Assembly Required: 1938 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Ford lost the sales game to Chevrolet in 1936, so their automobiles for 1937-38 would be all new. The redesign enabled Ford to reclaim the top spot in ’37, but an economic recession in ’38 would erase all the hard-earned gains. The seller’s 1938 “5-Window Coupe” was last on the road in 1965 but was partially disassembled for a restoration that has never taken place. So, someone else can restore it to like-new condition or go the restomod or Gasser route if they’re ambitious enough. Located somewhere in Missouri, this Humpty Dumpty is available here on craigslist and waiting for the right buyer at $12,500 OBO. Another tip brought our way by Barn Finder Gunter Kramer!
When Ford introduced its new cars for 1937 to dealers, they threw a hell of a party. They brought 8,000 dealers in by special trains to witness the unveiling of the all-new machines. The styling was considered innovative for the day, but Henry Ford’s decree that they be shortened a tad from 1936 led to some awkward proportions in the eyes of many critics. Production jumped to more than 921,000 units in ’37, but economic woes and gains by competitors caused the ’38 output to drop to just over 415,000 vehicles.
Though 1938 was something of a dark year, Ford managed to build its 5-millionth V8 and its 26-millionth automobile overall. The so-called 5-window coupe which carried two passengers came in three trim levels and they all added up to more than 56,000 copies in 1938, one of which was the seller’s car. It’s equipped with Ford’s 85 to 90 hp “flathead” V8 and the mileage is claimed to be only 13,500. This makes one wonder how a car only traveled that distance in 27 years (1938 to 1965).
While the Ford here was taken apart sometime after 1965, the health of the owner prevented a restoration from getting underway. The seller is willing to pack it all up and deliver it to a buyer in either California, Nevada, Oregon, or Arizona (why so far away?). No mention is made of any extra charge or whether that service is built into the deal. We can’t tell if the Ford is complete, so getting an inventory of what’s there would be a good idea before committing.
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Comments
12.5k, that boat sailed long ago. I have seen nice copies, original and rodded in the high20s to mid 40s range. I guess you get the meth lab equipment and a distributor contact with this beauts purchase.
Pleasant surprise: The air cleaner is on the carburetor! And for all the whiners, there is no continental kit. Yeah, I agree, the mileage certainly is suspect, especially for a vehicle which was often a choice of traveling salesmen.
Proof that there are still “barn finds” out there.
yep….looks like orginal miles over and over again….
Days gone by
Days gone when I’d pay that kind of money for this one. Don’t see anything it doesn’t need.
12,500? I think this car won’t be leaving the barn anytime soon. I had a 1939 standard tudor for sale after my dad passed. The car was completely original, glass, paint, interior. The rub was- he wrecked the nose of the car. It too was disassembled and all the parts were cast throughout the building it was kept in. The new parts were in there too, perfectly painted to match the stunning condition of the car, but he never decided to reassemble it. I sold it to a buyer for 8000 dollars and threw in everything 1939 Ford standard that was in the building. Extra grille centerpieces, hood ornament/latches, gauge clusters, and even three Ford radios for the car.
People are getting greedy with these prices. I was in a position where I had to get the car sold, and I realize that others may not have that situation, but this 38 in the article will need absolutely everything done to it. 12,500 is too steep.
Cool car, but 12.5k is way too much for this one. Make a really nice street rod though.