Barn Collapse Find: 1932 Chevrolet Confederate Sedan
Even Captain Obvious knows that we love barn finds here at Barn Finds. However, we do have some preferences. Looking at the picture above, we wish that this barn find hadn’t been found under the barn. It seems that this 1932 Chevrolet Confederate sedan for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Colorado Springs, Colorado was rescued from death by crushing. That is great because there just don’t seem to be many early thirties Chevrolets left anymore. The bad news is that the rear door on the driver’s side is missing in the picture and the seller has nothing to say about it in the ad. Can you find a replacement door and still come out ahead if the asking price on this lucky Chevrolet is set at $10,000? Thanks to T.J. for this interesting find!
The first two pictures we see in this story are both intriguing and terrifying at the same time. The intriguing part would be finding such a vehicle buried under the detritus and the vital components of a barn collapsing upon itself. The terrifying part is having to dig it out. Oh, and dealing with the rodents would be an unpleasant issue as well. Thankfully the sellers managed to rescue this unique sedan from what would surely be eventual ruin as the barn finished its trip to the surface.
While we would all love to hear the background and details of this rescue, the ad doesn’t give us much. In a rather jumbled way, we are told that the car was purchased by the original owner in the 1930s when he came back from the war. It is described as a one-owner car that last ran back in the 1980s. It was also last tagged in Colorado in 1955. We are also told that it sat in a falling garage for over 40 years.
Part of the description in the ad leaves more questions than answers. First off, World War I stretched from 1914 through 1918. US involvement came at the tail end of that war. World War II lasted from 1941 until 1945. The only “war” being fought by the US during the 1930s was what was called “The Banana Wars.” These small interventions and occupations of many Caribbean and Latin American countries stretched from 1898 through 1934. While it is nice to have some story, it would be even nicer to have a detail that passed scrutiny.
Moving past the war story, the details that the car was last tagged in 1955 and last driven in the 1980s give hope that the mechanicals of the car are likely good enough to return to the road. As it sits, it is remarkable that it is in the shape that it is. Chevrolets of this era were built with a lot of structural wood. The extra weight of barn wood on it probably didn’t help much. I would also be concerned about rodent damage, rot, and shrinkage of the wood body structure as the elements took their toll. Replacing wood on a car of this vintage is a hassle and the job of a craftsperson.
One of the biggest hurdles can be seen in the third picture above. The driver’s side rear door is missing. Of the ten pictures in the Facebook Marketplace ad, only this one shows the missing door. This important detail is also not mentioned in the written part of the ad. A missing door on a 1932 Ford sedan is an issue, but a surmountable one. On a Chevrolet of the same year, this is a big problem. For some reason, collectors have never flocked to early Chevrolets like they have to early Fords and the number of surviving examples is small. That lack of interest has negatively affected the ability to find parts for these cars even though Ford, Plymouth, and Chevrolet were neck and neck in car sales during the 1930s. If the door is truly missing and isn’t somewhere in the barn, then the buyer will have a problem to deal with.
Another problem is the price. I am not sure where the seller came up with the $10,000 price tag for this car. Perhaps there is more here than displayed and written in the ad, such as a spare parts stash. The sad truth is that there is an ever-dwindling interest in taking on a full restoration of a prewar car that isn’t a full classic or is not a Ford. Cars like this one must be preserved and restored, if need be, to help tell the tale of the vehicles of the 1930s. However, the market and personal preferences make this decision not fans of automotive history. It would be fascinating to see a restored 1932 Chevrolet next to a Ford and a Plymouth of that same vintage to partially recreate the choice most car buyers had that year. While I hope that this car gets the restoration it needs, I am not sure that is going to happen with a missing door and a $10,000 price tag.
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Comments
I thought we were going to be discussing how to get a car out of a barn which is collapsing on it. But that job has been done, which must not have been easy or straightforward. I don’t know anything about cars from the 30’s, but my sense is the same as Jeff’s: what is the appetite for a 1932 Chevrolet? With a missing door? Either as a restoration, or turning it into something else?
The Facebook Marketplace ad is par for that course: minimal info and pics.
Solid, thought-provoking write-up Jeff.
I bought the car .. $2500 … Also – the complete dash assy is missing. I did get one. The wood is excellent plus. Very little rust —very little. Wheel well – drivers side and cowl – drivers side. Seat material is gone. TRASH filled the poor thing. About 40 pounds worth. Overall – pretty dan nice car to start restoration on. Engine is fine… Fuel tank ?? Have not pulled it. New tires needed – then a road test !!
Without knowing the condition of the inter wood structure. And the missing door. I would pass.
Am working on the critter… Seems the door was NOT removed ages ago.. the screw holes were pretty shiny … I pulled the starter and rebuilt it. Did not need it once opened up..but I went ahead and did it anyway. I soaked the engine with Jet Aircraft Synthetic oil,, It sat 2 days..THEN – big day came — I hit the starter….it spun right over.. Dropped the pan and valve cover–all looks great. That rear door was a nightmare’.. Found one that needs wood work..no biggie… The glass is missing. But all the guts are in the door. Rims are now painted. Tires in a bit — no hurry. I am going to get the door done and the roof covered. Will also do the body work while it is on the stands..makes it easier with no rims and the car is up higher… Soooo…glad I bought the old buzzard. Will be drivable in ?? probably 2 months…
I’m old enough to remember when you could find cars of this vintage in junkyards, that’s where the youngsters went to get parts or entire cars (yes, mostly Fords) to turn into hot rods – you could have found a rear door for this car there. Confederate is a bit of unfortunate name for a car model, but not quite as bad as the Studebaker Dictator.
