Update – Bidding on this Ford Express reached $18,400, but apparently, the high bidder was a no-show. It’s recently been relisted and it’s currently bid up to $10k. It looks like a sweet truck, so if you’d love to have it, you can bid on it here on eBay.
From 9/24/2021 – 1935 brought some significant styling changes to Ford, both for cars and trucks. Even some of the larger trucks like this 1935 Ford Express benefited from the enhanced styling. This one, in particular, was used to deliver parts from the factory to the railroad depot, and is a very unusual find – especially in this condition! If you’re a fan of fun and unique vehicles, check out the listing here on eBay. This truck is located in Hastings, New York, with bidding at the time of writing already at $18,000.
In addition to updated styling, 1935 Fords saw changes in construction as well. Wood was no longer used in the cab structure, which is probably one of the reasons this delivery truck has stayed in this good of condition. The seller says there is no major rust anywhere, and the photos seem to prove that. The odometer shows less than 5,000 miles but we are told it doesn’t work. Still, I can’t imagine that there are many miles on this original Ford.
From bumper to bumper this 1.5-ton dually is almost 20 feet long! And it has a curb weight of close to 5,000 lbs, most of that being the extremely long bed. On the plus side, it appears that a new oak floor has been installed. The seller states that it’s mostly driven to and from car shows, but I could also see this being a cool addition to a parade. It has new exhaust and new tires on freshly powder-coated rims, and the livery is still vivid and readable.
This Ford would have come from the factory with a 221 flathead V8 producing 85 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque, but another online listing for this truck from a few years back claims that it has a post-war era 239 flathead V8 installed, making closer to 100 hp. It also states that the carb has been rebuilt, and there are new radiator hoses, a new starter, and new plugs.
The interior is simple, and looks to have maintained a high degree of originality. I don’t know if the seat cover is new or simply infrequently used, but it looks to be in very good shape. The door panels and dash look to be good as well. I’m confused about one thing – this is supposedly a 4-speed truck but I only see 2 pedals in these photos. Is there some sort of uncommon lever or button or something that would have aided in shifting? Ford fans, let me know in the comments! This truck would be an excellent addition to someone’s collection, although it’s not for everyone. If this were yours, where would you show it off?
Ebay picture shows two pedals, one on either side of the steering column. So does your picture. Lots of sunlight almost looses the brake pedal on the right. Great truck!
That’s different…… If you expand the picture the gas pedal is to the right almost behind the shifter stick.
That’s not a delivery body, it’s a fire engine. Look at the hand holds on the rear of the bed.
I agree with you hondo122. If you look at the rear the license plate folds down to allow a ladder to be stored. And if you look up 1935 ford fire engines, many look very similar.
Good eyes there guys. When I saw the rear shot, that was my first thought as well. Looks like a cool old truck. But I wonder sometimes at the “stories” of the history of the vehicles from the sellers. Seems to be a ton of creativity these days.
Seller says “delivery truck that took parts from the factory to the railroad depot”. Sound plausible, but why use a fire truck rear when they could use a more practical flatbed? The factory could have re-purposed their old plant fire truck into a parts hauler. Who knows. Maybe take a closer look at the lettering on the sides.
Yup…this has hose wagon written all over it
Cool looking truck, but I didn’t buy the depot story for a second. Fire truck body, obviously.
What a story. You know, it’s fun to hear the baloney, limited only by the sellers imagination. Can’t fool the “BarnFinds Team”, the low mileage and design, it’s clearly a repurposed fire truck. I like the “twin chimney’s”, if straight pipes, I bet has a quite a bark. The neighborhood may not share those likes, and why the “widow maker” tube tires? Nobody makes a tubeless, 5 hole truck rim, and must be converted to 6 hole. For $3 grand, I’d have just converted the whole thing, doofus. I swear, fools and their money. I believe this was a 1.5 ton model and could very well still have mechanical brakes. While adequate for the 30’s, they take some getting used to. I read, 1939 was the 1st year for juice brakes in Ford trucks. Imagine the new owner, standing on the brake pedal wondering why it won’t stop. And without a 2 speed rear axle, 45 mph, tops. Shows the sellers, and buyers ignorance. Why sink all that money into a vehicle designed for the 30’s, instead of just updating it? People allegedly bidding $20g’s on this, should spend that money on a shrink instead.
Well according to the Ford Truck photo bible (little “b”) “Ford Trucks since 1905” James Wagner says “Fords decision to discontinue the large open Express body type after 1933 was probably a wise move although… I would include a photo from the book if there were that option here but there seems to none. I agree that it seems to be a repurposed fire truck body or truck too, but the Green interior color seems odd.
In the Ford catalogs, the open express is basically the 1 ton sedan delivery with the top half of the body removed. It’s not a separate bed like the subject truck. I haven’t found any record of a dually express.
Earlier trucks had a round metal rail along the top of the bed but no handrails on the back.
It’s possible a dealership bought a firetruck and reworked it years later, but I can’t imagine someone chopping a valuable truck in the height of the depression when there were better alternatives.
How to get right foot from gas to brake?
Fakery! The Ford factory had a railway spurs that came right alongside their loading docks – no need for any “Express Delivery” trucks taking parts to the depot.
Fire truck, one was on ebay awhile back just like it. Patinaed lettering and viola, a fake delivery truck. Over priced by 12k
Kudos to whoever mounted the license plate… no doubt after consuming an 18 pack of Genesee.
Ford dealer should buy this and use it fir parts delivery
This IS NOT AN EXPRESS TRUCK, this is a firetruck…
Looking at the body from all angles…the firewall is a tad different. Dashboard has obvious items misding/ removed from it. The grab rails on the back….wow and it goes on & on.
Whoever wrote this piece has limited knowledge experience with old vehicles.
Basically worth 5k, toooo many old firetruck sitting around. No one ever wanted them so they were rolled away. Only very recently have they started to appear
Like old busses. Who wants them, too much work to reconfigure decently
My bid is $5k
Gas pedal just to the left of the shift lever housing. Just a small rod with a small oval pedal on the end. The ’33 winch truck we took the engine out of to put into a Model A street rod had a 4 speed gearbox. 1st gear was a granny gear and don’t remember any overdrive. Engine had aluminum heads and intake manifold from the factory and really lit up that Model A.
On the Original Listing on Ebay, there’s a picture of the interior of the cab from the passenger side. There’s a very narrow gas pedal coming out of the firewall and staying close to the floorboard; it casts a thin, small shadow on the floorboard, with an odd, almost diamond shape. The brake and clutch pedals come up through the floorboard.
I agree with what’s been said earlier – this is definitely a repurposed old hose-hauler firetruck. Still, it’d be cool to have it, if you had a place to keep it…
I saw this driving outta Hershey a few weeks ago. It looked pretty stout and solid. Not my tea but it was neat.
Yep, Fire Engine hose truck. I’ve restored a 1928 and a 1954. No truck builder made the wide side running boards behind the rear wheels, except for fire & rescue vehicles. This allowed for mounting equipment like hose nozzles, portable lamps, hydrant reducers and splitters, and fire extinguishers, all equipment that would be needed on an “immediate” basis. Each piece was always mounted in a specific location, and every fireman knew by rote memory where they were located.