It seems that old cars are like mice.  If you see one, chances are there are more around the corner.  For some collectors, one car quickly becomes two.  A new opportunity presents itself just when you were getting bored with the last project…  You get the idea.  Sometimes it gets overwhelming, and the situation becomes more so when the collector goes to his or her reward and relatives have to deal with what is left.  If you have room in your garage for some desirable Fords and you are pals with a banker, then you may want to check out this estate auction advertised on craigslist.  There are a number of really interesting cars and parts available.  With the economy in a downturn, you may be able to snag a vintage treasure for a great price.  Many thanks to T.J. for pointing out this wonderful opportunity.

The prize of the auction seems to be this 1932 Model B five window coupe.  A lot of folks are unaware that even though 1932 was the debut year for the famous Flathead Ford V-8, a four-cylinder option was available.  Some folks were leery of the new V-8.  Such an engine was unheard of in a low-priced car.  Chevrolet and Plymouth both used inline sixes to power their competing cars, but Henry Ford wanted a V-8.  His reasons were two-fold.  He wanted the car to stand out in the low-priced field and old Henry had a prejudice against six-cylinder engines for some reason.  Mass producing a V-8 in a single casting was state of the art in the early 1930s, so there were some teething pains as you would expect.

Potential buyers who were apprehensive about buying a first year V-8 were smart to wait.  While the rumors that the V-8’s pistons would wear more on the lower side of the bore were, of course, unfounded.  There were overheating and oil consumption issues that needed to be dealt with, but they got worked out for the most part.  The four-cylinder option, however, was a great choice.  Fords with this option were called Model Bs.  The Model B engine was an improved version of the reliable Model A powerplant and featured better oiling, larger main bearings, and higher horsepower ratings.  This engine was further improved in 1933 and 1934 mainly by counterbalancing.  Thus, folks who are looking to prepare their Model A Fords for touring covet these engines.

At any rate, this auction is rather Model B Ford heavy.  As you can see from the pictures above, there is a five-window coupe, a pickup, and another five-window coupe that was not photographed for the ad being offered.  The 1932 Ford tudor sedan is also offered, but this is an original V-8 powered car.  There is also a plethora of parts for 1932-1936 Fords also being sold.  Bring your box truck if you are interested and you don’t know what a plethora is.  There are advertised to be 100s of wheels for these early Fords in the pile of parts, along with the usual fenders, engine parts, and other goodies that you would otherwise spend years searching for at swap meets.

Another interesting offering in this auction is the 1936 Ford tudor sedan seen above.  While it has obviously been sanded down and may have had some other work done to it, this car appears to be largely original.    The wheels are of the original type and the car may still have the mechanical braking system that Ford so stubbornly clung to years after their competitors had advanced to four-wheel hydraulic brakes.  The car is missing the bumpers, bumper brackets, spare tire, and the tire cover.  Hopefully they are in the garages somewhere and can be reunited with the car.

Above is a photograph of the 1928 Ford Model A sport coupe that is also part of the sale.  The slight dulling on the cowl of the otherwise good-looking paint might be a hint that this is an older restoration.  Sport coupes are kind of an odd body style.  It is basically a cabriolet with the cloth top being fixed, so you have all of the aggravations of a convertible without the joy of putting the top down.  Still, this appears to be a nice car that could make a good ride for tours with your local Model A club.

The last Ford we see is this 1929 Model A tudor sedan.  This car is an AACA Senior award-winner and seems to have seen little use since then.  Tudors were the body style with the highest production numbers throughout Model A production.  They make wonderful drivers with plenty of room for luggage to take you on a multi-day trip.  If you are looking for a Model A for you and your family to enjoy for a long time, then this beauty may be your ticket.

While a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle doesn’t really fit in with the Fords we see above, it does make sense if the collector just liked basic transportation type vehicles.  The Beetle was just as iconic as the early Fords and was produced in numbers that even surpassed the legendary Model T Ford.  Of course, it would be nice to have a few more pictures of this car to better understand the shape it is in.  The condition of the floor pans would be a good thing to know as well.  It does look to be a solid car in the single picture.  If it has spent most of its time locked away in one of the garages in the background, this Beetle may be the odd duck that the Ford lovers ignore.  That could help a Beetle lover get a steal of a deal here.

There are other interesting items in this auction, such as this Worthington golf cart.  By looking at the auction page, it seems that everything down to the tools in the garage will be sold in lots online.  As usual, we have to suggest that serious parties contact the auction house to arrange an inspection before getting in a bidding war.  If you do win something from the auction, please let us know in the comments what you bought and how the experience went.