Dirty Thirty Year Slumber: 1947 Ford Coupe
As time marches on, we are seeing more and more old restorations emerging from long term storage. Many of these are presentable, easy to return to the road, and sold at bargain prices. If you would like to play Dr. Frankenstein and bring a car back from a thirty-year slumber, then this 1947 Ford coupe for sale on craigslist in Fresno, California may be for you. While it looks to be a nice car under all that dust and dirt, is the $22,000 asking price too steep for this filthy Flathead? Thanks go to T.J. for finding this neat old Ford!
Sad to say, but restoring automobiles isn’t as popular as it used to be. There are many reasons for this, such as lack of room, the costs of restoration, and a waning interest in making such a heavy investment in time and effort. There are, however, a whole lot of cars that were restored from the seventies through the nineties that have ended up back in a garage or barn. Many times, the previous owner/restorer began dealing with long term health issues or has passed away. These pages have been filled with stories on cars that are being sold by survivors who don’t know how to get an old car running, have no clue how to drive it, and/or have placed an outrageous price on the car because everyone knows old cars are worth tons of money. Just back the Brinks truck up right over here…
This may be the fate of this 1947 Ford coupe. While Flathead Ford fans have their favorite years, like 1932, 1936, 1936, 1940, and 1949 models, all of the Fords from this era are great collector vehicles. Parts are widely available, the Early Ford V-8 Club of America is one of the largest and most active classic car clubs in America and has numerous local chapters, and there is a ton of information out there on how to repair and restore these cars. 1946-1948 cars are usually a bargain. By that time, Ford had long switched to hydraulic brakes, the Flathead was well sorted, and Fords of this era had evolved into very pleasant driving cars. It doesn’t hurt that they usually sell for lower prices than prewar cars.
The ad tells us that this Ford is a Super Deluxe model and is “really nice and in real good condition.” It will need brakes, and you can see that some of that work has taken place already. The car still has its original 6-volt electrical system and is said to be a basically stock car. It was running before someone read it a bedtime story and tucked it in, so returning it to the road shouldn’t be too big of a chore. There is no word on whether or not the motor will turn.
So, looking over the pictures of this car gives us the impression that it must have been fixed up, but not subject to a frame off restoration. Under the dust, the paint looks to be neither the original finish nor an ancient repaint. It was likely painted during the refurbishment. The weatherstripping around the door has the appearance that it was not taped off when the car was painted. This material is likely original to the car, as it is quite cracked up and dry. The interior cloth and vinyl also should look very familiar to car restorers of the eighties. Grey “mouse hair” cloth and matching vinyl went together like peas and carrots back in the day.
A peek under the hood reveals a whole lot of dust. Thankfully, someone had the forethought to cover the carburetor to prevent entry. The firewall’s condition points to it not being repainted when the car was refinished. Another interesting set of items are the radiator hoses. No doubt these were the hoses on the car when it was put away. They do not look to have seen a long period of use. Perhaps this car wasn’t driven much from when the project started to when it was put away.
The biggest obstacle here is the asking price. $22,000 may be a bit of a steep hill to climb for a car in this condition that doesn’t run, and the top doesn’t fold down. Just like water finds its level, the seller will certainly end up selling it for a price that is within market value. Would anyone venture a guess as to what market value would be on this car?
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Comments
The pool of old-timers who liked these cars is mighty small 75+ years later so the seller’s ask of $22K is probably a little steep. The seller would have been well advised to wash and wax this old Ford to generate more interest and possibly a better price. Sure, take some “as found” pics but then clean it up as best you can. It looks like a nice old buggy as my dad used to say. I’d get it fired up, cleaned up and drive it as-is. It looks like it will clean up pretty well.
These cars make great looking street rods or cruisers. They should be on the list of art on wheels.
It would be a decent buy at 7 to 10k..
$5K maybe….
The people that remember, drove or admired these….and want them now ….are diminishing in numbers every day…sad to say but not many can drive a stick trans ..or handle a non- p/s p/b car are even less….too many now in my stable…but if I can make more room…:>)
I like this car, especially coupes. Like many have said, the price is way too high. Showing the cleaned up, with the wheels and tire on and vacuumed out, might bring a better price. Twenty-two thousand is about double what that car is worth, in it’s pictured condition, if it was running. We don’t know if the engine is seized or will turn over. The car was built the same year I was.
Add says it was running when parked, begging the question then why was it parked for 30+/- years and nothing done to it? Like TA said $5,000 Maybe. But I would do the same and try to take advantage of this whole barn find craze where people pay more because they believe its a barn find
Had a chance to buy one of these back in 1960 for $150.00. Now $22000.00
Man was i stupid for not buying it.
Al, I can within about $20 of buying a ’47 Tudor for $200, in 1965. As I always say, I wish I knew back then what I know now. Someone asked, on Facebook the other day, “What car(s) did you sell that you wish you hadn’t.” My list is way to long. It starts with a ’63 “Split Window” C2 Stingray.
Plenty of well-maintained and running examples out there for less.
$5K max. Seller is a dreamer.
Danny. If I still had all of the cars that I wish i had not sold i would have to have a warehouse to store them in. So many memories!!
I’d go $8000 . Just seem to be drawn to these .
Gary MacDonald
I agree with previous comments that this car has a value of $5000-7500 tops for it current project, non running status. $22k in this condition is beyond optimistic. It’s very cool but not that cool.
My brother had a non-running ’47’ ragtop that my Dad got for him for maybe $50.
He got it running.
My Dad, brother, and uncle copied and hand cut from wood a new main header bow because the original was rotted. My brother used a ton of tubes of plastic aluminum to fill holes where chrome and other things were that he removed.
My uncle who was a body man painted it for him. It came out really well after my uncle straightened out some mistakes.
I like the shape of the bubble fender series of Chevies and Fords.
Flathead 8 Stromberg 97’s !
Car is at the most between 7200 and 8000. non running should cut that price in half. Just about anything prior to about 1964 (start of GTO era) is getting harder to turn, unless done up as an exceptional Resto rod or Resto mod. The one or 2 exception is the Tri-5s’ and high-end car like Cadillac. As “Edsel” Al said us old guys are getting fewer and farther and most folks today can’t drive a stick shift or a vehicle without power steering or power brakes. $5000 would be a good buy in, but $22K? quit taking LSD.
Amen 64 Bonneville…