There is no shortage of ’30s vintage Fords in these modern times! We cover them all of the time here on Barn Finds. And while this example is not the uber collectible ’32 Duece, it is a ’33 Tudor Deluxe sedan o it still gets cred. And of course, it’s V8 powered. This example has an interesting story, so let’s check it out. Discovered by Larry D and residing in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, this Ford is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $14,400, reserve not yet met.
The story around this Tudor is that the original owner purchased it in ’33, barned it in ’55 (it’s still wearing its 1955 inspection sticker) and it has been sitting ever since. The seller states, “Body has absolutely no rust through anywhere“. Nevertheless, it’s peculiar the way the paint has “burned” off the front portion of the fenders revealing what looks like a light coat of surface rust over bare steel. There’s actually quite a bit of surface mung on both the top and bottom side but nothing appears to be invasive. While it’s noted that the grill, windshield frame, and bumpers need to be re-chromed, the grille is nice and intact with no missing teeth.
The 75 HP, 221 CI flathead V8 engine is reported as turning freely but the seller has not been able to get it to fire. I am by no means an expert on Ford’s famous “flatty” but this 62K recorded mile example appears to be original and intact – those radiator hoses look absolutely Jurassic! I am curious about that air cleaner – it doesn’t look like other original pieces that I have encountered, please feel free to comment on that matter. A three-speed manual transmission was the only game in Dearborn in ’33.
The interior is about what one would expect, it’s ratty and deteriorated but not terrible. The fabric seating upholstery has ruptured in places, the dash is wearing a patina of surface rust, the door panels appear to be slowly disintegrating, and the headliner is gravity-bound. It sounds bad, but it’s really typical old car stuff – there’s no doubting the originality. The simple instrument panel is still surprisingly clear.
Unlike today’s auto lineup, multiple body style variations were the way things rolled in the ’30s. Along with this Tudor, there were two-door, three and five-window coupes; a roadster; a cabriolet; a Fordor Sedan, Deluxe Phateon (four doors and a folding top), and a two-door Victoria which was similar to our subject car. Hot rodders always want the three-window coupe but this Todor is not without its possibilities. What’s your suggestion, stock, hot-rod, restomod, custom, or…?
Interesting car. I think the chemical strip used to prepare for rechroming just might leave you without a windshield frame. If asked, which you did, this would make a great street rod with enough drivetrain updates to make it safe and enough paint to make it look cool. Not a lot of these around these days.
As this vehicle appears to present it should be a #1 candidate for a recondition if not complete restoration. Refurb is bringing the old to life again making it usable without destroying the originality. In other words no Mona Lisa with a Bouffant hair style. Restoration speaks for itself.
NICE!!! For an 89 year old car it’s held up very well. Someone’s changed the battleship; the carb would normally be the Detroit Lubricator Single Barrel. The Stromberg 48 didn’t arrive until ‘34…
Question… is this engine one of the series that had aluminum heads? As a kid I helped a friend pull the engine out of a 1 1/2 ton ’34 winch truck that had an aluminum intake manifold and aluminum heads. One of the smoothest flatheads I’ve ever seen or heard. BTW, I’d keep the running gear and update the brakes to hydraulic ’40s plus maybe a 4″ dropped front axle.
The ’33 models were equipped with aluminum heads to combat overheating, I was told. They also upped the compression ratio to just over 6 to 1 instead of 5.5 to 1. That modification apparently upped the output to 75. Unfortunately the Single barrel carb still ran a lean mixture to the extreme outboard cylinders and they could burn valves. I heard that special porting could correct that problem if you still wanted to run that tall ‘stovepipe.’
Bobhess, I like how you think. I would keep it a flathead too, maybe some old speed parts from the 1950’s, lower it a bit, restore the interior & decide later about body and paint.
I prefer the 1933 & 1934 over the 1932 myself, love the look of the grill. The suicide doors on this is soooo cool too. I want this!
Parked when I was born…guess there was not enough room for this car and the rest of us born in 55
This is obviously a very nice example of an un-restored 33 Ford and what they were originally. However, as good as condition as it is, it would still take the same amount of money and time to re condition it, no matter what direction you would choose. Modified or restored, it is going to be allot of money and time. I think the answer to this is strictly up to the new owner. Either choice, if it is done right will result in a very nice car and if not, too bad ,s–t happens and a great car gets destroyed.
“the original owner purchased it in ’33, barned it in ’55 and it has been sitting ever since.”
Oh me of little faith, I have a hard time believing that.
Why?
JO
When a car like this gets parked forever, I always assume the reason they stopped driving it was the that something catastrophic happened , like the motor seized .I’m sure some of them get parked due to the owners age, but it seems like this car would have been handed down or sold off years ago when the owner died
It’s a nice car but I don’t see $14K there.
Get her running with some 50’s speed parts, juice brakes, new tires and Bonney LeBaron interior and top, and you would have a GREAT driver. The price is inching above what feels comfortable, though, at $14.8k.
LeBaron Bonney went out of business a while back. Now Cartouche is the only game in town.
Point taken Harry Allen!
$14k ? Has the world gone mad?
That’s outrageous! Great submittal!
JO
This car was purchased at an auction for 22k reserve is probably 25k to 30k