With a fresh new cab, the first since 1935, Ford’s 1938 Light Delivery Pickup featured this unique (“Barrel Front”) oval-shaped grille ahead of the industry’s first front-opening hood. This grille can hopefully be massaged back into shape, as it’s a little bent out of shape, as you can see. The seller has this 1938 Ford pickup listed here on eBay in a city I was in recently: Grapevine, Texas. They’re asking $12,500, or you can make an offer for this project pickup.
Beauty and the beast, as in the gorgeous, flowing lines of the 1938 Ford, compared to the monster behind it. The 1938 Ford pickup was part of Ford’s updated models that came out in 1937, and they hung around until the 1941 models were introduced. The Light Delivery models were based on a 112-inch wheelbase, as opposed to the 122, 134, and 157-inch wheelbase trucks. The DeLuxe version had twin wipers, a dome light, a sliding rear window, and more. This isn’t a DeLuxe, unfortunately. Here is a photo of what I believe this Washington Blue 1938 half-ton would have looked like when new, or at least the color.
Ford made a chassis/stake bed and also a very cool panel truck in the 112-inch wheelbase series, along with the pickup as seen here. I have to believe the short-bed (and wheelbase) version is more popular with hot rodders, and maybe even those who would restore this truck back to bone-stock original spec, which would be me. I’m in the vast minority on that, as I know that most people envision a giant (hopefully not Chevy) engine, and 22″ or bigger wheels, along with who knows what else. The only modification I would make, if any, would be adding electric power steering. The wheel color was black, but an option was to have them painted body color. I’m sure a lot of restorations went that route rather than leaving them black.
The interior, trimmed in green “art leather,” was really nice when it was new, and it could be again. It was the only color available, no matter which one of eight body colors a buyer chose. Here’s a brochure image of what it would have looked like. You can see from the brochure image and from the seller’s photos that this isn’t a DeLuxe, as there are no sun visors, no cigar lighter, etc. I would hope that a good upholstery shop could find a good matching vinyl to redo this one. There is padding and covering all over this interior, even the headliner, and it helps to keep noise to a minimum. The seller says this truck comes with the original hubcaps and was going to be turned into somewhat of a restomod, but they didn’t have the heart, since it was so original and solid.
The engine was a big deal in 1938, Ford’s upgraded 221-cu.in. Flathead V8 with 85 horsepower, a nice bump over the 60-hp 136-cu.in. V8. It had 150 lb-ft of torque when new and is backed by a three-speed with a floor shifter (synchros on 2nd and 3rd gears), and a 3.78 rear axle ratio. 4.11 gears were optional. This engine isn’t currently in running condition due to being in storage for so many years, but it turns over and the truck rolls (on four new tires), so that’s half the battle, right? If money were no object, this would be mine. How would you bring back this ’38 pickup: back to stock specs or a restomod?
I have to ask geomechs Member if this is a 1938 or a 1939?
geomechs knows the difference.
see. BF Feb 5, 2022 8:53pm at 8:53pm
Al, I’m assuming it’s a 1938 since that’s what the seller listed it as, and they say they have the original title, which I’m assuming they’ve read. The differences are minor, but I’m just going by what the seller says.
This one pretty much confirms that it’s a ’38. The two years were very close but just remember that the center bar in the grill is straight and narrow for the ’39 and the ’38 has a V-8 symbol at the top. Of course you can always look at the brakes; the ’38 still runs mechanicals and the ’39 runs hydraulics.
Now, if you want to really get picky, you can look under the hood. Early ’38s still ran the 21-stud engine with the 24 morphing in during the production run. They were both classified as 81A (not counting the V8-60 which is another story). I see this one is a 24-stud so that could be anything from a later ’38 to ’48 (59AB).
’38 was the last year for the Third-Brush generator, with cut-out relay; ’39 was 2-brush with a 3-unit regulator, and, I might add, an extremely rare occurance because it was the only year for 2-brush with the fan mounted on the shaft.
Anyways, the rest of the truck is pretty much the same for the two years…
Thank you, sir!
