Old School Cool: 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe Hot Rod
I’ve sometimes wondered whether we ever reach an age where using the word “cool” is inappropriate. I hope not because it is the best word to describe this 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe. This classic is an old-school Hot Rod that spent decades in the care of its previous owner. It presents beautifully and can’t help but turn heads wherever it goes. The seller is listing the Coupe here on eBay in Ozark, Missouri, so its next journey could be to a new home. They set their BIN at $55,900 with the option to make an offer.
At first glance, this Coupe looks like a clean and tidy survivor. The seller recently purchased the car from its previous owner, who had been its custodian since 1953. Finding anything to fault with its presentation is almost impossible. The two-tone combination of Dark Blue and Black looks classy and is period-correct for this car. The previous owner performed a cosmetic refresh and color change in the 1970s, and the exterior has remained untouched since that process ended. The paint retains a mirror shine, and any imperfections are too minor to show in the supplied images. You already know this is a Hot Rod, but it is worth noting that its creator completed their work using all original and unmodified Ford steel. The panels are laser-straight, and the comprehensive photo gallery provided by the seller confirms the vehicle is rock-solid and rust-free. The plated components sparkle under the sun, providing a stunning contrast to the dark paint shades, and the glass looks flawless. The Ford rolls on a set of 16″ steel wheels, providing the only clue that there could be more to this car than meets the eye.
The roots of the Hot Rod movement were born out of necessity and compromise. People building these vehicles often had limited funds, becoming adept at utilizing various components to get their creation mobile. Engines were typically whatever they could get their hands on for almost nothing, and it was common to see Hot Rods with a mixture of drivetrain components from various manufacturers. This Coupe pays homage to that philosophy, with its engine bay housing a Chevrolet 283ci V8. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed TH350 automatic transmission, which feeds the power to a 3.55 Ford 9″ rear end. The dropped stock front axle gives the Ford a more aggressive stance, while the ladder bar rear suspension and 1948 F100 front brakes improve the handling and stopping power. The seller confirms that the Coupe recently received new rear brakes and that the car is in excellent mechanical health. It runs and drives perfectly, with the seller stating that flying in and driving home is a realistic expectation.
The Ford’s interior is typical of Hot Rods from the 1970s, with most of its upholstered surfaces clad in crushed velour cloth. The previous owner selected Light Blue to contrast the exterior, and although it won’t appeal to everyone, the impact is dramatic. The overall condition suggests the car was always treated respectfully because there is no evidence of significant wear, stains, or other problems. The dash houses a range of Stewart-Warner gauges and a radio to provide tunes on the move. Those in colder climates will welcome the effective heater, and the thick sports wheel should feel good in the driver’s hands. Updating the interior with more modern upholstery may be an option considered by some, but preserving the interior as a window into a specific era in Hot Rod construction would be more appropriate.
If you haven’t worked it out, I like this 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe…a lot. I typically prefer my classics unmodified, but I have always had an affection for old-school Hot Rods. This car is a gem that seems to need nothing, and cruising the streets behind the wheel this summer may be irresistible to some enthusiasts. That brings us to the price and the potential value of these classics. Hot Rods always fit into the “whatever someone is willing to pay” category, although the seller’s figure looks realistic. A Hot Rod may not have been on your radar, but could this Ford change your mind?
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Comments
Having owned a ’32 five window hot rod I can really appreciate this beauty. Always had fun driving mine. There is just something these cars give you that most other cars don’t.
Great mild hot rod that was well thought out and and executed will stand the test of time in its current form. Thats a testament to its previous owner, it would be interesting to know what other cars he might of had a hand in building, if so, what and where they went. It doesn’t need any changes and will make a good cruiser.
Steve R
Going to fail the test of time. What younger person, say, anyone under 50, is going to want this? Maybe if they become thousound dollar cars, but even then? My bet is going to be on Miatas, and the oriental tuner cars.
But why would you put a Chevrolet Engine, into a FORD?
“She’s my little deuce coupe, you don’t know what I got”. You know, it wasn’t until “lyrics” came out, I always thought the “big slip daddy”, was a clutch of some sort. It’s PINK slip daddy, indicating, when racing for titles, you won. Pink slip was the title. This era was sorely missed by me by probably 10 years, and the most famous deuce coupe? Why, John Milners, of course.
Another lyrics surprise, in Manfred Manns song, Blinded by the light, we all thought it was wrapped up like a douche’, but really, it was revved up like a deuce, as in deuce coupe,,,we were way off.
I saw the SBC
And knew that’s no car for me. ;)
Good the SBC made better
And even worse, a TH350. This car really needs a third pedal!
But it sure is sweet looking.
Exactly. This car screams for a Flathead V8 hot rodded.
Cool, personally I like the fact they kept the fenders on it, to many have been converted to open wheel.
