Original Family Owned: 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Model A Fords are covered regularly here on Barn Finds and they are found in every imaginable condition. Today, for your review we have the Model A’s successor, the very popular ’32, also known as a Model B. The outstanding feature of this car is its completeness and originality. It is located in Westwood, New Jersey and is available here on eBay for a current bid of $33,100, reserve not yet met.
A ’32 or “deuce” coupe Ford is the stuff of hot-rodding legend. Unfortunately, this example is not a coupe in the strictest sense, it’s a five-window, two-door sedan (Tudor) but Ford period literature referred to it as a “coupe” anyway, with the traditional three-window coupe referred to as a “Deluxe Coupe”. Additionally, being a model B, this is a four-cylinder-powered car and not a first-year, V8 equipped Ford, known as the Model 18. Nevertheless, an unaltered B is still a very desirable, collectible car – there were about 133K Model Bs produced compared to just under 300K V8 Model 18s.
The seller states that this Ford has been in his family since new and he still has the dealership receipt. This deuce was parked in 1966 and the odometer registers 44K miles but the seller admits that it could have rolled over once. The body, covered in its original black finish, presents well though there is a reference to some minor rust and dents – the seller is adamant that the doors and decklid are 100% solid, however, as is the frame. Additional parts available with the car include a windshield frame and a headlight bar. As for originality, the seller claims, “The only repro parts that I know of on this car are the sun visor brackets, the header screws and the wiper arm and blade”. The entire car, right along with its apricot green apple green wheels, really shows pretty well.
Being a Model B means power is provided by a 40 50 HP, 201 CI, in-line, four-cylinder engine. It is a non-runner but the motor does turn over. The engine shows as being intact, with its original air cleaner, but there is no additional information included regarding motive power. The rest of this B’s mechanicals appears to be the “born with” components, including the three-speed manual transmission, differential, and the original shocks and links.
Inside is a bit of a surprise as this Ford is equipped with a Chevrolet hot water heater (I’ve seen Chevy small-block engines swapped into ’32 coupes but never a heater!). The interior is original and, as expected, worn. but the wear is cosmetic in nature, seats, door cards, headliner, etc., all things that typically would be improved or replaced. But it is all there!
The bidding for this B is vigorous! But that’s really not a surprise considering how hard it is to find one of these that still exist as Ford intended. And that being the case, it would be nice to see it stay that way as a restored car but that probably isn’t in the cards. I usually ask the same question when encountering an original find like this Ford, if you were to become the new owner, what way would you take it?
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Comments
We had the (almost) same exact car.It used to sit in the
vacant lot next door to our house,& was just an “old car”.
I remember a couple of teenagers towing it off,back
in the early ’60’s.I think my Dad got $200 for it.
32 is the year everyone who collects these cars wants, but most want a V8.
God bless America
Saying that this car is not a coupe is like saying the Chevy 350 measures out at 355 inches.
Dusty:
Ford called it a coupe, so be it, I included the image from the sales brochure but I have fought this debate back and forth. Some “purists” that I have encountered will say that this example is a two-door sedan as it has a B pillar and rear side windows while the coupe is a three-window body-style.
Agreed though, we go with how Ford defined it.
JO
It’s very much a coupe, either a two-seater or with a rumble seat. A sedan by definition has two rows of seats inside the main passenger compartment, or (in rare cases as original spec) at least room for them which this clearly lacks.
My ’32 was a 5 window coupe. My friend had a 3 window. Sort of hard to call a car without a back seat a sedan. Even the single seat business coupes were coupes. (someone famous must have said that before I did) The ’32s did have V8s.. the 4 cylinder was called the “B”. Mine was a B until the Mercury V8 showed up in it.
Right car, right condition, right history.
Just perfect. Made my day…
This one is not too nice to restore,
but not too nasty to make safe and drive as is.
Take your pick.
Hope the buyer keeps the B engine in it….
I dove a earlier (1930) mod A @30 miles(round trip) to high school back in
the day. Oh yeah! Make sure you retard the spark after you get-er started!
I believe you advance the spark after start up.
Is this the same car that’s on the Waltons ?
