like it would make a decent restoration project.
Claim of no obvious rot!!!!!! Excuse me – but go to the Ebay and enlarge the thumbnail pictures. Even a non-mechanical person can see the entire floor, including the trunk area, needs replacement due to extensive rot. I really like this style, but this car needs a ground-up restoration.. No thanx
If it wasn’t so rotten it would be in my garage this weekend! Great looking car, rust doesn’t scare me , rotten chassis do! Look at my T V R ! Amazing what old batteries do to a car chassis , maybe a good one will come along after the TVR is finished, Ford peered also!
Imagine sitting in this car on the farm listening to Orson Wells’ “War of the Worlds” on the radio and thinking the world had been invaded by martians….
My grate grandmother said that no one she new was that silly to believe such a story ,lived in Jasper Indiana .
It looks like this car was converted to sealed headlight beams at some point.
It is interesting as I have the bezels, lens and the concave light-reflectors in my garage, kept after a similar conversion.
I have a 1939 ford standard coupe in my shop. On rollers and pushed back in the corner. Hasn’t seen the sunlight since 1987, and I think the last time I drove it was 1978. Has a temple built flathead with adjustable valves , but looking at it still looks like the lil 60 HP. Bought this car in 1963 in Torrance, California for $125 and was in perfect shape. Wish I would have just let it be but had to strip the paint off, pull the fenders off and lost the back jump seat. But that’s what we did back than screw everything up.
There’s a 1925 Chevrolet on Mecum right now, a frame off restoration, with a high bid (so far) of $7000.00.
Yes, very much although when viewed as in the bottom pic the angled hood makes the nose look a bit stubby. Picturing it in cream with brick red fenders & running boards. Upgrade for safety & run as original as possible.
That looks an early ’38 if the engine has anything to do with it. That’s a 21 stud which got phased out to the 24 stud during the ’38 production year. I like what I see but I also have to say that I always get somewhat melancholy whenever I see a ’38 Ford as I had a Standard model that was boosted.
Now THIS is a true barn find. And very complete for what it is. VERY, VERY saveable. Me, I’m such a purist I’d be tempted to revert the headlamps back to originals. Luckily, this vintage Ford has alot of great sources for reproduction parts today. No, I wouldn’t resto-mod the thing, I’d bring it back to showroom correct.
Of all the ’30s era Fords the ’38 deluxe is probably the least desirable of them all, though as a tudor this has the 4 door beat. Fortunately the offering dealer has given the option for best offer. Since he specializes in Euro stuff I hope he has the sense not to ignore the most realistic offer he might get that will likely be substantially lower than his ask. The remaining market is not kind to this type of auto today, sad but true.
Uncle Bob, is right again!
Uncle Bob is right I have two barns and one work shop full of these type vehicles and unlike supply and demand it’s what will the wife say.
Art Deco era?
Some autos were just plain butt ugly, no matter if fully restored this year will still be butt ugly.
This is one of those autos wanted by those who love attention.
The ones at auto shows who sit in front of and not the rear waiting, for viewers to ask: “WTF is it?”
And even they more than likely will not answer with :” A 1938 Art Deco Ford”.
One of those autos bought by those who cannot afford or find the body and year they realy desireAs a flipper it could be desirable.
Then again beauty is in eye of beholder and in todays auto chaos desireable means dollar signs, and good taste or understanding of automotive art is not a requirement of the buyers.
Absolutely correct. I bought mine because I felt sorry for it and I have a personal reason not suitable for this site. But I don’t have to sell and when I do maybe I will be surprised.
The last Ford with mechanical brakes. Worse, they were operated by cables instead of rods, which rusted internally, making them very difficult adjust. My ’38 convert had ’39 brakes installed but it was still a POS.