Ford changed the world in 1932, offering a new V8 engine across its line-up of affordable vehicles. The V8 mostly powered luxury vehicles, but Henry Ford’s vision of advanced manufacturing led to the innovation of casting the block and cylinder heads in one piece. This four-cylinder 1932 Ford Standard Coupe outside Manassas, Virginia greets the sunlight after “50+” years of storage, according to the seller, popping up here on Craigslist of Los Angeles, California. A stout $36,500 asking price buys the privilege of restoring this highly original ’32 Ford. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this long-parked “Deuce Coupe.”
The simple dashboard reminds us that most Ford buyers of the day grew up in the pre-automotive world, practically speaking anyway. My Grandfather rode a mule to school, and his first car was a 1932 Ford Roadster. The roadster featured a similar profile to this feature car. Buyers might prefer that the time spent listing the car some 2200 miles from its location would have been better spent providing some engine pictures. Despite the V8 center caps, the listing describes this coupe as retaining its original four-cylinder engine, a choice that saved buyers $50 at the time and promises to cost the seller much more today. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details.
Tall, skinny wheels and tires, generous suspension travel, and running boards all grew from the necessity of traversing the primitive rutted roads of the day, roads often shared with horse-drawn wagons. The low handle at the rear makes this a “trunk car,” as confirmed in the listing, where a “rumble seat” car wears a handle at the top of the rear panel to access a flip-open rear seat that partially consumes the cargo space. The rear window could be lowered in either for ventilation or conversing with your open-air passengers rearward.
This profile immediately inspires images of countless hot-rod versions of the early ’30s Ford coupe, from mild to ridiculous. While nearly any car can be made to look cool at great expense, the ’32 Ford sports amazing lines in stock form, the perfect starting point for fashioning your dreams into metal. What type of ’32 aka “Deuce” Ford is your favorite?
My ’32 exactly. Upgraded the car with ’46 brakes, ’48 Mercury V8 with slightly higher compression and twin Stromberg ’97s hooked to a ’39 Ford transmission. Actually drove it across the country. Fun car.
If colors look a little weird I had to take the picture off a CD on my TV.
You were stylin’ . Probably the coolest car of the town from then or now .
All cars are fun except for K-cars which are the opposite, frankly.
Bob
Apparently you’ve never driven a built turbocharged kcar. One of the funnest cars I ever had.
Owned an ’86 Shelby Daytona Turbo Z 5 speed that was tons of fun!
It should sell at that if a legit seller…….it’s CL so might be a scam…….
or a flipper, I’ve seen flippers buy cars & never bring them home, just re-sell for more & give buyer the address in a different state. They won’t do any in-person deals & you may not be able to look at the car before purchase, which is a big warning sign..With sending money in advance, one doesn’t know if they are going to be ripped off, very risky.
Never trusted craigslist sellers. But thats Me. I’m sure there are good ones.
Well, Todd, since you asked, my favorite 32 would be a Vicky. Good luck finding one in half way decent shape. If I had a huge barn I might even try to build a fiberglass one, just whip out the credit card. I like the 32 5-window listed here. You don’t find original like this everyday. I would just clean her up, maybe get a modern flathead, rebuild the brake system and drive it. But some big time hot rodder will get it, put a SBC in it, paint it yellow and think he’s really got something. In my opinion, it will be ruined.
Would hope it doesn’t get turned into a hot rod. If I owned this car I’d be picking my buyer very carefully. Even with the 4 cylinder engine they are fun to drive. I’d upgrade the brakes as it can be easily done without being visible to casual observation. The master cylinder is under the floorboard and the later drum brakes look almost identical to the originals.
The deuce did not have juicers…
Couldn’t agree more, plenty of other ways to do a hotrod.
This deserves to be restored as original.
Growing up,we had a ’32 5 window that was just an old car
back then,parked on the empty lot next to our house.Looking
through some old slides,?I found out that my Dad bought it &
repainted it to use as a work car years before.I think he got $200
for it by a couple of high school kids in the early ’60’s.
I totally agree Bob, this car is nearly identical to the one my Dad drove when he was a teenager in the late 40’s. He had the flathead and rumble seat. This car needs to be cleaned up, rust stopped and coated. Preserve don’t destroy the history and what it has become as this jewel has earned that look!.
Maybe Gas monkey will buy it ,chop it,and put a crate 350 sbc in it..
exactly. The world needs another early anything chopped up hacked up and a small block chevy thrown in.
Who cares about automotive history.
I pray that they don’t,!!!
Any body can put a 350 Gm in it but a real man that know anything would put a ford in it. A good built flat head will kill that gm
What if it is a good built GM? Will that good built flathead kill it. Very few people know that Chevy had a V8 a long time before Ford. Just never chose to mass produce it.
Here’s my Grandfather’s roadster. I’d love to hear that someone would take this feature car, make it mechanically sound, and drive it as-is. Does that still happen? I’d actually consider a project like that but, for me, it would have to be a V8, even though the power is not dramatically different. There is limited time in our lives for project cars, and I’d hold out for a flathead just to say I’d owned one. However it goes, good luck to the next owner.
That’s not a roadster.
