With the advent of Chevrolet’s six-cylinder motor in 1929, Ford was left in the proverbial dust, still limping along on four cylinders. But Henry had a secret: for some time, out of sight of prying eyes at the back of Greenfield Village, a small crew was working on a V8 that could be mass-produced. By then, the V8 had been around for over two decades ( after its invention by a Frenchman), and in fact, Lincoln was using a V8 to compete with Cadillac when Ford absorbed Lincoln in 1922. But these were specialty engines, handcrafted for luxury cars. Ford wanted to make millions of V8s and quickly. Bringing this new engine to market meant revolutionizing casting methods, changing steel formulations, and slenderizing components for weight savings. After several years of development, Ford’s V8 was introduced to the world in 1932. It took up residence in the new ’32 Ford Model 18, and a star was born. Here on eBay is a 1934 Ford Model 40 five-window coupe, with the seller noting it was purchased from an 87-year-old who was still driving it and that the car has “never been touched”. The asking price is $45,000 and the car is located in Owatonna, Minnesota.
The interior is excellent given the car’s age, with only minor wear on the mohair seats. The headliner looks nearly new. Though not visible here, a change for 1934 was a painted faux woodgrain dash; before this, the dash was bare metal. After the Model T, Henry abandoned its odd driving set-up and moved to what we think of today as conventional – gearshift on the floor, and a gas, clutch, and brake pedal.
This car retains a 221 cu. in. 21-stud flathead eight-cylinder motor. These motors were made between 1932 and 1938, but subtle differences can narrow that window. Heads were at first cast iron, then aluminum; the blocks were ventilated or not; and the position of the water pump changed. If this is the original block, it produced about 85 hp, a big improvement over the 65 hp in 1932. Rebuilding a 21-stud can be challenging as parts are rare and expensive, but they are notably durable. The original transmission is a three-speed manual. The seller indicates that this Ford runs and drives.
Someone sprang for the Deluxe trim level, with dual horns and cowl lights. The car has also been fitted with fog lights. The radiator emblem cost extra. In the back, this one has a trunk rather than a rumble seat. Subtle style changes flowed through the bodies of the early V8s, but the biggest change was from the 1931 Model A to the first 1932 cars when the wheelbase was lengthened and the sheet metal was modernized. While the five-window is a desirable body style, the seller’s price seems a bit heavy compared to this example bid to about $37k just the other day. What do you think of this well-preserved V8?
A bit pricey but a beautiful car. The 32s and 33s really did start a styling run that had Ford producing the best looking cars ever built. Creative designs, but with only small upgrades on the running gear they really took over the 30s.
32 Fords are great but 34 has that wonderful grill. A testament to the build quality is this car. Yeah the 32 V8 had some issues but first year and metallurgy has come a long way. These flat motors are tough. Have seen quite a few wake up after sitting many years neglected. You know Henry was also playing with an X8 configuration at the same time, if he would have made that work? Anyway this is a great car, restore or early hot rod with correct speed parts. All the beans yep, but how many come up?
For me it was love at first sight! 💕 If I had the money, I would drive that little honey. Restore her sleek and sassy. Shiny chrome her and wax her black to beauty.
Great write up Michelle. What a back-story too. The flipper sure scored one from that 87 year old.
Pricy? For sure. But, need I say it? They’re only original once.
And for original this one looks pretty decent.
47K worth of decent? Not so sure.
Sadly, other than “hotrods” and completely original, and/or very top tier restorations, the value of stock cars from this era seems to be fading just a little.
Either restore her or hot rod a bit but don’t put a Chevy motor in it please.
No LS swap, Mike?
no!!!!!!
keep a Ford all Ford
You tell them Mike, keep it true to itself Ford parts only, please
The thing that makes me curious is the tan firewall. thoughts?
Good eye, I asked about that. Seller says there is blue paint under the shabby yellow paint that’s on the firewall, but I always thought these had black fenders – could be wrong about that, maybe that was earlier – and these are blue.
