Living in the shadow of the iconic ’34 Ford Coupe, sedans like this 1934 Ford Tudor Sedan in Hooper, Nebraska strike a sporty profile all their own. This gutted roller comes to market here on eBay, where at least nine bidders have stepped up, boosting its market value beyond $5000. Crumpled front fenders suggest a serious crash sidelined this Tudor, possibly as long ago as its license plate year… 1947! Among eight body styles, the Tudor trades the Victoria‘s larger luggage compartment for a more formal posterior. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details.
Virtually every imaginable engine has powered a 1930s Ford. In this car’s case, anyone hankering for a factory-perfect ’34 would easily find a completed specimen the sensible economic choice. File this well-weathered classic in the custom or hot rod category. With that premise, perhaps we could challenge the buyer to install something… interesting! Hard pass on any Chevrolet V8 of any era. The SBC and LS motors, however amazing and cheap, have become almost expected when you pop the hood. Ford Ecoboost 2.3 anyone?
Designed with the post-mounted spare tire in mind, the Tudor’s rear looks awkward without it. Enthusiasts who believe that awesome cars should be shared by more than one passenger can appreciate the Tudor body. Sure; a rumble-seat-equipped coupe technically seats four, but ask your rumble-seat passengers how they’re doing back there during a rain or snow storm. Mind to shout, or they won’t hear you.
Slam a GM LS Packard Inline 8? in here and you’re all set. Whatever disaster collapsed both front fenders seems to have left the chassis unscathed, or perhaps the body and frame come from two different vehicles. I’m not sure that matters much where this classic is headed.
Thanks to The California Kid and other killer ’34s, whoever builds this Tudor can draw inspiration from a nearly infinite supply of brilliant renderings. If welding and beating metal is not your cup of tea, the going rate for a steel ’34 Ford fender is about $1000, each. The patchwork quilt of body panels suggests multiple donor cars. That’s not “patina,” folks; that’s just a big mess, though it could be unified with water-shedding flat black paint if you blew your budget making that 300+ HP Ecoboost work. Save some money for brakes. How would you re-power this worked-over ’34?
How about a nice inline six? I could see an old Jaguar 4.2 in there. Or a GM Atlas six.
Oh I could see a Ford 4 cylinder (Pinto) like I did in my 29 or maybe a nice warmed over 289/302 nestled down in the rails if you prefer a V8 or maybe a 4.3 liter V6. I just don’t see butchering up a car to put in some monstrous behemoth motor, I would tend to pay more for a vehicle that has retained its visual originality and practical drivability. Sure upgrade the braking and suspension and try to keep the interior modern but kind of in the era of originality. Only thing I like butchered is my Beef.
If going there 4.0 HO 91 or up Jeep , prolly best engine ever built.
Rw: I’d considered the 4.0 as well. Super-smooth, good torque, and runs forever. The one in my ’97 Wrangler shows no signs of age at 234k miles. It’s rather heavy, though, over 500 lb. An interesting lightweight option would be GM’s splendid LE2 1.3 Turbo, It’s less old-school looking of course. I’m not sure there’s a longitudinal application / transmission. It’s just over 200 lb fully dressed!
Ford certainly had “art on wheels” going on for a while. This one I’d repair the body damage, paint it, 4″ dropped axle, and a modified flat head. It’s a cruiser of the highest order.
Wow, parked all those years with so many parts missing, seems like this one was a parts car for another build. Still has some hope though.
I have a rebuilt Pontiac 317 with nothing to do.
As well, I’ve got a couple of 54 Cadillac 331s which would make it a period correct mod.
I have owned my 34 Coupe since 1963, so I do know something, about these cars. It is interesting all the things, people can suggest, to do with this car, the only thing you really have to do, is add money and if it does’t matter, what it cost’s, GREAT!. The fact is it is over priced at 5 K. The only thing to do with this car is, WALK AWAY.
With the parts that I don’t need already gone, this be would be a fun EV donor.
I’d leave a comment as I have twice, being the first two times I’ve written comments to help potential buyers. You would not publish my accounts saying I was repeating my reports. Amazing as I had never written to you in the past.
I have wealth of knowledge on old auto restoration. This will be my last.
I am also one who has written comments in the past, and never had them posted. No matter. Some of the above comments about possible engines, are ‘interesting’. I’ve built enough 34’s to know that a sbc, or flathead ford, is a tight fit (with no firewall mods, or moving the radiator forward). So, inline sixes, or eights, require substantial mods. Of course, there is the 34 that sometimes shows up in socal, with the Duesenberg inline engine. So, it CAN be done, if a person is willing to make the necessary mods. As for ‘economics’, much less expensive to buy a finished car. I’ve had to prove this to myself, more that once. My last 34 (sedan) started as a 8K project (much better that this one, and much more complete). Finished, and on the road, I had about 20 in it, and that was without final upholstery or paint. My point is, this one would have to be a labor of love. Economics out the window.
go for the jaguar 4.2 tri carb complete w/4 speed i have an extra all complete redone ,that would be a sight i got one
Growing up I knew a guy that restored one of these and he said when they first found it the fenders were a lot like this one. The story was it was used for mail delivery and the postman kept hitting, well, the mailbox posts and that was what destroyed the fenders. It was a beautiful car restored but I’m sure it was procured for less zeros than on this price tag and was way more complete. But alas, that was then, and this is now
Rare model and year and ready for a Hot Rod makeover.
Something that puzzles me, regarding the serial number shown in the image… The stars look correct. The ‘I8’ looks correct. The number shown is correct for being in the range of 34 numbers. But, what doesn’t look correct, is the ‘9’ at the beginning of the sequence. Ford used a unique 6 and 9, which is different. Also, the ‘8’ in the sequence is also not shaped like a Ford ‘8’… see the ‘8’ in the ’18’… that is a Ford stamp. The sequence ‘8’ is not of the usual Ford shape. There must be something that I am not aware of. Or, maybe the serial number has been re-stamped, without using original Ford stamps. Not that it makes much difference, but something is a little ‘off’.
The only thing I’d consider would be a flathead Ford motor. I would however want one that has the distributor up top. Just nicely built for looks and smoothness, with an automatic transmission and those good sounding duals. I’m ready to go cruising.
hey russ , the jag 4.2 is a awesome looking motor when all the aluminum is polished and tuned right is a power house ,most will find it too difficult to understand
Way back when i had two of these.
One a complete but shaggy four door. Even a rack and trunk astern. alas, blown engine. Pals and I parted t as basefor a real roadster hot rod. Foiled,. Off to the army!!!
Oher, a fenderless 5 window. it ran and I raced it . 41 engine, Cracked block. Milk shakew in the crank case. No matter, i worked at a gas staion. Frequent oil changes with used oil. A school chum had a simialr coupe/ We raced in the deserrt 1/4 mile track.
Were I to mess withthisone, I would go for a GMC 270!!! l /
You are cool Carl.
go to iron trap garage, these young men are hard at work warehousing all these old parts and have a great youtube, good to see these young men likeing and building old Fords
You know, I like the body style, if I were to buy it I would put in a Pontiac 6 cylinder OHC Sprint engine and a 4 speed. That would really surprise people at the cars and coffee gatherings.
I Live In San Dimas CA Here Is The Early Ford Store https://www.earlyfordstore.com/ I Am A Ford Guy Put A Ford Motor In It Keep It Ford I Hate Transplants.
BOB,
No worries, I see your comments all the time, and 99% of the time ,I agree with you. Of course because of our mutual our love fore Model 40’s, we could probably talk for ever about that.
Ended at $6950.