The Ford Model B (and its variants) replaced the Great Depression-era Model A in 1932. They are significant because they were the first to use Ford’s new flathead V8 engine and proved popular as modified street racers. The seller has three of the cars from 1933 and 1934 in various states of disrepair, with one of them simply being a shell. Located in Belgrade, Montana, these Fords are available here on craigslist for $4,500, $12,500, or $18,900, depending upon which one strikes your fancy. Thanks for the tip on these cool finds, Gunter Kramer!
There were three variants (Model B, 18, and 40) to the successor to the Model A, which had the misfortune of debuting during the period of the Stock Market Crash of 1929. As a result, they didn’t sell as well as their predecessor, the Model T. Between 1932 and 1934, Ford built the Model B with a bigger 4-cylinder engine than used in the Model A. The Model 18 came along in 1933 and was the first Ford fitted with the flathead V8. That engine was also used in 1933 and 1934’s Model 40. They were consolidated and replaced by the streamlined Model 48 in 1935.
These cars would turn up in all sorts of 1930s movies and later on television. You can’t watch an episode of The Untouchables TV show without seeing a plethora of them running around. Robert Stack, who played Eliot Ness in that show, was a racer in his own right. He’s known to have driven many high-speed hot rods on the dry lakes in California in the early days of the sport. Let’s take a quick look at what the seller has to offer.
1933 Fodor Street Rod
This 4-door sedan was used as a stock car in the 1950s and 1960s but has since been turned into a street rod. From the markings on the car, you can see that some of its sponsors included Blue Moon Bar, Tasty Freeze, Farmer’s Union Oil, and Meissner Brothers Ranch. It’s a running and driving car with a more modern 351 cubic inch V8 and a C4 transmission. Its stacks are functional with exhaust cutouts. Of course, work needs to be done on the body and interior. Asking price: $12,500 OBO.
1934 Tudor
As a 2-door sedan, this one’s body is mostly straight, and its original drivetrain is complete. The flathead V8 is paired with a 3-speed manual transmission and the seller has not tried to turn the motor over. For transport purposes, it will come with spoked wheels and tires, but no title. Asking price: $18,900 OBO.
1934 Fodor Shell/Frame
This is strictly a body and undercarriage and there is some rust. No front clip or drivetrain is present. You’d have to start from scratch here and there is also no title. Asking price: $4,500 OBO.
Interesting collection but over priced. Note: The V8 was introduced in the ’32s as the primary engine with the 4 cylinder offered in the Model B.
Interesting cars, but that 33 is not considered a street rod. Street rods are more refined with interior and paint done. I still call my car a hot rod because even though the interior is done, it’s still not painted.
yea RKS, so many hotrodders’ cars never made it into finish Paint because the owner was never finished making improvements. Would love to see your hotrod! Good luck and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
Thanks I spent a lot of time getting the chassis right and making it safe and a car that is easy to drive. I’m planning on paint this fall. Gotta run I’m heading to a cruise in tonight.
Don’t know if any of the readers have visited an event called “Cruisin the Coast” held during the first week in October, primarily along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Although the pandemonium halted it for a year, it is back and the city daddies are predicting more than ten thousand of every kind of rat-rod, resto-mod and older cars you can dream about. It IS NOT a Con Cours type event. It is for socializing and having pure fun. There are multiple events and many vehicles and parts change hands. It is the largest entertainment event in Mississippi
Cruisinthecoast.com