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Stored 50 Years: 1938 Ford Pickup

After having slept nearly a lifetime, this 1938 Ford Pickup is for sale. Claimed to be a good runner, with many new parts, it appears that you may be able to drive this one home. This oval nosed classic is offered for $9,000. Find it here on craigslist out of Mossyrock, Washington. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Scott Armour for the cool submission!

The photos show just enough to give an idea of this trucks condition. The interior still wears brown paint and is upholstered. The steering wheel looks nice having only a few cracks, and the gauges appear to be the original white face gauges. Still glossy and shiny, the dash and some other elements lead you to believe that this is interior is in fair condition.

Dusty, and appearing semi-forgotten, this Ford looks to wear original, or very old paint. The passenger fender has been “balled up” at some point but was half way rounded back out, and spray painted with an off hue of brown. One thing I am excited about is that the cab looks excellent, with no signs of rust or any damage at all. I would hope that the side covers are present, but there is no mention of them in the sales ad. At one point in this Fords past its original flat head engine was swapped out for an early 1950’s ton and a half unit. The seller has the original engine which is also available outside of the sale of the truck. In my opinion the Ford Oval grill trucks are to die for, and this one looks promising after its long nap. Would you pull the trigger on the oval nose?

Comments

  1. Avatar Larry K

    Great find!!

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  2. Avatar RicK

    Neat truck, 38 is one my fave models looks to be in relatively great shape, hardly ever see them this nice and unmolested, well worth $9K IMHO.

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  3. Avatar Jay M

    So nice to know that there are still real barn finds out there after all.
    This is what it’s all about…

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  4. Avatar JW

    After taking the pictures in this state of barn slumber I wish the seller had cleared away the junk and pulled it out of the barn for better pictures, otherwise looks to be a nice project for someone.

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  5. HoA Howard A Member

    New day, thank God,
    I apologize to any or all I may have offended. I enjoy Barn Finds, a lot and I thought of returning with an “alias”, but I just can’t do that. I am Howard A., dammit. Lynyard Skynard said it best, “I ain’t hidin’ from nobody, nobody hidin’ from me”. While many of the accusations seem to be of a personal gripe, they simply aren’t true. I’m not a book learned man, so you won’t see any fancy quips ( “back-handed compliment”, pfft, no way, how long were you been waiting to use that one, smh) barely made it out of high school, but I’ve been changing oil since some of you were in diapers, so I know what I’m talking about. If I don’t, I’ll keep my big mouth shut, and hopefully learn something @62 years old. We shouldn’t have to go into why we are the way we are, not enough room here, but hopefully, we can get along, dance around the ones that piss us off, and meet at a common ground, classic vehicles.Viva la Barn Finds!!!
    SO,, the ’38 (9) Ford truck is indeed a rare one. 2 years only, but it was a fairly popular model. I’ve seen more straight trucks than pickups. One theory on the missing hoods sides, well, 2 really, 1, on hot days, these were usually removed for more air, they ran hot and 2, these hood sides have become collector pieces to hang on a wall, I kid you not. Last summer, while at an auction in NYS, 2 of these hood sides came up. With the “Ford emblem” and “85” (hp) on it. My friend asked me what they were, because he knew I’d know, and they sold for $50 bucks a piece, and my friend bought one, to guess what,,,,hang on his wall. If the owner doesn’t have them, good luck prying them off someone’s wall. Got resto-mod all over it, which is cool. Wonderful find. http://www.desertclassics.com/DC7/image/Ford39x1TonFB2.jpg

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    • Avatar Ralph Robichaud

      Kudos to you Howard A. Indeed, be your true self, no sense knowing you otherwise.. I’m ten plus years your senior, and like you somewhat feisty.
      I too love Barn Finds, and enjoy the varied opinions, even those I think are all wet. I have owned over 50 vehicles in my short time on this earth, some good, some less so. Currently, I favour 40 yr old vehicles for two reasons- they are reasonably affordable and sufficiently modern to offer relative safety and performance to meet todays driving conditions. I think most of us have one or two favourite brands- me #1- Mercury #2 Chrysler.
      Keep posting your views….for us to enjoy.

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    • Avatar G2

      So…..’changing oil’ makes one an expert on nearly every car posted…who knew..??

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      • Avatar G 1

        Grandma changes my oil.

