When it comes to Barn Finds we see a varied assortment of vehicles. Some are really only suitable for parts, and then you get the occasional pot of gold like this Ford. Located in Capistrano Beach, California, and listed for sale here on eBay, this 1932 Ford is for sale with a clear title. It is offered with a BIN of $50,000 and there is no option to make an offer.
I am fully aware that this car represents a major investment, but we really need to examine the details to see whether the price is justified. The car’s current owners have had this Ford since 1974. Over the years they have worked away on it with the goal of building the classic 1950s sleeper hot rod. They changed tack in 2006 when the decision was made to hand the car to Roy Fjasted of West Coast Street Rods with the brief to create the best 1932 Ford in the world, with neither time nor money being a hindrance. Roy finished his part of the contract in 2011 and the car returned to the family for the finishing touches to be added. Fate then stepped in when the family’s car aficionado was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2016. The family have now decided that the time has come to move this amazing car on to another enthusiast to be completed and enjoyed.
There are a few sights that I really enjoy in the motoring world, and one of my favorites is a nicely detailed flathead V8. Not only does this qualify, but it sports the muscle to back up the good looks and the seller is happy to put any prospective buyers in touch with the people who built the engine to verify the work that has been done.
The body is absolutely immaculate. The fabrication work that has gone into every detail of this ’32 is beyond words. The amount of time undertaken with such tasks as hand scraping and stripping the insides of the doors to remove every trace of corrosion, of fabricating brackets for transmission mounting, of hand-sanding axle housings to achieve a perfectly smooth finish just boggle the imagination. The seller states that when the car was returned in 2011 there were only four tasks left to complete. They were to fit new glass, to fit a new headliner, to fit new tires, and to have a custom interior made and fitted to the car. These tasks remain to be completed and the seller states that the interior in particular has remained unfinished to allow the new owner to leave their own mark on the car.
This is an interesting car. I am fully aware that it is not cheap, but it’s worth looking at the advertisement as there is a detailed list of the work that was completed by West Coast Rods between 2006 and 2011. The sheer intricacy of the detail work is astounding. If you are considering taking on a build like this then I would really suggest that you look long and hard at this ’32. There is still enough work left for the new owner to put their own mark on the car, but the worst of the fiddly work is done. In fact, even if you have no intention of buying this little Ford still go and read the ad. It will make your head spin!
WOW…….just…….wow
Please Lottery Gods!!! Please! Now is the time for the correct 6 numbers on one ticket!!! Please, please please, please, please!!!
50,000 for a hot rod that is not done ? Wow🤔
I bet you’d be very hard pressed to find a good car to build and then do all the work that has been done to this car for the $50,000 they’re asking.
I read about 4 lines of the work sheet descriptions. Then, I just scrolled down through it. WOW! That thing is extensive. If anyone else had done all this work, the asking price would not seem out of order.
Meh. Impressive, of course. Not at all unusual especially for a rod shop. I’ve logged everything I’ve done in restoring an MG Midget part time since 2010, down to each time the tank is filled and tag renewals on top of cosmetic and mechanical stuff. It is extensive. The log will go with the car. I’ve done this on every car since I first restored one in 1976. I wouldn’t waste space on an eBay listing with it though. Seller could have used all that space to throw on some pictures of the whole car rolled out of the shop and maybe a walkaround video.
pass on the price.
That has to be the longest eBay ad ever!!
You may be right, but they did NOT post pages 2 & 3.
Five years later and Roy was still messing with the radiator hoses.
Okay. I am curious. With such provenance and an ask of $50k, couldn’t the seller post at least ONE photo of the whole dang car? These listings make me laugh. The owners think they have solid gold, but only add tiny old photos on to create the listing. Wordy fella, too. So I get the emphasis on the in-process photos but — jiminy christmas — throw us a bone by rolling the car out of the shop and taking a picture THIS WEEK!. Better yet, how about a 360 degree walkaround with a link to the video on the listing?
Love all ’32 Fords including this one, never seen almost a minute by minute detail and with very few pictures on ebay or anywhere as someone else pointed out. Might have done better with more pictures and a lot less detail. Still a beautiful car if you like love 4 doors.
This is a fine example of the perils of being in this segment of the hobby at this time in history. The advertiser is doing his best to justify as high a price as he hopes he can get. With the long list of professional services/parts listed it wouldn’t be a surprise that the add up on the invoices and original costs for the car come close to six figures. The saying that’s popular today with hopeful sellers in this situation is “You can’t build it for what I’m asking”. Yep, true dat………but that’s not going to sway very many, if any, of the buyers that might be out there. There is a chance that if the absolute, just right buyer for this car sees this and is properly motivated and financed that it could sell for his ask. In reality his chances of finding that buyer are kinda slim.
Irony for me; my ’32 tudor sedan project is in roughly the same state of completion, my flat motor isn’t quite as fancy, but similar, color is different, but freshly done. Mine is slightly more traditional in tone, but similar. If I could get $50k I’d let it go in a heartbeat and take my beating…………..cause it ain’t ever gonna be worth any more.
Love it, but would expect it to be done for $50g…..best of luck to the sellers and the next owner.
50 grand for a completed auto yes, looking at doing quality finish even by self how many 1000 more?
Stop and think of all the times we find partially and even fully completely done for far less than what some owner fabricators poured into them.
Dumping a money pit by inherited is not uncommon, with a lot of times a middleman wanting a cut of action running sale.
Personally I prefer 32 sedans over coupes, sharing the aura with others aboard, and while I like older period rods this is such, and IMO ,30-35k max.
It will be going to an overseas buyer with no issue with the price…..
This might be Ed Rincon’s 1932….
I would love to own this car! Thats a whole bunch of cash needed to buy it tho! Great start to a beautiful car!
It will be gone just before you change your mind.You couldn’t duplicate for this price.