I really love the way old Ford’s age, there is just something cool about the patina they acquire. That being said, no one likes rust or the nasty holes it leaves. Thankfully it seems Model Ts and As rust slowly, with many showing only minor rust issues. This ’29 Roadster isn’t exactly a period built hot rod, although it does have a sweet ’40s flathead V8 with all the correct period parts. The body is said to be original, right down to the paint and rust hole in the driver’s side door. To keep it from rusting further, the seller keeps it coated with “wd40 and some oils”. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not, but it definitely has a cool patina! You can find this hot rod here on eBay in Green Cove Springs, Florida.
The seller’s ad is a bit confusing, but from what I can put together it was built recently. The goal for the builder was to create something correct for the ’40s and they did a pretty good job with it, if you ask me.
One of the more confusing, but interesting bits from the ad is that the engine is said to be a crate engine. It isn’t a brand new engine though, it was built in the ’40s, shipped to a Ford dealership, but then forgotten about. Apparently they were able to pull it right from the crate, mount it to a 3-speed and start using it. Talk about an amazing thing to find hiding in an old dealership after being their for 75 or so years!
While I love the way this Roadster looks, I’m a bit worried about the finish and the use of WD40 and some oils on it. I guess they will keep it from rusting! So what do you think of this hot rod? Is it your kind of style or would you rather have it painted?
Also head shows a Canadian built plant.
Nice car!
It’s an interesting Ford rod all right. Call it a cross between a traditional Highboy and a Rat.
The seller needs to get his head around it first, tho, because he doesn’t know what he has. This is not “100% period correct”. It’s a rod with many original parts missing, and some aftermarket parts added. That tells me that the seller doesn’t know much about these cars, or punctuation either.
You are pretty much on your own here, so go inspect it and drive it. Find out if it has an exhaust system hidden underneath so it can be driven in built up areas. I’m guessing not, which would be a limitation. Figure out what you are going to do about the oiled bare body. Does it still have the mechanical brakes, or a hydraulic conversion? Will it pass any inspection you have in your jurisdiction so it can be inspected and insured? Etc, etc. Interesting that the V8 power is from Canada. Is anything about the history of that interesting that should be found out and mentioned?
the Canada made blocks are being reproduced today.hence crate motor.to me if he wanted to keep it lookin like this he should of used a flat clear on it to presurve the look if this,weather real ford or Brookfield.just sayn.
How do you keep it clean? Do you have to wash it and re-oil it after each drive? Serious question, by the way, not being funny.
I was wondering the same thing! I kept thinking about all the bike chains I sprayed with WD40 as a kid and what dirt magnets it turned them into. Plus, how many cans of the stuff must they go through to cover the entire car?
I think a satin or semi-gloss clear coat would work a little better. I would eventually paint it personally..THAT is period correct.
Love it though!
WD-40 will attract rust!
That is not naturally occuring patina. Did you notice how it is lighter in the middle and darker around the edges? It reminds me of the “antiquing” craze of the 1970s.
Funny that some people actually think WD-40 is a form of lubricant. More of a penetrant. But it does make a great hand cleaner !😉
Seller has a poor attitude. In answer to a potential buyers’ question, he tells him to “… go back to (his) little world and grow up.” That’s no way to be a gracious ebay seller. I would tell him where to put his little car.
Wowser, what knowledge lies in front of us. Of course it is not a rat, nowhere even close. By definition a rat is a built up collection of miscellaneous parts to make an operable vehicle. This is an authentic appearing 40s era hot rod, with a 40s engine and 40s transmission; fenderless meaning highboy. Dual straights with a stock cam in a flattie ought to be quiet enough to drive to a church service. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just look at the value in this little investment car. By 2020 it will be worth at least $25k, no matter how much oil comes off on your shirt.
A 32 coupe Is my dream car, but this fits, a flathead, not some modern Chevy small block, a simply awesome car !
Beautiful.
May be feigned ‘patina’ but it’s still stunning.
As far as I am concerned it’s OK if we have different thoughts about things we see here jeff.
I used to read Hot Rod and SCTA mags and some others for decades, at a time when there actually were hot rods on the road a lot, and I never saw a single one in the magazines or on the road that didn’t have any paint, because of what Bill said above.
In fact, if they weren’t just plain black, either shiny or primer, they usually had some pretty fancy paintwork on them, like pinstriping.
OTOH, although there might be one somewhere, I have never seen a rat rod with paint, and I saw quite a few at a big show a few weeks ago, and last year and the year before that and…etc.
I don’t know how that fits with your view of things, but a rod with no paint on it, but with sticky oil all over it that makes it a dirt magnet like Josh said,…well that wouldn’t be my ideal finish over the long term, but to be polite I just called it a cross. Your view might differ, and that’s OK, and I won’t insult you because of it.
Oh boy…Here I go again! First, this very well could have been my best friends car…except the obvious, it was a ’29 pickup. Yes, every morning before school we would wipe it down with an oily rag to make it shiny for the day…It did not have an open drive line and we did not split the wishbones. We used the wood floorboard…well, most of them and the upholstery was a Mexican blanket on the back and a Navy wool blanket for the seat. We used juice brakes from several ’40’s era Fords that worked well enough…better than the mechanical brakes, but just barely. This car has an uprated starter…we used stock six volt stuff…after all, 12v was only on new cars in the mid 50’s. Not original? Let me tell you boys and girls…this is a REAL 50’s hot rod. No modern pro shop stuff…as close to our back yard teenager hot rod as I’ve seen lately. Perhaps this car is a bit fancier than ours…Hey, we were kids using junk yard parts. Was ours safe to drive? Probably not. This one looks better than ours.
Duvall windscreen and off I go!
Looks more like “Fauxtina” to me.
The Canadian heads had a higher compression ratio.
I love it, bet that’s a blast to drive. However, if the comments here are any indication it’s probably not too much fun to take to a show and have to listen to everyone’s opinions on it.
Wash it!? just wipe it down with some oily rags. No water necessary. Love it!
When folks ask why didn’t you do this or that? And proceed to tell me what they would have done, and wear me out about how good their taste is and Blah, blah, blah,
I politely say, “I didn’t build the car for you.”