With an alluring appearance, this ’35 Ford 5 Window Coupe looks complete. In running and driving condition, this Ford apparently isn’t as great as it appears according to the seller. We are curious about this one, as it does look to have some potential. Priced at $6,500, we still are interested in this great looking Ford. Find it here on craigslist out of Bethlehem, Connecticut. Thanks to Peter R for the submission!
With little information in the description, this Ford is still a curious one. At a quick glance this Ford appears not too bad off. There is some surface rust sprinkled over this one, and it would appear this ford has been a couple of colors, one of which being an Ox Blood like burgundy color. Looking closer, there are some dents and dings but the body looks relatively straight. There is certainly rot present in the lower section of this Ford, but it is difficult to get an exact idea of this Ford’s condition. The passenger running board appears to be a 2×6 wood plank, and the driver side running board is rusty but present. This Ford does have the cool flip out windscreen, and the glass overall looks nice. Again the car appears very complete, but the seller has deemed that it needs frame work and body work. So perhaps this is more along the lines of a parts car? The seller does mention that it has a Mercury Flat Head V8 in it, so the running drivetrain is a plus, and the seller has a title for this Ford as well. What would you do with this Ford? Use it for parts, or something else?
My Grandfather had one. All original with the rumble seat. The black paint looked a mile deep with the green apple pin stripe on it. My fondest memory was when he let me drive it back from town one evening after we had dinner before I left for Basic Training. The inside smelled like moth balls to save the interior. A beautiful car and a powerful memory.
I had heard a rumor, that odd year Ford’s of this vintage,( ’33,’35) for some reason, were spared the street rod conversion. Does anybody know if that’s true? I can’t believe this car hasn’t become one, but rest assured, it will now. Can you imagine buying some property, and the previous owner says, “oh, yeah, there’s an old rusty car in that shed”, and THIS was that rusty car! Quite a find.
Hi Howard. I read an article in Reminisce Magazine about a guy buying an acreage in a wooded area just outside of a small town. His intentions were to level the ramshackle buildings and build anew. When going through an old garage he came across a partially disassembled car. Further investigation revealed that he had inadvertently bought a ’32 Ford B roadster that was in pieces yet complete. The guy was a carpenter (I think) but in that moment he added car enthusiast to his list of credentials. He took on the job and completed it to almost concourse condition–and drives it. Of course I can’t help but wonder why I wasn’t the lucky one. Then again, my ’49 Chevy was a barn find so why am I complaining?
I think this may the rare car that is BETTER than the description. I’m sure it could be brought back, even if the frame is shot. Would love to see a shot of the underside. Price is a giveaway if it is anything like it appears.
I have no doubt that there are torches being drug out to take this one down and turn it into another jagged piece of modern sculpture. And they have every right to do so. However, it should get a driver-quality restoration and enjoyed. Keep the Merc in if you want. So many of these (’32 -’37 Fords) fell victim to hot rodders that very few of them exist in their original battle regalia today. Don’t get me wrong, some hot-rodders did a pretty nice job but original flatties are.
Howard A, I have been a Hot Rodder since I was 14, and I have owned my 34 Coupe (a hot rod) for 55 years, and I have never heard such a statement about odd year cars. The pecking order for early Fords is pretty simple, even if you don’t agree. Price does not lie. 32 Fords first, 33 & 34 Fords second, then a toss up some model A’s and 40 Fords. 1935 to 38 not so much, but because of supply and demand an increase in recent years. Also same reason demand model T’s are not in demand. Fat Fenders 41 to 48, still the most reasonable priced. Of course throw in body style ,and it tweeks the formula, Open cars first , coupes next, then sedans. Woody’s really mess with the price structure. Also when I say Hot Rods that is only for 27 to 48 Fords. These years of Fords are considered the “traditional” Hot Rods!
I’m sure this explanation will bring out the Nay Sayers!
Joe….pretty much agree…..this old Ford’s not bad at the price.
I see a hot rod in this cars future. I’d keep it simple, mostly original in appearance, but with modern safety equipment and drivetrain.
The great thing about metal is it can be repaired, we have these things called welders and they can attach new metal in places where corrosion has taken hold. There is no reason that the body can’t be removed and the frame repaired, in fact I’ll bet there are reproduction frames available at a reasonable price. My vote would be to restore simply because there are thousands of hotrods out there already. I saw a nicely done street rod at a car show last year and got talking to the owner he told me that it was made from scratch from reproduction parts. He said he went that route because in the long run it was Cheeper than buying an old one and then having to restore. You would not have been able to tell that it was a total reproduction. So if some one does hot rod this car I hope they have the presence of mind to sell the engine and all other mechanical parts onto a restorer rather then scraping them, as the parts are getting hard to come by.
Bought a 35 Ford like this with two friends in 1966 from the corner gas station in our small town for $75. We bombed around in it for months, alternating between our three houses since none of our mothers would let us keep it. Drove it to the dragstrip and made a few runs, getting a trophy for its class. Cracked a rod on the way home, but made it back anyway. My buddy parked it in the woods just outside of his parents’ driveway and pulled the engine for a rebuild. He later got a 383 out of a wrecked 64 Dodge Polara and planned to put that engine in the Ford. Never put the two together – the Ford sat for 25 years before being sold, and the motor was kept for 45 years.
Do you remember the old stock cars that were the coupes from the 30& 40s a lot of them were in great shape but at that time no one was interested in antique cars, sure did love going to 5 mile point in Kirkwood NY to watch them! Now know how much most of these cars were worth! Times change!!!!!