Many feel that Ford produced the most beautiful low-priced cars in the prewar period. One could make a good argument that the 1933-1934 Fords were the most beautiful of all the company’s products. Consequently, they have been very popular with both restorers and hot rod builders. This makes finding a good example at a reasonable price a rare event. Every once in a while, the stars align and you discover a project car like this 1934 Ford sedan for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Wabash, Indiana. While cars such as this one may not be ready to drive, they can be the start of a good project regardless of your final product. With real Ford steel, an arguably solid body, and the presence of all the major parts and pieces, this 1934 could be a good start to a great project. With an asking price of $6,500, does this Ford stand a chance of returning to the road any time soon? Thanks to TJ for this great Flathead Ford find!
So, for the sake of argument, let’s say that this 1934 Ford showed up in your garage this morning. The pictures of the car tell a tale of a car that was neglected and left to the elements at one time. Finally, someone figured out that 1934 Fords bring good money even if they are a four-door. Effort was made to strip everything that wasn’t made of metal from the car minus a seat frame and get it to the point that prospective buyers could see the condition of the sheet metal. The seller tells us that the engine is there, but the crankshaft, valves, transmission, and flywheel have been removed. The crankshaft and flywheel will come with the car, but it seems that the valves and transmission have left the building in a style reminiscent of Elvis.
Transmissions for early Fords can be had relatively inexpensively, and Flathead parts are easy to find. This car looks to have the early block with a set of iron replacement heads. If you want to restore the car to factory fresh condition, the process will be expensive and time-consuming. After stripping the metal and priming it, the wooden framework no longer inside the car will need to be replaced. That is not an easy or inexpensive job, and it requires some woodworking skills. From there, start adding up the cost of new and used parts, upholstery material, a complete engine rebuild, and just about everything else. Your time is, as always, free.
Or, as much as it pains me to say this about a 1934 Ford, building it onto a mild hot rod would make more sense. Treat it as an old-school build with as many junkyard parts as possible. The missing wood is still needed for structural rigidity, or you could truss it up with square tubing if you are talented enough. The hot rod option is not going to be cheap either, but it should come out a lot less expensive than a full restoration as long as you don’t go crazy.
Hopefully, someone will take on this project and get it back on the road. As previously stated, 1934 Fords are beautiful cars. Seems a shame for this one to make it this far only to be stripped for parts. Maybe a call with a reasonable offer will pull it off death row.
What would you do with this Ford if it were in your garage? Please share your dreams in the comments.
Never owned a ’34 car but consider them and the ’33 the best looking cars of the era. One of the TV’s Street Outlaws has a ’34 sedan drag car with a big Ford engine and all the other stuff it takes to make a fast car. Neat looking cars.
I’m a street rodder but wouldn’t mind if someone restored this car. Just don’t hack it up and turn it into a crappy ratrod. Anyone that would wreck the lines of this car should be strung up.
The Street Outlaw’s 4 door wasn’t modified on the outside but beefed up underneath to take the Ford engine and transmission. I’m assuming the same was done with the rear end. Hauls the wife and kids for weekend rides etc.
strung up and spend eternity suspended from the side of a barn with a rusty spike through their privates. Spot on RKS! There isn’t a line out of place on this design masterpiece or any other member of the ’33-’34 Ford line up. Look what you got in a low priced car.
A perfect example of the “buy ’em done” dictums. Not saying that it shouldn’t be saved, because it should.
Just when you think there’s no 34’s left in the wild. There’s plenty of unrestored Model A’s still out there along with cars from the 30s to 50s. But it’s getting harder to find a 33 or 34 Ford. I saw one about 5 years ago sitting on a trailer. It was just the body and did not include fenders, frame, motor, or anything else. It was a bright and sunny day. I could see the light shining through the metal. It was that thin and they were asking upwards of $7000 cdn!. So this is probably a good deal.
Bonnie and Clyde
I can’t remember where I saw it (or exactly what make/model it was) but an owner/builder had replaced all that wood with aluminum. If I did that I would leave it all exposed. Probably keep with a flathead but use a T5 behind it. The spoke wheels would be cool if they can be saved.
CT Dave
unfortunately 1930s cars are no longer popular as the interest has shifted to newer trucks and of course the muscle car, this car is a money pit, the asking price way to high.
Your time,as always,FREE ? Why when you take it to a garage.They charge you. I,m not gonna give my time away. This old Ford is worth saving. Hope someone will make a nice car out of it again.
Ford basically stole the design for the 1933/34 Ford directly from the 1932 Graham blue streak. That design took the automotive world by storm . By 1933 about every manufacturer was copying Amos Northup in this style
In high school (1961) I had a 1935 Ford coach slant-back with the spare mounted in the back and duel horns up front. I thought it was better looking than the 33-34 models. I also had a 1930 Model A and a ’40 Sedan so I love all the Fords of the 30s and 40s. I would love to have this as a project but no room for goodies anymore.
4 doors, restore it, and a feller will be upside down right quick.
Cut off 2 doors, modernize the chassis/suspension/brakes, a nice V8 and overdrive, and cruise with it in raw metal. A guy would be yakking it up at every cruise in.
The few of these that are left should NOT be cut up.
The person that owns it has carte blanche.
Sorry at the cost of restoring these days its not worth it, when I see these old cars 50 80k +to bring them back you can buy one that someone is tired of storing for less
I restored a 1933 Fòrdor a few years ago and a1929 Fordor. The 29 was a wood frame with body sheet metal nailed on. By ’33, structural wood was gone. It was only necessary to fasten upholstered trim pieces to.
Sure would like to have the ’33 back.
Ahhh….same year and model as the Bonnie and Clyde death car.
Unfortunately, after 186 bullet holes, it still looked in better shape than this beauty