Canned Coupe: 1938 Ford Coupe
We have seen all kinds of attempts to keep project cars out of the weather here at Barn Finds. From climate-controlled palatial garages to the dreaded blue tarp, the pictures you see on this site are a testament to enthusiast creativity. This one tops them all. Beloved reader T.J. has found a canned car. Well, sort of. This 1938 Ford coupe for sale on eBay in North Richland Hills, Texas was entombed in an old semi-trailer. Instead of rolling it out the back, the seller and his crew simply cut the side open like a sardine can. The only thing missing is a giant key. At a current price of $17,500, is this entombed Flathead Ford a project you would be interested in?
Humans can be incredibly creative when it comes to providing shelter for themselves. Starting with caves, we have seen all manner of ways that people have kept out of the elements. Homes cut into cliffs, teepees, thatch huts, sod homes, wood, brick, and block are all part of our historical record as we have slowly crawled out of the primordial ooze. Finding a way to provide shelter is on our basic makeup. So it is no wonder that car collectors have looked for innovative and expensive ways to store their treasured vehicles.
Whoever owned this forlorn Ford took advantage of a technological shift to preserve this neat old coupe for the next generation. Like a low-rent time capsule, this collector entombed this Ford in an early version of a semi-trailer. These trailers were a part of trucking that passed many years ago. Decades ago, hauling freight was not what it is today. There were some long hauls, but most trucking consisted of short runs between cities and the towns that orbited them. Trucks didn’t have gobs of horsepower or transmissions with dozens of gears. They also didn’t haul huge loads (by our standards) back then. The country wasn’t set up that way.
It wasn’t long before single-axle trailers like the one seen in the pictures above were obsolete. Trucking changed and there was no money to be made hauling small loads the increasing distances that roads and big truck technology allowed. Thus, trailers like this were sold for scrap or scarfed up by creative folks who used them for storage. Like nearly everything else built back then, these trailers were constructed of long-lasting materials and were thus very good at their new job. Some of them are still around after decades of exposure to the elements.
Sadly, I don’t think this one will be with us much longer. The pictures show that the trailer was opened up like a canned ham to get at the contents inside. However, it performed its last job well. The seller’s grandfather entrusted this trailer to store his very first car. This 1938 Ford coupe has spent an undisclosed amount of time in this trailer but has been pulled out and made to run. Powered by Ford’s smaller V-8 60 Flathead, this car is driveable but not said to be driven sparingly.
The car is described as original and the pictures we have back up that claim. We can see that the car was equipped with a sealed-beam headlight conversion in the past. 1940 was the first year that Ford cars were equipped with these much more efficient headlights. Conversions were a popular aftermarket item after people saw the literal night and day difference that sealed beams provided. Unfortunately, a lot of those conversions weren’t as aesthetically pleasing as the original headlights.
While the pictures we see are interesting, it would have been helpful to have some shots of the interior and engine of this interesting Ford. A lot of people are surprised at how well some of these original cars clean up with a bit of elbow grease. With an asking price of $17,500, interested parties may want more photographs or an in-person inspection. These old Ford coupes command a premium, but the originality of the car will set the price here.
Have you ever seen an old trailer used like this? Do you think this Ford coupe will sell for the asking price? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
There was an old trailer like this one donated to the state motorcycle rider program when it went statewide in the early ‘90’s-saved the cost of a shipping container, and could be moved around the property as needed as it was used for little more than storage. One of the later rider coaches saw it out on the “back 40” and recognized it as one he’d used in the area when he drove freight locally (experienced truckers made for some of our best instructors)!
From everything visible here this old classic is literally a time capsule of the time era it was stored. An easy renovation from appearances and worth it to the lucky buyer wanting a Depression era classic.
Well, that’s interesting. Easier to just peel open the trailer than to try to move it? I think the license plates are 1959 so if that is correct it has likely been in that trailer for a very long time. I have no perspective on the car or its value.
Wheres Howard A?
He’s probably pulled a trailer like this back in the day :)
Seems like an odd way to get the car out. Maybe it wouldn’t roll out the back.
Hi Mw, well, a bit before my time, but have seen many of these as storage trailers. The clearance lights look like from the 50s, when single axle trailers were the norm. Good old sawzall comes through again. What I’d be more concerned with, is that forklift looks a bit light duty to lift a car. I bet that was tense. We can’t see the front of the trailer, and surely blocked in. I wonder if gramps was a rum runner and had to hide the car, FAST!
Seller mentions that it has a V8-60 flathead.