My father used to own a 32 B400. He sold the car many years ago. It ended up in the hands of Boyd Coddington and was shaped into the hot Rod it is today. My father tracked his 32 down and found it in Ogden, UT, where it resides today. My father and the current owner talked about the 32 and it’s history. He tried like hell to buy it from the current owner, but the current owner wouldn’t part with it.
32 5 window coupe…part of that hot rod history we all want to live.
The Model “B” was 50 hp not 40 like the Model”A”. Mike Hartman and are not related.
Fixed, thx.
JO
what is the asking price is it as good as it looks should I try to give a new life in New Zealand .
Bidding ended at $35,000 U.S., reserve not met, so I guess it’s still for sale.
JO
Not related but…
I,ve been HOPING and KEEPING my eyes on one for a good while. $30,000 for one that needs alot of work and parts replaced. I don,t think so. Anyways as I said I been holding out for this one. It needs alot of work and I take the body and set it down on a ford truck frame with a big block. 4 speed posi rear-end.Set of l-60,s on the back with f,s on the front and flat black paint. Gauges with warning lights and have some fun with it.I got so desperate at one time. I was tempted to steal one. They guy had about 5 .hahaha I like these old style cars with the bubble fenders and running boards.
I’d refurbish the stuffing in the front seat, cover the fabric with a removable slip cover to preserve the original, make the car a good stock runner, and use it around town for another 30 years if I lived that long.
I would get it running, change all the fluids, re do the brakes, tidy up th interior and just putt around in it. Too nice to hot rod, to original to restore.
Talk about Sophie’s choice.
Re the model A… I always retarded the spark to start it, advanced it going down the road and rotated the carburetor adjustment knob clock wise to “lean” out the fuel at highway speeds.
Dad put a Model B engine in his 1930 Model A pickup. 25% horsepower increase. Great motor.
This Model B coupe is a great find. Good luck to all.
The 1932 4 cylinder was a Model “B”. The 1932 V8 was called a Model “18”. That was because it was the first (1) 8 cylinder ever designed and built by Henry.
No, it’s not a Tudor sedan. It is a Model B standard coupe as described in Fords own literature. This car is a rare find and should be kept as it is with no modifications, except to get it running and clean it up. I wouldn’t even restore it, that just kills the originality that this one has. I sold my restored Model B roadster just because it just didn’t have any character, the restoration wiped it out. I wish I had found it before the guy I bought it from that had it restored. I would have kept it then. I’d try to find some original patina-ed door panels and seat covering if possible too. If you want a hot rod, buy one of the many already out there or build one with an excellent United Pacific steel reproduction body, just don’t mess this one up! I love hot rods and have three 5W coupes. Two are hot rods, and one is a amateur restored original Model 18 coupe and I will never change a thing on it. It was built in St. Paul, MN and lived most of its life a few blocks of the Ford plant that built it until he died in the 1980’s. It passed through three owners before I was able to buy it and have owned it for over 20 years.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4rhC5KVFqbpKyEhE8
Gary W
I noticed a 40’s Chevrolet heater installed. Is a Chevrolet small block to follow?
Nice write up Vintagehotrods. It’s always good to hear from someone who is in the hobby and knows what their talking about.
God bless America
By the way. The John Boy Walton car was a late model A coupe
He drove 1929 Model “A” coupe. I can’t remember if it had a trunk or rumble seat.
For that much cash it’s gonna have to be T*Ts Perfect or no date.
I didn’t know apricots came in green.
I guess if they are really underripe…
Actually, I wrote apple green as one word and my text editor changed it to “apricot”. Fixed.
Thx,
JO
I have been around Deuces since birth. Never have I seen a 32 Ford 5 window coupe called a Tudor sedan.
Dang! That’s the word for it!
For those of you who think that the mid $30’s is too much money. Several years ago [6-8] I saw a ’32 3-window sell at the Streetrod Nationals for $30,000 and it was the body only. Just body, doors, and deck lid.
As for what I would do with this car is up date the chassis, weld in new patch panels, leave the rest of the body alone, drop in a small block Chevy and drive the hell out of it. Another quick 44,000. The ’32 that I have now has over 200,000 on it.