Hi RKS. Could be. He called it a “roadster,” but I suppose those phrases got jumbled up like they do today.
Todd just FYI roadsters don’t have roll up glass. Google 1930 Ford roadster and look at the images and you’ll see the difference.
Looks like a 30 Sorts Coupe to me.
If you squint. It looks like one o’ them turbo-charged K cars!
CL listing is Los Angeles, car is located in Virginia.
American Pickers
Compare this 32 with a model A. The 32 just looks better. The 32 had a slight tilt to the windshield (about3 degrees) Amazing how a subtle change can have such a large effect.
This 32 is advertised all over, definitely “For Sale”. I don’t know how many times I have tried to explain the definitions of body styles on older cars. It really doesn’t matter. Someone calling it a roadster is just because, there was a time when people just called old cars “Roadsters”, who knows why, it was about the same as saying “Jalopy” not at correct definition,just a description.
Usually not meant as a compliment.
I’d give it juice brakes, a blown flatty some suspension mods to get it a little lower and a wheel and tire change, then drive it like there is no tomorrow.😎
I have owned many hot rods and presently own a 32 Victoria street rod. If the car were mine I don’t think I would wash it let alone change it. Anyone that would make a hot rod or even restore this car is crazy. What a time capsule.
leroy pace restored a coupe roadster in den when finished 6 years later had to take wall down to get car OUT OF HOUSE WON LOT 1ST PLACE AWARDS HIM & WIFE NOW PASSED AWAY SAD
God , I hope somebody does not buy this and do anything but restore it back to it’s original condition. Rest mods suck. Please don’t ruin this fine old iron
Well if your afraid someone in your words is going to destroy it by doing a hotrod upgrade to
it, then why don’t you just buy it to keep that from happening.
Some people list cars on multiple CL locations for more eyes not realizing that smart buyers just enter the car and look over the CL listings through out the country . Have had to tell several customers, just post it once, smart guys will find it.
Careful clean it. Fix what needs fixing. Preserve everything possible and then enjoy driving and tinkering.
A truly beautiful original! It should be kept all-Ford. To
violate it with a GM engine would
be sacrilege,!!
Mercy sakes you guys, it’s just an old car. 🤣🤣
There is probably not a more iconic car than the 32 Ford. Why is it so popular, because it is the quintessential Hot Rod, think Hot Rod you think 32 Ford. There are more 32 Fords built as Hot Rods than Ford ever produced . There are reproductions in glass and steel and 90% are used to make Hot Rods. My point is you people who worry about this car being a Hot Rod are a day late and a dollar short, you needed to start this crusade, after WWII when all the returning GI”s were making Hot Rods and thus sealed the fate of 32 Fords. They were perfect for what they are famous for “Get Over It!”
And a big AMEN!!! to you post.
All I’m saying is that there are enough 32s that were modified,or what I call hacked up that this one deserves to maintain it’s originality.
Whomever buys it should do whatever makes them happy.Original or not. If you think it should be ALL original or rat rod it then buy it and do what you want with it.
Leave it looking stock. Upgrade brakes, put a later Ford 4cyl w/auto. Just make it safer and more reliable. What a nice cruiser it could become.
Bought one like this in 1989, out of a basement . It had been tucked away for over 25 + years then. You never know what is still hidden away. Great find!
Why would you put a piece of crap engine in it. Ford mills suck! If anything, restore it or man up and put a real engine in it. BBC 427.
@ ,BudDite
👍👍👍👍🙂
Compared to the iconic Ford 427, the Chevrolet 427 is garbage. Keep this beautiful Ford all Ford!
The Ford 427 was whether you want to believe it or not a terrible engine for street cars. Ford knew that and went to a different motor. All the while that so called garbage 427 from Chevrolet kept rolling right along.
I’ve owned and raced several of both. The Ford engine was more powerful, had a much stronger lower end, and was in every respect, a better performer. You might want to do a bit deeper research before commenting… personal prejudice doesn’t equal factual research!
It might help if you would read my comment again. I never said it was not a good race engine. I said it was not a good engine for street cars. That is why Ford went to the 428’s and the 429’s. Maybe you better quit racing that 427 and do some research on your own. The side oilers were very expensive also. And the 428’s and 429’s turned out to be their best motors for street cars. Do research before talking about research.
I read your comment. The Ford 428/429 engines were fine passenger car engines. The 427 was developed for racing. It was equipped with hardened, nitrided crankshafts, shot-peaned connecting rods, oversized
cross bolted main bearings. This design dominated racing… LeMans for example. I wish I had a nickel for every Chevy I saw scatter it’s lower end during racing events. If you’re going to build a racing engine, cost should not be a factor. I’ve operated an engine building facility for over 25 years…the Ford engines have always proven to be demonstrably superior.
You might want to go a bit deeper into your research sources.
..
A Motion Performance engine builder who worked there in the 60’s & for over 20 years told me the best engines for speed, durability & weight were the big block chevy’s, though he did say the Chrysler Hemi’s did better on the dyno but their heavier weight was a disadvantage. He also said durability depends on who built the engine & how well the owner treated & maintained it, replacing bearings/rings after a certain amount of runs.