Carefully parked in clean and dry storage 48 years ago, this ’42 Ford Standard Business Coupe is a fabulous find that would clean up wonderfully. While this Ford is not a driver, the engine does turn over, and the car as a whole is a time capsule with nearly zero rust to report. This sweet Business Coupe find is available for the opening bid of $4,500. Check it out here on eBay out of Juniata, Nebraska.
Upon being placed in storage, the owner was sharp enough to oil the cylinders of the engine. Thankfully the engine does turn over with a turn of the key. Despite the fact that the starter turns the engine over, the seller has not tried to revive this old flat head 6 cylinder. Under the hood there is some mild dirt and grime to be found, but there is little rust or corrosion. I am sure the full fuel system, brake system, and all other engine fluids are going to need to be addressed.
Although this car looks like a dream from the outside, the interior isn’t as dreamy. The bench seat and a door panel are well worn and torn, and the driver side door panel is missing all together. The dash is a bit rough with melted, warped, and damaged pieces. As nice as the exterior looks, I think a restored interior is in order.
Considered to be completely and totally rust free, this Ford is an anomaly, that’s for sure. The exterior appears complete rust free, with mild dust, and a remarkable amount of shine. Washing and polishing this Ford would likely leave you with a fine jewel sparkle and shine. There is a missing taillight lens, and there is also a small piece of missing trim, but overall this Ford looks almost like a new old stock car. With a lot of potential and interesting style, what do you think this Ford Business Coupe will sell for?
This car has got to be rare with civilian production ending shortly after it started. I sure hope it finds an owner that will fully restore it.
Absolutely on a full restoration. I hate CRUSTINA.
Judging by the chrome I am guessing it was a pre Pearl Harbor car. The blackout cars of the era are pretty interesting.
I sure hope this car will find an owner who will NOT fully restore it. A full restoration would be a real shame on a nice old car like this. Interior yes – exterior, leave it alone please!
But Dirk don’t you think that as soon as you do the interior the car is no longer so called original. But my guess is that it already is far from original it likely had brakes, tune ups, starter, generator, steering parts axle seals, u joints to name a few have all been changed at least once. It likely they have been changed more than once. As far as I’m concerned paint and body work is just part of this very unoriginal car. As I said in the above post restoration is maintenance being caught up. You can’t change all the above listed parts over the years and still call it original. The auto makers never designed these things to stay original they are made to wear out the auto makers are counting on it so they make a second buck off you at their service centres. Infact they want the paint to fail so rust will start.( so much so that they put foam rubber in strategic locations to get rust started ). You are dead wrong Dirk with out restoration this car will continue to rot way, and 5 years from now we will all be lamenting how it’s to bad that someone didn’t take better care of it. Better care is maintenance which includes paint and body. JMHO
Good advice! I hope they are listening out there! = JAH
That paint would polish up beautifully!! Install a new interior and that would be one nice ride!!
Absolutely adamantly positively for sure keep it as o-r-i-g-i-n-a-l as possible (outside). Get some mohair or wool for the inside…whatever.
ls1 twin turbo, bright red, big slicks drag that thing!
Sorry Dan, but i hardily disagree there are plenty other cars that need a lot more work than this one does that can be made into a drag car. In my humble opinion we need to preserve cars like this for future generations(hopefully) to enjoy seeing old cars of every era, even cars that at the time were Known as horseless carriage. Sorry here i go on my soap box again.
Brian, this car looks like an early model
due to the chrome trim on it. Cars built
from Sept. 41 through Dec. 8 41 wore
bright work, while everything built after
Pearl Harbor were “blackout” specials
until car production was ended for the
duration Feb. 10 of 42. These blackout
cars used painted bumpers and trim
pieces made to look like chrome trim.
Also, they had special covers that dimmed your headlights while you drove
at night. These blackout models also left
the factory without spare tires! Dad once
told me that most, if not all of the blackout cars that survived the war got
their trim pieces rechromed after VJ. Day.
I’d just add a radio, redo the interior in
either Grey or Tan, find some period
correct ration stickers, clean up the outside and enjoy it for what it is–
a piece of history that’s disappearing
fast. As for the ’38 Chrysler coupe,
it looks like the one Humphrey Bogart
drove in the movie High Sierra. I’d take
’em both if I had a bigger carport.
