The history behind this 1939 Ford Coupe is unclear, but the paint color and upgraded engine suggest that it may have been an older custom build that was parked and forgotten. After forty-five years in hiding, it has emerged and revealed itself to be a solid classic with a healthy V8 under the hood. It needs someone to give it some love so that it can once again ply our roads in style. If you feel up to the challenge, you will find this frisky Ford located in Aurora, Colorado, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. You can take this gem home by handing the owner $10,750. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for spotting this fantastic classic for us.

The Metallic Blue paint that this Ford wears isn’t original because there are spots where the factory shade of Tropican Green is peeking through. It isn’t clear when this new color was applied or who did it, but there’s a fair chance that the buyer will probably treat the exterior to a refresh. The panels have collected a few dings and dents over the decades, but these all appear to be repairable. The big news revolves around the relative lack of rust in this classic. There is some present in the front floors and rear tool tray, but the rest of the car seems to have accumulated little more than surface corrosion. The buyer could potentially patch the rusted areas, although $800 would buy fresh steel to return the Coupe to a rust-free state. The buyer will need to invest some money in glass because three pieces are pretty cloudy, while the passenger door glass is cracked. The condition of the exterior trim ranges from pieces that would respond well to polish to items that will require a trip to the platers. However, it all seems to be present, which is another slice of positive news in a car that appears to have much to offer.

This shot provides some insight into the extent of the rust in the front floors, and you can see why I feel that the next owner could patch it. It is also as close as we get to see the engine that is hiding under the hood. The details supplied by the seller indicate that it is a 239ci flathead V8 that produced 100hp when it was new. It appears that the rest of the drivetrain remains unchanged, including the three-speed manual transmission. After forty-five years spent dormant, it would’ve been fair to expect that the motor would have needed plenty of TLC. However, it seems that this one reinforces my contention that the flathead V8 is about as tough as they come. The owner has coaxed it back to life, and it runs well. It displays strong oil pressure, and even after idling for an hour, it showed no signs of overheating. Intriguingly, it may not take much work to return the Ford to a mechanically roadworthy state. That leaves the buyer with the option of hitting the road with the rest of the car untouched as a genuine barn find.

The Coupe’s interior is another area that will command the buyer’s attention. The dash is complete and appears to be in good condition. However, there is no upholstery to speak of. The seat will need padding and upholstery, while the list will extend to door trims, a headliner, and a covering (rubber or carpet) for the floors. These interiors aren’t complex, leaving the option available for the buyer to pursue custom trim. Otherwise, trim kits are easy to find if a stock appearance is preferred. Either way, whipping the interior into shape is a task the new owner could tackle in a home workshop.

This 1939 Ford Coupe proves that some great cars are still hidden away in barns begging to be found. As a project car, this looks like it could be ideal for someone who wants to tackle a first project build or an enthusiast keen to take a hands-on approach. Its rust issues are so minor that they wouldn’t demand immediate attention. It could look stunning if fully restored and would command attention wherever it went. However, with something covering the seat frame and springs and the drivetrain returned to a roadworthy state, it would still turn heads as a genuine barn find. Both approaches would be valid, but which one would you choose?