Awesome car
Bee-you-ti-ful, some class!
“Hey Zeke! Beautiful ’32 coupe!, and it’s for sale!”
“Yeah, I kept it all old school, just like they were back in the 50’s!”
“So, it’s got a hopped up Mercury flathead and a Zephyr trans?”
“Uh, no. I went with a cheap Chevy small block and a TH350..”
“Oh. OK, No thanks then…”
$56,000, good luck.
I agree. Way to many overpriced cars now days.
I love it and wish I had bought a 1932 Ford 5 window like this instead of the Chevrolet version I did 40+ years ago. That said this car is running glass fenders, that I could live with, but not sure it’s worth this much cash.
Sorry guys here I go on my rant, that most of you have no clue what you are looking at! First forget the old school HOT ROD this is not it ,there were no 32″s in the 50’s and 60’s that looked this good. This is a very nice 32 that has been brought into this century and turned into what us guys would have built in the 50’s and 60’s, if we had the knowledge and skills we have now in our old age. Every-time there is an early 30’s Ford on Barn Finds you young guys try to box it as an old school Hot Rod and give us your knowledge. STOP you weren’t even born yet, you don’t know. Just like when I came back from South East Asia ,I didn’t know anything about muscle cars, factory hot Rods and racing. I went into a dealership and I didn’t even understand the basic models, the salesman was talking about stuff I didn’t even know existed. In that time in that conflict all you knew was what you saw and heard everyday twenty four seven. There were NO newspapers, television ,radio, cell phones, there was the US mail but you were even censured as to what you could say or read. The automotive world didn’t exist, once in a while the PX would have a 6
month old car magazine. All you knew was your short timer calendar. (if you don’t know what that is GOOD, I am glad)
I understand you well, my brother.
Joe, I take umbrage (Somebody famous said that one time) to your comment on the condition of the ’50s and ’60s hot rods. You obviously didn’t live on the west coast as the cars we had out there were as good looking as we could afford to make them. My paint job came from working summers as a logger in Oregon. BTW, when I got back from South East Asia I bought a 240Z. Hard not to agree on most of your comment though.
Feel better, Joe? Saves a trip to the shrink, but like peeing in a black suit, nobody notices. I hear your rant, and Lord knows I’ve had a few, but for the most part, the people that should listen to you, don’t. “Old School” is a buzz word for folks, like you say, that weren’t there, and “old school” is good enough for them. I agree, in the 40s, these were just junkers, and it was the heck raisers coming back from overseas, that made these popular as fun, fast, and cheap cars. That pretty much waned in the 60s and these became more of a novelty. Don’t be too harsh on the wee ones, they simply don’t know any better.
Perfect car for an ARDUN
Don’t I wish I would have had the money for one. The merc is a perfect candidate for that conversion. Not sure the side panels would of fit but I wouldn’t of cared just to have the extra power.
I had a similar 32 roadster. It was fitted with a 327 and an automatic. It ran great and was reliable. I later sold it to a well known personality who has a bunch of “period” Hot Rods, all with Flattys. He later told me it was his most reliable and his go to car.
I’d heard that Liberace was into cars. Cool story!
😂😂😂😂
I heard Libby was into a lot of things, and a lot of things were into him.
Nice but the Chevy engine makes it another Chevord. A little Ford 289 HiPo would have been my choice.
Well it wasn’t built in the 1953 cause 283,s and turbo 350,s didn’t exist
I agree with you that the 289 Ford would be the engine for the car but when most of these cars were built the 289 didn’t exist and the Chevy V8s were the only engines available that would fit into the engine compartment with the full hood panels on. As for the transmission, even in the ’50s they were putting automatic transmissions like the GM Hydromatic 4 speed in cars that were hitting the drag races. I only had a ’48 Merc with a ’39 floor shift behind it and I spent a lot of time fixing or replacing transmissions. Put the Hydromatic in my Olds/Studebaker and cleaned house in drag races.
Get that gm engine out of that 32. You have totally ruined a nice 5 window
Get rid of the SBC… needs a flathead V8 or even a banger
Needs a flathead in it, or a little 302. You just don’t put a Chevy in the Ford!
Big Ron and Nat, If you buy it you can put what ever you want in it! Until then, you are just a couple of guys expressing an opinion, that doesn’t matter. That goes for the rest of you that want to tell people how to build their cars, It only counts when its your car.
Around the time my dad traded his decked and frenched ’51 Victoria for his first new car, a ’57 Fairlane 500 Club Coupe, my uncle worked for a towing/wrecking company. He had a Deuce five window just like this with a 354 Hemi out of a wrecked DeSoto. Yes, the hood sides didn’t fit, but it was all show, no go because it would break the Lincoln transmission if you applied more than half throttle. Looked great cruising the gut, though. Now that’s “Old Skool”