Depending on how tight the trailer was, this method of storage may have limited mouse infestation too–not sure. If so, then the interior maybe intact and fairly solid. Same with the wiring, which mice like to chew. A beautiful find, and would make a fantastic restoration. I just hope whoever buys this doesn’t just flip it to someone wanting to make another custom out of it. And yes–I myself would source a pair of original headlamps for it, as they are by far more aesthetically pleasing and correct for the car. But hey–that’s me.
Perhaps , the new owner could send it to Bad Chad for a radical Kustom treatment .
These bodies, I believe from 1936 to 1940, are very harmonious.
beatiful car.
Interesting story for sure. It definitely needs the original headlights, those don’t look good at all. This would be a neat car to get a hold of, hopefully it gets restored to original. Somewhat rare with a V8-60, those were only made from 37-40. Too bad they destroyed a classic trailer
We didn’t really have much of a choice. I couldn’t dis engage the air brakes and the main supports were rusted. If I/we would have tried to drag it forward, it could have buckled and all would be lost.
Very nice find T.J., you are now beloved!
👍Good job TJ
Excellent find TJ!!!
The travesty here is destroying that cool trailer and selling your grandfather’s pride and joy. For shame. But a Honda civic is coveted to this generation.
He didn’t find anything, it says it was his grandfather’s. No good job here. He destroyed a cool trailer and sold an heirloom.
Here’s another Ford seemingly loaded with exceptions to the rule. The ’38 models came in two flavors; standard and deluxe. Standards had one windshield wiper and one (left-side) tail light, and.the optional V8-60. Standard front ends resembled the previous year’s deluxe, the ’38 deluxe had a one-year only ‘beaked’ hood – all-in-all, IMHO, one of Henry’s homeliness creations. Also, every V8-60 Ford I ever found (1953-57 scouting years in SoCal) had a tubular front axle and 4:44 rear ends, front axle as a weight-saver, gears because the ’60 was really under-powered.
Those headlight conversions were sold at Pep Boys and through J.C. Whitney catalogs through the mid-50’s as well. With no engine shots to check, that part also is a mystery. Great hobby guessing and conversations with this one!
Apology – I meant ‘homeliest’, not ‘homeliness’.
Great comment, great knowledge.
I have seal beam headlight conversion and extruded aluminum windshield frame on my 36 Dodge RS Coupe from the 60’s.A lot of JC. Whitney parts were made in South America back then.Windshield frame pretty nice.Shines up good.
Mighta been worth 17 when they put it in there, but not anymore . . .
What a shame to destroy the old trailer. Hard to believe it was easier than simply moving the trailer, opening the rear door, and unloading the car. Maybe no loading dock handy but it would have been easy to build a temporary ramp, then sell the trailer to cover the cost. Sorry, but I like and revere ALL old stuff, not just cars.
I agree……must be a Texas transplant from somewhere else…….
I bet the old tires rolled off the rims which makes dragging the car forward impossible as the car will “crab” sideways into the wall of the trailer. I have rescued enough barn finds to know its never as easy as it looks.
It was rusted. The car couldn’t be pulled out.
No tube axle, so shouldn’t be a V8-60.
Someone trying out the new plasma cutter he got for Christmas?
Already sold!!!
This is a ’38 standard, essentially a warmed-over ’37. The ’38 DeLuxe was an entirely new body, carried through 1940. The Standard came standard (sorry) with a single tail lamp, but could be ordered with two — same with the windshield-wipers, I believe. Unlike most old car nuts, I am not fond of coupes — they are cramped and ugly, to me. And I do not think the 1938 DeLuxe was homely! To me, the 1938 Ford DeLuxe, with that art deco nose, was the prettyiest of the 1938-1940 series — particularly the sleek four door sedan in black. I would LOVE to own one and always admired them on the road — along with the 1939 Buick.
Got me with the ’39 Buick reference!
Single axle trailers are still in use by the LTL companies, not unusual to see them at all. Most now are 28’ pups, but they still use 40’ and 45’ in city P&D. And not unusual to see a car stored in an old trailer, at least not around here. Highly unusual to see someone cut the side out of one to get a car out though!
Looks like they took a best offer, somebody got a good deal.
To everyone concerned about the trailer and why it was cut open vs moving it. The kingpin area of the trailer was more rust than steel and overall was in bad shape, we were afraid moving it loaded would cause a collapse and damage the car inside. The rear cargo doors were against a wall so no access that way.
Bet you didn’t see that coming getting almost as many trailer comments as car comments.
LOL, We did not.
Good story. Thanks