Oh, gimme-gimme! I like the ’42 models the best out of all this style. I’ve got a 4-door sedan but it’s definitely a lot rougher than this one. Just the same, mine is a deluxe (for what it’s worth). This one would be a nice addition to my collection. I’d get it running and see what it needs mechanically. Interior sure needs to be done but at least everything is there. I’m sure that someone is going to be very happy with this one…
I can still recall the interior smell of old cars like this from when I was kid and they were common. Clean it up, get it running and safe, patch the passenger door panel and make up properly aged replacement interior pieces as needed and drive this beauty. The 40 was always a favorite year along with the 32, however old age has made realize the 34 was the coolest with it’s beautiful radiator shape. ZZ Top influence I guess.
I wish there was a surcharge to the writers for the use of the words patina,grail, and especially time capsule.
Resto-mod,,,for additional info, see ’38 Chrysler business coupe.
I have always liked 42 to 48 Fords and have owned and built several, coupes and sedans. This car appears to be in decent shape and could certainly be restored, but it will be a looser from a dollar standpoint. It will cost way more to restore, than it will ever be worth, and I mean allot more. The only reason to restore it, is if you really want the car and you care zero about the financial consideration. First of all its a 6 cylinder, which is just about worth-less, I have literally thrown a couple of them away, because there is no demand for them. This 42 is also the cheapest trim package that was ever built. Henry continued to modify the cars until 1948, and every change was to save money, the quality control on these Fords were the worst, after the war they were making them as fast as they could, and the plan was to do it cheap and make money, which I have heard didn’t work out that well.
Even at a buy price of less than 5K, and doing all the work yourself, this would easily become a 30K plus project, which is probably twice what it is worth, I know its a 42 black out car, so what!
The formula I used on every one of these I built was a small block chevy, stock Ford running gear, dropped axel , better brakes, tire-wheels and a cleanup. I never got over 20K for one and they were nice driving cars, but I really did enjoy them, and I didn’t get upside down in any of them.
Of course body style is everything the dynamic takes on a whole new formula if you have a convertible or station wagon.
My point is, all of you want to save everything and restore it for posterity, if that is your goal in life, win power ball and start non-profit foundation and do that until all your money is gone.
Originalality: does that mean all same parts as when assembled, or does it mean the same type of parts as when assembled? Of course no car stays fully original once its had an oil change or other service maintenence, but if it’s a Ford do you always use fomoco parts? Or Mopar etc. etc. can a car remain original just because it looks original? Is it original if it has matching numbers all through it? What is the actual definition of original concerning these cars? Is it the same as saying I have an original Mac screwdriver? I think it might be up to the owner unless you’re trying to go concours. Even then they allow replacement parts as long as they’re the same as what came on the car when new. Please feel free to disagree.
Just what your (current) Uncle Sam needs….to get about town!
I’ll take both!!! Hahahahaha Hahahahaha Hahahahaha.
Love it! I’d try to keep it as survivor status as possible. One of my favorite Barn Finds ever.
Still factory paint on the floors? Wow, almost unheard of to see that after all these years. Never realized the 42’s had unique bumpers unlike the other fat fendered post war cars. The business coupe body makes this a very balanced design. My dad had one, said a bed mattress could fit through the trunk to the back of the front seats. Met my mother while owning this car, need I say more?
I love 42’s of any make, so rare and this one is great and I know most prefer v/8’s but you almost never see a 6 at a meet. What a find and love it like it is or restored. Love to own it. First antique I bought in 74 was a similar condition 42 Dodge out of Kansas for 200 bucks that my family and I enjoyed for years with a home garage paint job and some cheap home town shop seatcovers, sorry I ever let it go and always looking for 42’s I can afford. Enjoy and I love that 42 Grille
I’m basing my comments on the pictures; As rare as this car’s year is, and in it’s apparent condition, I would give the body a thorough washing and clean up the chrome & stainless as well as it could be done… and leave it. Seeing as how the interior is pretty roached, I would go all out on the interior, ie; LaBarron Bonney stock. The car is most likely not “original” from a purist’s point of view, but keeping it stock looking would do it the most justice. Do what ever it would take to make it mechanically new(ish) and let the world behold it! What a cool car!!!