Deluxes certainly had body color fenders and I’m 99% sure by ’34 so did Standards. This is a Deluxe – it has cowl lights and dual horns. (Standards being “last year’s” style came later).
Rather have this than a Delorean. Same money, but this is actually worth something.
$45,000. give me a break, dream on!!!
Last one left ?
Keep it looking stock. Upgrade brakes, suspension and electrical. Keep the flattie or go with modern (Ford) V6 and auto. Doesn’t have to be a hotrod. Just safe and presentable.
These style of cars have been growing on me as of late. Would be cool to run around in one, smoking a stogie, fedora hat and a Tommy Gun in the seat next to me.
I do like the “old” Fords, and this one is nice, although a bit pricy.
Not nice enough for $40k but my favorite of the 30’s v8. With the suicide doors and awesome grill
Everyone thinks too much money, it probably is now ,a few years ago it would have been a bargain. The tan firewall, who knows, by the condition of this car the only explanation is: someone painted it!. Having owned my 34 5-window 60 years ,I am always interested in looking at other cars. This appears to be a deluxe without a rumble seat. The only reason I say that there isn’t a step plate on the fender or taillight. My car was a standard but had a rumble seat, everyone said that was wrong ,even 60 years ago, and it was factory installed. No one has said anything about the accessory turn signals , definitely not 34 Ford. I would love to get a closer look at them.
“Untouched”…? Thats some questionable wiring under the hood…
Oh yeah, price it way, way high!
You paid what for it? A whole fourthousand dollars? You ripped off the poor old man!
Shame on you! That is a $20,000 buy all day long, even for the seller!
Whole bunch of things that are not original 34 here. But, no matter, If it checks out, meaning solid, rust free, no major damage, etc, I could step up and be the ‘odd one’ at the asking price. Things like non-34 wheels wouldn’t bother me. But, I’d want to look very carefully for cancer, and why the right side was re-painted. call me suspicious.
No one wants these original anymore, and for a custom build Ford, the asking price is too steep. People wanting to do a custom build of this model can find one at a much better price. You’d be upside down paying this asking price to spend more money on a custom build.
Excellent point. Original prewar Fords get yawns on the auction block. For the asking price you can get a nice custom Ford with the work already done.
You can buy a custom built early Ford with new everything including, fresh engine, front suspension, brakes, bodywork and paint for $25-$30k.
This would make a nice California kid replica. I believe his had a built flat head as well. I think this is the correct year and model, but correct me if I’m wrong please. Just my opinion. And thanks everyone for the wealth of knowledge everybody shares.
if only I had the Xtra money it would be in my driveway 10 years ago like a stupid man I passed on same car it needed more work but 3000 iv never forgave myself since but like you said beautiful car
It has been at least partially repainted.
Nice ’34. Too bad another starry-eyed ebayer is asking a price befitting a restored car. You can find a reliable driver at far less. Flathead engines were known for overheating and cracking the block. Many were welded and those welds don’t last forever. This car would also have mechanical brakes, since Henry finally gave in to hydraulic brakes in 1939.
Lot of work to be done here. Cutting the price in half would at least limit the losses when you go to resell.
California kid was a 3-window with a mild chop owned and built by Pete C. of Pete and Jake’s fame at the time. It was a SB Ford as I remember. It wasn’t noted for its drive train, it was an icon for its quintessential Hot Rod look and vibe.
$40k is price for an already original restored a few years ago 34 or is priced as a nice driver already gone through with a sbf motor, modern trans and brakes along with upgraded suspension.
As this car sits it’s a $18k-$22k car.
Erik K. I think your numbers are a little off and here is why. The condition of these cars has always dictated the price, No doubt the price is down , so the supply is also down. How can that be? Think about it. The owners of the really nice cars , aren’t selling them, unless they absolutely have too. If they like the car they don’t want to lose money ,unless they are forced too. What would force them? Financial problems , age or death, so what happens supply is down, Quality of cars is down and the price is down. The market is correcting but not as much as you think , because the supply of cars for sale is not as high quality as it was in the past. The quality cars are getting good money not as much as in the past but better than you think.