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  6. Avatar Big Mike

    My Dad owned a 38 for some years one of very few trucks he bought and restored for himself, as he always put it when you do body work for a living you don’t want to do it or really have time for yourself.
    One of side panels was missing from it when we found it, so my Dad always the sheet metal man he was made a set for it, he had one as a pattern so he made them. Some years later he found a set bought them with the plans to repair and install them, but his looked so much nicer he never did replace them. Sadly he sold the truck and I wish at the time I would have had the money for it I Loved that truck and wish I had it.

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  7. Avatar jeff6599

    Unless it has been converted, the hydraulic brakes are a giveaway that this is a 1939 model. ’38s were the last of the mechanical, cable operated brakes.

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  8. Avatar geomechs Member

    First of all, I’m a little upset that suddenly the notices for BF aren’t coming through; I have to access the website to check things out.

    OK, enough of that. When I was four years old, I used to stay with a family who ran a small farm about 5 miles from town. They must have wanted a boy but all they could have were (2) girls, so I was the ‘adopted’ boy. The farmer had a ’38 Ford pickup for his farm truck. I remember it well; it was dark blue (which I’m sure translates to Washington Blue) and dirty white wheels. I well remember the chrome trim (Dale, the owner told me that it had a deluxe cab). We used to take that truck out to the field where Dale did his farm work with an unstyled (1936) John Deere D tractor and (I think) an 8 foot chisel plow. I rode around for hours on the tractor with Dale, never being bored. He even let me steer it around.

    Dale taught me a lot about the old Fords. By the time I started school (fall of ’59) I could tell the difference between a ’38 and ’39 Ford in a blizzard. I also knew that ’38 models had mechanical brakes while the ’39 debuted hydraulics.

    Since it was just a farm truck Dale got rid of it and upgraded to a ’51 Dodge but kept the old tractor as a conversation piece (I guess). He went through several trucks and tractors through the years although he still kept the tractor.

    Today I have the tractor but I sure wish I could find the truck. I’ve followed up leads for ’38 Fords and have been as close as 15 minutes too late. It has been a dream/journey that is now 50 years old. Interesting that during that time I acquired a ’47 Ford pickup, a ’38 International pickup and a ’35 Ford pickup but no ’38 Ford. Unfortunately my stable is full so the prospects of finding a ’38 Ford within striking distance are withering away. Maybe if I win the Powerball?

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    • Avatar Dave Wright

      I have had the problem with notices for a month or so……..couldn’t get a good answer from the guys. Great story Geomechs.

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    • Avatar Jesse Staff

      Which notifications aren’t coming through for you geomechs? We will get it fixed asap.

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      • Avatar Dave Wright

        Notifications of new comments on subscribed or commented submissions in my case.

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    • Avatar Jay M

      GeoMechs,
      Not sure where you live, but these are still around in Canada. Here in Manitoba, just east of Winnipeg, the custodian at my sons school has 4 of these in his back 40. 2 pickups and 2 flat beds.
      A friend of mine about 15 mins north has 2 on his farm.
      Complete, well used slightly rusted farm trucks that make it out to the local car shows.
      I can think of another 1/2 dozen in fields in Saskatchewan, visible from the #1 highway.

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  9. Avatar Dennis M

    Given the thickness of the sheet metal on these, that fender should be right as rain after some time with a dolly and a body hammer. http://www.eastwood.com/ew-7-piece-professional-hammer-set.html

    I hate to admit it, but more than 50 years ago I was an Auto Tech student at SUNY (State University of NY) Morrisville. In body class we had to bring in a fender from a junkyard (remember those?); the instructor would give it a solid whack with a length of 1″ pipe and we had to bring it back using only a dolly and a body hammer.

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  10. Avatar Loco Mikado

    This one brought back memories. Still kicking myself after all these years for not buying a ’38 Ford PU with a 389 tri power with a B&M 4 spd Hydramatic with all tuck and roll interior for $300.00 in good condition, in primer. 1969 and all it needed was a paint job. All the what ifs in my life.

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  11. Avatar Rex Rice

    Years ago, someone gave me the front sheet metal from a ’38 pickup. Grill, both front fenders attached with headlights in place. It was perfect yard art until another someone stopped by and bought it, for $20 if I remember right.

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