Fresh from the barn and just the way I like to find them, this 1938 Ford is a solid running machine with a whole lot of character. After some maintenance and a few new parts, this Ford is a driver and looks to need little if you like the as found appearance. You can make this Ford yours for the buy it now price of $12,000. Be sure to check this one out here on eBay out of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
At some point in time the original flathead V8 was pulled and replaced with this later model 85 horsepower engine. Since receiving a new gas tank and a 12 volt conversion, this Ford is driven often and is a fully functioning classic.
The as found character that graces the exterior can also be found inside. Draped with a piece of canvas, the front bench isn’t too bad off, but I can only imagine that the bench seat is ripped up under the cover. The passenger door panel is rough, but if you are on board with the look of this find, then leave it as is. A revamped interior would be a bit more pleasant, but considering the age, this interior is better than most 80 year old cars.
While we can all appreciate a mint condition survivor, or a restored machine, there is something to say about the character this Ford has to show for its 80 years of life. The seller has boldly stated that there is no rust in this Ford. Looking the pictures over, it seems to be a believable claim. There is some obvious surface rust, but it looks as if the rot skipped out on this Ford. The paint finish is a myriad of colors which to be honest resembles that of a pair of heavily worn jeans. Remarkably the body is quite straight, and as a whole this Ford is an awesome find that could easily be enjoyed in its current state. Do you think the paint finish of this Ford is too far gone, or just right?
A “barn find” with an alternator???
It says right in the description that it’s a 12 volt conversion
Wow, I just want to bring it home, resurrect the interior, upgrade the tires and wheels and just drive it.
Very cool car!
The 85 hp engine was available in 38. It came in the deluxe.
I’d see how much the original paint cleans up. Rustoleum the running boards,maybe spruce up the interior a tad, Then Cruise, Nothing like the purr of a Ford Flatmotor!! Good luck to the new owner!!
Cheers
GPC
Nice find! This one is worth getting into safe running condition and driven.
I’d more common than not that pre-war Ford V8s had engine swaps. Ford, itself, offered reconditioned engines via its dealers to owners of Ford vehicles after WWII to get them back on the road.
It’s a Ford Standard not De Luxe so would have came with a V8 60 with the 6 as a option.Single tail light and single wiper. A lot up dated to 85h.p. after WWII. I think Standards are rarer today as even in 1938 they were the working car for farms and such.
The 85 HP was also available as an option in the Standard models. All Deluxe were the 85, the Standard could be had with the V8 60 or the V8 85.
I don’t believe Ford ever offered a 6 cyl in the thirties.
The small 60 hp V8 was dropped with the arrival of the the flathead six for 1941.
A nice, modern (for 1941) flathead six with full pressure lubrication. Took the wind out of Plymouth’s sails. Prior to 1941 Plymouth was doing a slow but sure catch up to Ford in sales. After 1941 Plymouth’s fight became to remain in #3, especially when Ford replaced the flathead six for an ohv six for 1952.
The Ford Standard models of 1938-1940 actually used the previous year’s DeLuxe body / styling with a modified grille. Which is why the rear end of the 1938 Standard is pure 1937.
I dunno. Every time I look at a car like this, I can’t help thinking how nice it would be if brought back to factory-fresh condition with nice paint, good upholstery and maybe some replating here and there.
To me, a restoration is at least as “original” as “patina.”
That’s not a knock on the “make it work and drive it” types. I’ve been there and done that, too. Just a preference.
The Ford offered engine swap was smart on fords behalf it kept people in their fords a little longer and was a good way to show customer service when it came time to trade in and buy new. I’m not a Ford guy but I do like there early pre war cars as well as there post war cars right up into the early 50’s. As is the case with many of you I too would love to have this car in my garage, I how ever would do a simpathetic restoration. I’d do the usual dress up the interior and I’d repaint it but I’d use single stage gloss paint in original colour. And I’d go through all the mechanical systems.
My dad was not the most knowledgable guy when it came to buying vehicles, but he would never have one whose finish was in this condition. Even his last one, a ’36 flatback Fordor, was still a fairly shiny black when he paid $25 for it. Granted, that was in 1957 … But my point is that although running condition is paramount, it does need to look good, if not exactly showroom-fresh. If I’m looking at a car my dad might have bought, I somehow can’t help having his eyes and (to a lesser extent) his prejudices. So if I were thinking seriously about making a move on this car, I would be scouting for body shops and upholstery too.
I’m definitely not in the “patina” camp. That’s because quite a few of my cars when I was young had a lot of “patina.” Or, as it was known then; rust, worn/crappy paint, Bondo, dents, primer and tatty interiors with bits and pieces missing. I don’t want cars like that these days because I’ve had too many of them way back when. This nice old Ford should be painted with a refurbished interior after you get the mechanicals sorted out and/or upgraded. Get is to sparkle and folks won’t think you’re too broke to restore it. I certainly understand the “patina passion” but it’s not for me.
I agree with you also fordguy no matter how you look at it “patina” and a rust bucket are the same thing even if it is just surface rust why not clean it up and or fix the rusted spots and repaint the vehicle in it’s original color instead of leaving it rusty and crappy looking
Thank you Fordguy1972. Totally agree
Me Too
Did these have a crank out windshield like that knob on the dash suggests? I don’t remember.
yes
Now this is how we found ’em 50 years
ago. Back then, it seemed that you, or
someone you knew was talking about
an old car stashed away in a barn or
garage somewhere. In my.hometown
and the surrounding area, there were
hundreds if not thousands of cars like
this in storage at any given time. Some
were pristine examples while others
looked like the car pictured here. Dad
and I made extra cash by buying some of
these cars, getting them running, and
selling them on as used cars. If we’d
have found this car, we would’ve bought
it, fixed what needed to be fixed, painted
it, and the put a set of Farm & Fleet seat
covers on the seats, and then sold it to
some 16 year old that just got their license to drive. I can’t begin to tell you
just how many cars we sold that way,
but ut was quite a few. And yes, the
windshields did crank out on these.
It was in ’39 that they were permanently
attatched to the roof. This one reminds
me of one we found on a farm outside
Gridley, Illinois. The only difference was
that the paint and interior were better
shape than this. Think we drove it back
home too. Ah the good old days!
The world doesn’t need another metallic orange, brown interior, Auto metered, billet do-dadded street rod. Just restore to driver quality and enjoy.
At a third the ask, this would be a fair, not a good, buy.
Happy Motoring!