I’ve always been a fan of auto racing, and NASCAR in particular; therefore, when I was a kid, I might have been in the minority in liking the Burt Reynolds/Hal Needham racing comedy Stroker Ace. If you haven’t seen it, I’m not sure I can recommend it; my hazy recollections suggest that it might not have held up over the course of the last 40 years. For some reason, this ’35 Ford, which was stored in a hay barn for years, reminded me of the beginning of that film, where a flashback showed some guy outrunning revenuers in his Ford truck. It turns out that the truck was a ’37 and not a ’35, but as I alluded to, it’s been 40 years since I’ve seen it, so I’ll excuse my memory in this instance. While a Ford truck may make a poor getaway vehicle in these frenzied times, this one would make a fine cruiser after a little work. It’s being offered on eBay by a seller who bought it from the original owner’s grandson; it’s located in Millsboro, Delaware, and the high bid is currently $9,050.
The 1935 Ford Model 50-830 was the first year that the pickup was built with an all-steel body, including the floors. The four-cylinder that was offered through 1934 had been dropped, and the only engine available was the 85-horsepower, 221-cubic-inch flathead V8, which is the engine you want anyway. The seller is a little vague about its running condition: It was running, but the carb went bad. It was rebuilt…end of discussion. It also needs a battery, which is something that I’ll never understand when someone is selling a car or truck. Buy a battery – add it to the selling cost (just my opinion).
The interior needs some work, but luckily the Ford trucks (and all trucks) of this time period were about as simple a refurbishing job as an interior gets. It appears that the passenger door panel is missing (or is it sitting on the seat?), and the seat will need upholstery. I’d say that new door panels, upholstery, and maybe a rubber floor covering will have this truck looking spiffy in no time.
It’s also a largely rust-free truck, especially considering that it was found in New York State. The undercarriage pictures look excellent, and the seller says that it has a little rust on one door. This is clearly a candidate for preservation, although the “rear fenders are rough.”
There is something so right about almost every 1930s Ford product that it’s almost impossible to go wrong with this truck. It will certainly need some attention before you can have a fun time cruising around, not outrunning revenuers, but you could have the truck up and running by next driving season (if you live in a place where it’s a long winter of no old car driving as I do). It’ll be fun to see what the high bid is, almost as much fun as driving a solid old truck will be.
Welp Aaron, let me help you out. I actually own a DVD copy of Stroker Ace. We get it out and watch it every couple years. It’s got Loni Anderson as Burt’s sponsor’s PR girl, in her first movie role. When she passes out on the bed is one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever seen. But why they picked Gomer Pyle as a crew chief I do not understand. So the FORD truck in the beginning has Burt’s dad driving with Burt as a little boy standing up in the seat running away from the law. Remember when Burt got the chicken restaurant sponsorship and he had to wear the chicken suit while he was driving in the race? He kept spitting out feathers. It’s a funny, classic movie. Thanks for the great writeup, Aaron.
Wow! What I see here is a whole lot better than what I see at my place. Mine originated at a farm about 9 miles west of where I was raised. It was a typical farm truck and was used/abused in that way. Of course I’m not helping things out in any way because I’ve been causing some less than flattering views of it, all in the name of fall, harvest and hallowween. But it’s attracted a lot of attention (a lot of people have knocked on the door asking if it was for sale). I just send them on their way and go out and adjust some of the decorations.
If I had all the money in the world, I’d buy this one and then take and build one into a resto-mod while restoring the other bone stock. The frame on mine is in terrible shape (been broken and poorly welded in no less than three places) so it might be the candidate for a TCI rolling chassis, set up for my ’53 Merc flattie and a C-4 automatic.
This one deserves a full restoration. I’d replace that ’37 engine with what’s supposed to be in that bay and get it all back to original. It would be just as much fun as a resto-rod…
I’ve got several really good frames here in Lewistown Montana. Should sell a couple.
Oh for the days of my youth. I was a country boy living with my parents and siblings on “. The one Twenty” my name for my parents 120 acre farm. A spell down the road dwelled a beautiful girl my same age. Her dad at one point drove a pickup of 37 vintage. Since I was a young fellow with interest in cars, trucks and buses I often made my way pretending to be interested in his truck but secretly there to see Donna. As the years went by she married while still in High School so my ambition had to shift.
I was blessed through the years to own many fine cars and trucks, but never a 1937 Ford pickup.
God Bless America
I believe this was the pickup that changed the world, or the US anyway. It may not look like much, but this was quite the hot rod in its day. I can’t find any performance times, but it didn’t take much to make this old jalopy out run the cops. I read, this truck cost $625 new. Peanuts right? Not when the average household income was $1600/year, farms even less. Still has mechanical brakes, not that I have a problem with them, and sadly, to me, has a snowballs chance in Hades of remaining like this. Someone with deep pockets will see this, and resto-mod here we come and that’s okay too.
After owning a ’34 pickup I can see the future fun of having his guy here.
I had a 36 with the flat head 8, bought it for 150$ and drove it home.
Restored it to original including paint, drove it once to pick up my girl friend from school!
I was told to never get her in front of the school and to park around the corner I was 17 at the time.
Great pickups in the mid to late 30s. Only changes needed are juice brakes and more modern engine. I have owned a few and enjoyed them all. Last one was a 37. Wish I had kept one.
Why hasn’t anyone mentioned these with the 60 HP engines? My dad had one when I was about 12. Not much power. He said the pistons were only about as big as tomato cans. Many Midget racers used the 60 HP.
Those V-8 60’s were cool. I have one here, non-running. It has stainless steel sides welded to the block to complete the engine. Would love to put one of those in my model T roadster.
Pretty interesting looking pickup and it’s certainly got the right engine, I hope it goes to somebody who respects what this truly is!
Actually, Karl, that looks more like a ’37 engine. The ’35 would still have the water pumps at the front of the heads. 1937 was the year Ford lowered the water pumps to the front of the block and relocated the outlets to the center of the heads…
Geomechs I drove a grain truck in high school that had a flathead V8 similar to this I think it was 85 HP, but what I remember the most is it was so smooth and quiet and it had enough power to move loads of wheat just fine. I checked the oil at the start of every day and I grew very fond of that old truck!
A lot of us probably learned to drive with a flathead V8 and a 4 speed crashbox. Myself, it was a ’49 F-3, back when I was 10. Quite an experience, one that I wouldn’t trade for anything…
Was running
Carb went bad
Carb rebuilt
Needs battery
Translated: engine might or might not turn over or catch, if i omit tge battery, buyer wont know till get it home.
Put a damn battery in it, tune it start it sell it for more.. run dont walk away
Put a battery in it!
Nice truck.
This is one reason why I do like the big auction site, or even an auction here, of course. Sellers then have to provide clear information about the vehicle- not snippets of unclear info in two sentences. Along with more photos, video and an open comments section.
Appears to be a real gem. Key word, appears. Any vehicle, regardless of age, needs a thorough visual, especially their undercarriage. One area shown may look nice while another area that isn’t shown may not be so nice.
Anyway, this needs to be preserved. Why would anyone restore a presentable survivor? Shame. Restomod, shmestorod.
Geomechs I drove a grain truck in high school that had a flathead V8 similar to this I think it was 85 HP, but what I remember the most is it was so smooth and quiet and it had enough power to move loads of wheat just fine. I checked the oil at the start of every day and I grew very fond of that old truck!
I’ve got one of those 1935 trucks out back. Bought it for parts for my pickups, although most of them are 1936 not 35.