They just keep coming out of the woodwork, huh. Hmm, electric steering, of course, but some may want another update. I believe this truck still has mechanical brakes. Oh no, grandpa, are we going to die??? Relax, actually, old Hank never believed in hydraulic brakes. He claimed mechanical were safer, and an element of merit to that. I never fully understood how they worked, pedal to levers to cables to the individual wheels. I think the big problem was adjustment and brake fade. 1939 was the 1st pickup with juice brakes. I read, this was the “81-C”, or 85 HP. and cost the family farm $590 bucks new, $10 more than the 60hp.( 82-C) A guy I knew in upstate NY, attended a lot of auctions, and he got 2, 85hp. hood sides from one of these, $10 for both. They often went missing on hot days, and I bet someone would pay dearly for those.
A wonderful find, again, has a snowballs chance in Hades of remaining stock, and that’s okay too. Like it or not, our hobby has changed, and it’s great this will be saved, not for its then modern 1938 features, but to keep the style alive.
I think Henry’s motto was “Brakes of steel, from pedal to wheel”. None of those leaky, dangerous fluid brakes for him. Actually, true for a long time, until 1967 when there was federal mandate that all vehicles sold had to have a dual reservoir master cylinder, separating front and rear. Then there was more back up, other than the parking or emergency brake, applied using cable.
I’m glad it’s so far away (2000mi) from me, if it were closer I would have to go and get it. Very sweet little truck. That pic next to the newer Ford tells the story of how the industry has really changed over the years. I would keep it bone stock and daily drive it.
I agree with Howard. It’s 2025 and there’s still neat old trucks like this Barrel nose Ford hiding in Barns waiting to come out. ( hatd to believe) I think Washington blue is one of my favorite colors on Ford’s from the 30’s. And after seeing the restored one got me thinking how nice this would look restored. I hope it gets to a good new home and that someone does something with it.
Oh please please keep this one original! I do love it so.
My first project at 16yo was one of these but a 39, in about the shape as this one and all original. It ran but the trans was bad and only had reverse, paid $150.00 for it, the owner signed the title and said son you have to take it away today. I just needed to get it to my garage 6 blocks away. So I got 2 of my friends, one to follow me and one to stay in front of me and I drove it in reverse on the city streets to my garage. Lucky a cop didn’t see me, (no inspection and threw a old tag on it that I had). I semi restored it to original over 3 years, had the trans rebuilt, redid the brakes, exhaust, kingpins, new glass, some body work and primer, engine tune up, new 16 inch tires and tubes, etc. eventually sold it for about $2000. Next up was my 40 Ford coupe. That was in the late 1970’s.
Days gone by why would you dump money into ugly.
I think you wandered onto the wrong site.
Days gone by, when people actually used correct grammar and punctuation.Take me back.
A few years ago, I found one of these on a farm that was surprisingly well cared for. The back of the cab had no dents, and the rest of the body was in similar condition
I traded my 71 MGB roadster for it. It was a 39, so it had the hydraulic brakes, not the perilous cable brakes. Spent a couple weeks getting it roadworthy. Drove it for a couple of years and went back to an MGB. I will say that the steering on these is not heavy, these trucks are pretty light. The 60 hp V8 was available from 1937 through 1940. They are rarely seen in pickups and make for a really gutless vehicle. At some point maybe 1940, you could even get a 4 cylinder engine. Is used the 9N tractor engine. Not one of Ford’s better ideas.
Scotty, I think you love to turn that knife. I’ve wanted a ’38 Ford pickup all my life; well, 67 years anyways. I’ve been as close to realizing my dream as 5 minutes between my seeing the ad and calling the vendor (one time the line was busy and I came to realize that the deal was being closed at that time).
Like I’ve said a couple of times back, I used to stay with a family who ran a small farm. The farmer drove a blue ’38 Ford pickup and farmed with a ’36 John Deere D. His neighbor had a ’39 Ford Tonner and I could tell the difference between the two grills in a blizzard. Today, I have the John Deere D but the Ford pickup went the way so many used up farm trucks went back in the ’50s. At 72, I still dream of owning a blue ’38 Ford pickup…
I’m in for taking up a collection and getting this truck for you, Geo!