My 32 Chevy Confederate is finishing interior reno. Engine’s been rebuilt. Only remaining item is fresh paint. Having this old timer back on the road will be fun!
Wow I love the cars from the thirties and this Chevy is nice. I love the 2 side mounted tires. I love the trunk being an actual trunk. These Chevys I think are underated as the body style of this one looks better then the Ford of that era and I’m a Ford man. All that said yes this car has issues. I would love to see it get an all original restoration and not hot rodded. As for the $10,000. Price tag it’s always good to start high and then negotiate to a reasonable price. Any perspective buyer should look this car over in person to know all the issues before negotiating in price. Good luck to the seller and to the buyer enjoy.
This is a classic example of someone saying that “the old car on the barn is probably worth a fortune. Don’t just give it away, I saw on one of those TV auctions that cars like that are worth fifty grand all fixed up!”
What a rare find among the wreckage of the old barn !! Looking at the exteriors condition , somebody will no doubt want this 1932 Chevrolet . It would be wise to check over the interior ( in person ) prior to making a final purchase . Also , locating a missing rear door is going to be a major ” challenge” , as their might only be less than 50 of those models remaining . Check the internet , there may be a part available somewhere , and best of luck !! Happy Motoring
Wood and V8s are the reasons Fords were more popular in the early hot rodding days. Chevys have so much more wood in ’32 vs. Fords. I had a 35 Chevy Standard 3 window (looks like a ’34) and it had much more wood in the body than the Ford of the same era.
Maybe the seller is trying to recoup thee cost of digging it out.
Hot rod material if the wood structure is sound. Get the body off the frame, slide a camero or equivalent frame and running gear in. Chop the roof 4 inches, drop in a stock small block, redo the interior, give it a good paint job. All for about $25K. Of course purchase price as is, should be no greater than $2 K.
The price of 10,000 is about 7,000 to high, all this worry about the wood, as long as the wood is there it can be reproduced, I have done it a number of times. Now as for the missing door, take a lesson from the old timers, cut that sucker off right in front of the rear door. attach the rear section to behind the front door and make a pickup out of it. 32 Chevy Pickups are rare. If you have the “want to, anything is possible.”
Oh…. by the way this is the very rare 3 door version
When I was young, these were regularly seen on the road, as were most 1928-1940 vehicles. So, for me, perhaps it is not as “old” as it actually is. This afternoon, I was playing a popular 78 from 1935 — and it still sounds nice. Considering the “modest” interest now in these cars, and given its condition, I think that $10K price is more than a bit (Shall we say…) “optimistic” (just my “take” on it) — $1,500.00 seems more like it.
In a nutshell, I say what happened here, someone with money from out east, got a new Chevy, remember, this was the height of the depression, wandered out west, made it to Pikes Peak( license plate holder) got messed up in Cripple Creek, a nearby gambling mecca for Colorado, and well known cowboy town, with loose ethics and a lackluster police force, what happened in Cripple Creek, stayed there. Cripple Creek, and Pikes Peak are in the same area, not far from where this was found.A Hollywood hack could evolve from there. Left passenger door missing, you say? They didn’t call them “suicide doors” for nothing. I’m sure one could be found, except, collections that might feature those, are drying up. This site shows us over and over, who is ever going to keep a rear door for an old Chevy? Sadly, I just don’t see much of a future for projects like this.
And submit,,,
I agree price awful high for what it is,looks solid though as far as the missing door goes home depot has screen doors on sale now so problem solved
I looked at it today and beside the door missing – so is the entire dash assy…. The driver side front fender – in front of the tire has holes from rust – bad…
Engine is free — turned over easy by pulling the fan..driver side rear window assy is gone. Tranny seems to shift ,,but …who knows if it is good or not ?? I had offered 3500 … but then after I went to look at it – and saw the dash missing and that rear door…I believe closer to about $1500 – 1700 would be fair. The seats are total history — in piles of animal waste and you name it. About 5 to 10 inches of rubbish….No interior at all…no wiring… Depressing …IF you have a door to sell – or a dash assy — let me know.. I am sure the 26-27-28-29-30 doors are all the same ??? …Thanks..
I had left a comment above that $1,500 might be more like it; however, given what you found, Eugene PANTANO, I think $600 might even be too much. This is, at its best, a “parts” car masquerading as a “project”. Too far gone for investment, I think… sad… but, what would you DO with it, that wouldn’t cost you more than the result would be worth? If you’re young, and a prime ’32 Chevy is on your “bucket” list, then offer to tow it away, drag its carcass home to your workshop, spend the next decade and a minor fortune in restoring its former functioning and glory at far greater expense than this vehicle is worth, and treasure it in your possession and care for all the remaining decades of your life as your “baby” and “pride and joy”: leave it for your estate to do something with it, after you’re gone, or will it to a close relative who’s always admired it. But an “INVESTMENT”, this one is NOT.