So what’s in a definition? My online dictionary defines Phaeton as follows: Phaeton [ˈfā(ə)t(ə)n] NOUN phaeton (noun) · phaetons (plural noun) historical, “a light, open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage“. Now that we have that out of the way, we have a 1936 Ford Phaeton, sans horse(s) for your review. This beauty is located in Latham, New York and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $23,200 with 35 bids tendered as of this writing.
Ford officially referred to this car in its 1936 sales brochure as a V8 DeLuxe Phaeton with “long trim swagger lines“. Now there’s some advertising department artistry! A companion to the Phaeton was the V8 Convertible Sedan which had a folding top and side “safety” glass with removable pillars. Ford described this model as “combining the advantages of an open and closed car“.
The seller describes this Ford as having, “80% original paint NO RUST EVER!” Well, that 85-year-old 80% is in fantastic condition. I could try to be train-spotter nit-picky but there are no nits to pick. The only thing that really caught my attention is the combination of the battleship gray finish and the tan folding top (which we are told “works perfectly“). It’s not a color combination that I would originally select but it does work, just not perfectly IMHO. If there is one thing to check on a car of this era, it’s the grille, they always seem to take it on the chin as so to speak. That’s not an issue here as the nicely restrained front piece on this Ford is aligned and shines.
Tried and true resides under the hood in the form of an 85 HP, 221 CI “flathead” V8 engine, now in its fifth year of powering an entire variety of Ford vehicles. The seller opines that “This car runs out beautiful. Just back from a 100-mile ride“. The motor shows well, including what looks like recent carburetor work. A three-speed manual transmission, the only choice, backs up the flathead.
The interior is in magnificent condition. Ford claimed that leather upholstery was used on the Phaeton and the seller states, that the interior is flawless. Be that as it may, it’s hard to imagine that the seating surfaces are original. No side windows and 85 years of age will take their toll on many things, upholstery, and fabric in particular. And speaking of no side windows, the seller does have the side curtains. Also mentioned is the fact that the clock and radio still work! The clear instrument panel gauges, which are a nice find on a car of this age, indicate 40K miles of experience though there is no claim being made to that recording.
If we take the seller at his word, this Ford Phaeton is a survivor, 20% of it having been repainted or not. Regardless, it is an exceptionally fine example of Ford engineering, design, and presence from the pre-war period. It’s a no reserve auction and the bids are trending in reasonable territory – someone may end up with a pretty good buy!
Somebody is going to get a real gem in this beauty. Stunning car.
This is a beautiful automobile.
Fantastic looking car, sure someone will have a great driver when the sale is done. I’d love to get this in a parade and show it off.
I live these things! I found a barn full of cars back in ’98 in Pa. The old man had two 40 woodies, a 34 phaeton, two 34 5windows a 29A roadster, 48 Lincoln with leopard skin unholstery and a bunch more. He said the last one was driven into the barn in 69. When he opened the upper level doors the first car I saw was a 39 convertible sedan. I wanted it so bad but he didn’t want to sell anything right then. I left him and his wife my number on about twenty pieces of paper a told them to call and I’d bring cash and a trailer back. Never heard from them and as they were in their eighties then they are gone now for sure. Wonder what happened to all to cars
Mom and dad had one of these when I was very young. Still remember riding in it. The upholstery was long since gone but I still felt like royalty. The back seat and large legroom in the back made it feel a limo to a kid then. Have always wanted one since. Hope this goes to a good home.
I’ve seen lots of prewar cars, here and on other sites, and one item seems to be missing from many of them: The gasoline ration sticker that would have been displayed on the windshield. “A,” “B,” or others, I’m too young to remember that far back, but I have seen photos of some. I can only guess that after the war, people scraped them off so as not to be reminded of that time of war and sacrifice.
Not the original motor, a later model flathead motor has been fitted
“…a pretty good buy…’
nawh, days ta go…
36,1$ now with 3 hrs to go, we’ll see the knowledgable ( & motivated) here in an hr & a half, 2…