Ford generated icons of motoring: the Model T, Model A, and in 1932, the Model 18 and Model 40, to name just a few. The Model 40 provided buyers with clean shut lines (doors on the Model A overlapped the body), integrated chassis rails, a lighter frame devoid of wood, and of course the all-important V8. Though America was still experiencing the Great Depression, that V8 managed to spur Ford’s sales from about 250,000 in 1932 to over 560,000 by 1934 – quite a feat in light of the economic realities. More than a dozen body styles provided customers with abundant choices. Here on eBay is one of these icons, a 1933 Ford five-window coupe with a rumble seat. After considerable schooling by Barn Find readers, I can finally state with confidence that this is a standard, with a single tail light and no cowl lamps, among other differences, versus the deluxe. As we’ll see, this car hasn’t been changed much from stock, retaining its all-steel body panels. Plenty of interest has brought the bid up to $35,100 so far. The car is located in Bee Spring, Kentucky, from a seller we’ve seen on these pages before.
From the factory, this car had a 221 cu. in. flathead V8 – a motor that Henry Ford thought might be impossible to produce at one point. The 1933 V8 is good for about 75 bhp. The transmission is a three-speed manual. Ford’s marketing materials claimed a top speed for the ’33 of 80 mph, but in reality, it was likely a bit less than that. The seller provides a running/driving video, indicating that equipment such as the carburetor, air cleaner, and radiator are correct. He doesn’t specifically say the car has its original motor, and there are slight differences from year to year in the 221. By 1934, for instance, this motor was making 85 bhp. The charging system is still a six-volt – one more thing on this car that remains stock.
The interior is very tidy, with new-looking upholstery and door panels. The headliner is nearly perfect. We aren’t given photos of the dash but there’s a glimpse in the video. The front windshield appears to be delaminating; fortunately, that’s a fairly simple fix.
The underside is respectably clean. I confess to some obsession over underside shots – it’s just one more way to tell if the prior owner cared for his car. This car has had at least one sympathetic owner who didn’t sacrifice it to the hot rod gods. I’m hoping it remains this way when it next changes hands; what do you think?
Buy it, don’t touch it, drive it.
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Gorgeous car from what I can tell. I wouldn’t go a thing to it other than normal maintenance, gas and go.
California Kid
Eliminator
Bidding over $35k and still reserve not met..they can keep it bidding has already exceeded what I think its worth
This is down the road from my dad’s house ,the seller always has nice stuff, recently help my dad locate hot rod 55 210.
I’ve always liked the rumble seat cars. As a kid, I got to ride in a few of these and at that age, it was really cool. Not sure I’d want to ride back there now though.
I have been driven in several cars with a rumble seat and in a roadster it is a great ride, however, if it’s in a coupe or a roadster with the top up then it’s like driving into a heavy wind storm.
Nice car, and lots to like, but I agree with Troy. Already over-priced at $35 k. Paint looks rough in EBay photos. Missing foot pads on right rear bumper and fender for rumble-seat access. Possibly a conversion.
I’m not a fan of someone buying an old car that needs 50k to restore that’s why this car is great someone has put a lot of time and money in it and you can buy it for half.
Looks like a ’70s amateur resto. Wheels, tires and interior are awful and the color is likely not an original shade. Way over priced IMHO.
It will be worth whatever the final sale price is. Mostly stock 33 Ford coupes just don’t exist.
And more’s the pity.
Mostly correct is a good description
1933 carried the single venturi Detroit Lubricator carburetor over from 1932. These are very rarely seen on 33s. I had one on my 33 Ford.
Put a 2 barrel on it to make a decent runner.
2 barrel carb didn’t appear until 1934.
16 inch wheels are 1935 wheels.
I’d still be ecstatic to have this car in my garage.
Michelle, you are mostly correct, this car is a standard, with just a few minor nuances and a couple big ones. The standard items that are correct. One windshield wiper, no cowl lights, painted windshield frame, one tail light ,one horn. no mirror clock. A few of the items that are usually considered Deluxe, that this car does have is, sun visors, a cigar lighter and ash tray, dual temp gauge, also having a factory Rumble Seat , missing on this car for a standard or Deluxe is the rear window shade. The bumper guards are there ,but they are not original 34’s. The outside mirror has the same problem. The wheels are obviously not the correct year and size. I am going to skip all other mechanical issues, because I don’t want to start more controversy than I probably already have ,and many of these are just not visible. One big thing is the paint, it looks to be Cordova ,which is a Maroon , typically on a Deluxe the body would be the Maroon and the fenders would be black. Standards were usually one color. This is one item that is very controversial and I really don’t know where to start ,so I won’t. Just keep in mind Henry didn’t paint all his cars black. The one thing on this car I don’t understand is the Rumble Seat it appears to be factory installed ,but that was just De Luxe’s it is easy to tell the factory latch and handle, because it was was all hidden in the car, the handle by the rear window with a mechanical rod opening the lid. The deck lid was smooth, ,as time went on people thought ,it was a custom touch that the owner did. The dealer installs ,has the handles on the deck lid at the top, no rumble seat it was on the bottom. This is only the second standard I have ever seen ,with a factory mechanism. The first is my 34 5 window and I bought it in 1963 and still have it ,and this is the only other one I have seen in that time. Granted ,I haven’t seen every 34 5 window on the planet. But its been fun over the years trying to figure it out. Henry did a lot of these things over the decades, maybe it was on purpose because he knew how nutty car guys are and it would give them lots of stuff to argue about, and its all trivia and it doesn’t matter. I want to be the first to say that ,because I am sure a lot of you are already thinking about it! So right or wrong that’s what I have learned , in over 70 years, of loving old Fords. I will accept criticism, but give me a break, I started this adventure before I was barely a teenager. My memory isn’t as good as it once was
And more’s the pity.
The car is worth what ever the market selling price settles on, today $35k could turn out to be the price. Was less 10 years ago, maybe $100k in 10 years from now. Demand determines price.
Great looking car. It is in better shape that a lot of cars featured on Barn Finds.
people saying its to high.
where you going to find another one like this?
Which says it all about what’s happened to the “collector” hobby over the years.