The owner of this 1947 Ford Super DeLuxe Coupe found it hidden away in a collapsing barn. He rescued it, intending to tackle a restoration with his father, but changing circumstances have led him to decide that it isn’t going to happen. He has decided to list the Ford, which is located in Ravenswood, West Virginia, for sale here at Hemmings. The owner has set the sale price at $7,000, but it appears that this figure is negotiable. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting the classic Coupe for us.
When the owner dragged this Ford into the light of day, he discovered that not only was it complete, but that it is an essentially sound vehicle. The barn roof had begun to leak at some point, allowing moisture onto the rear of the car. This hasn’t damaged the panels or frame, but it has caused the back section of the trunk pan to rot. The buyer could repair this with a patch, but they might choose to spend $230 on a replacement pan. The underside of the car and the frame have a heavy coating of surface corrosion, but the situation with the trunk is the only penetrating rust across the entire vehicle. The paint is believed to be original, and the owner does float the idea of cleaning the car thoroughly and driving it essentially unchanged. That seems feasible, but I can’t help but think that the Coupe would look stunning if the buyer treats it to a complete frame-off restoration. It appears that the trim and chrome are in a restorable state, and there are no significant problems with the glass. If a potential buyer is seeking a classic to tackle as a family project, this old Ford shows a lot of potential on that front.
The Coupe has a 239ci flathead V8 under the hood that would have been producing 100hp in its prime. Those ponies found their way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission. The owner believes that the Ford’s drivetrain is all original, but its condition is unknown. The amount of corrosion present on the engine is a concern, so the buyer will need to hope that the motor turns freely. If it does, there is a chance that the buyer might be able to coax it back to life. However, I would be banking on refurbishing all of the mechanical components because rubber items and seals have had plenty of time to deteriorate.
If a buyer felt inclined, they could treat this Ford’s interior to a clean, throw some blankets over the seats, and then drive the Coupe with the interior untouched. It is a possibility, but I suspect that it would come with some drawbacks. It all looks pretty dusty in there, and a lot of that will have worked itself deep into the cloth and padding. A meticulous buyer might be able to get it looking clean, but there’s a good chance that it would still retain an “aged” smell about it. From a positive perspective, the interior is complete if the next owner wants to undertake a faithful restoration. All of the upholstered surfaces like the headliner, door trims, and seat covers will need to be replaced, but most of the hard trim items appear to be in a restorable state. Given its luxury leanings, it’s great to see that the clock, radio, and heater have all remained intact.
This 1947 Ford Super DeLuxe Coupe is proof positive that some great old classics are still sitting in barns waiting for the right person to liberate them. This car has come so close to being returned to its former glory, but as can so often happen, life itself has managed to come between it and that destiny. I believe that our readers will be split into three distinct groups with this car. Some of you will want to return it to a roadworthy state and retain it as an unmolested survivor. A second group will have visions of a custom or rat rod build, and there’s no doubt that the Coupe is a prime candidate for that approach. The remaining readers will be itching to grab this Ford and perform a meticulous restoration to return it to its former glory. My leaning is towards that last option, but that’s just my opinion. This is a classic where there is no right or wrong answer. There is merely an aching need to return this classic to active duty because it has been sitting in that barn for too long. Would you be willing to take on this project?
These cars have a character all their own. The ones of that era that have been restomoded we’ve seen here on BF really come out nice and are real drivers you can have some fun with. This car, bought for much less than the asking price, could be one of those.
Here’s another gem right in my wheelhouse.
Were this NOT a Ford, I would clean it up, replace the vitals associated with stopping and going, and have a blast like I did with my ’39 Buick from here on Barn Finds.
However, since I used the good version of the 4-letter “F word” one is almost compelled to go restoration of one level or another.
You could almost break even doing a great job. Or, you could go the route of our friend Old Henry of Fordbarn legend and Earl Scheib it and have the time of your life in a super cool Super Coupe..
I would have posted links to my references, but couldn’t get it done.
Just Google “Fordbarn Old Henry” and browse his thousands of miles of tours.
take it your not a Ford guy?
1) Clean
2) Repair as needed
3) Drive and enjoy
What a great find,and in solid shape and for a reasonable entry level price. It will be gone soon. Happy trails to next owner.
The ’47’ Ford is really a nice car from the era, and I like the ’41’ Buicks and Chevies too.
matt
Frame off but only to restore the chassis and suspension for safety reasons and tickle up the interior otherwise just buff it and drive it in my opinion!