Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / What Should I Do With This 1937 Ford Barn Find?

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion << previous || next >>

Posted By Discussion Topic: What Should I Do With This 1937 Ford Barn Find? -- page: 1 2     39Fordfan 05-18-2021 @ 3:18 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 202 Joined: Oct 2009 What would you do with this if it just showed up at your doorstep? I was so surprised, I didn't realize it was for sale until the guy was leaving. He is offering it for a fair price, but... It's a long story, but a friend of a neighbor of mine who knows I have a restored '39 Ford literally out of the blue just dragged this one to my house today. It was owned by my neighbor's brother and was in his barn for decades. The last registration sticker on the plates on the car are from 1970, it's been sitting for a long time. It does not have the hood and I forgot to look at the grille so all I know for sure at the moment is that is it a '37 Ford 2 door. I don't know my '37's well enough to say which one it is? The motor is frozen up, it looks like the original that came with the car. It doesn't have a title, but it does have a Bill of Sale. I think I can massage a title out of the State because this new owner who is offering it to me is a cop and I have connection to the original owner so I think it can be done. I'm assuming the frame is rotted out, but not sure. The body is rough and has rust but I'd have to look closer. Not sure if it's worth looking into restoring? I'm going to have another look at it with an eye for buying it, or not. If so, what would you do with it? Or am I better off just buying a car instead of a project like this? Any thoughts? Thanks! kubes40 05-18-2021 @ 4:33 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3406 Joined: Oct 2009 If it's super solid and CHEAP, maybe buy it IF you want it. Don't plan on making any real money on this parts car. Looks like rod material at best. Mike "Kube" Kubarth This message was edited by kubes40 on 5-19-21 @ 8:31 AM 1937sedandelivery 05-18-2021 @ 6:57 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 501 Joined: Jul 2014 Wow, I like it. Think it would make a great restoration project. Can you share more details and what the asking price is? Thanks, gregg 37RAGTOPMAN 05-19-2021 @ 6:35 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1962 Joined: Oct 2009 1937 FORD this could be a 60 hp car, tires would be 5.50 x16 , 85 would have a 600x16 tires, I assume it is a flat back sedan, check to make sure if it is a 85 OR 60 the 60 engine trans frame wheels are different by the pictures it looks like a restorable car, but do a complete assessment before buying, engine, tires, interior paint body work glass, it all depends on your ability to restore a car, figure 2 -3 years, it might be cheaper to buy one restored , my 2 cents 37 Ragtopman trjford8 05-19-2021 @ 7:52 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4219 Joined: Oct 2009 Looks like a parts car at best or a long term expensive project. Not sure of your age, but if you are 60 or older buy one already done. Out here on the "left " coast of California there's a couple of '37 sedans for sale on Craigslist for a lot less money than it would take to restore that one. Both are ready to drive now , not 5 years and a lot of money from now. 39Fordfan 05-19-2021 @ 3:51 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 202 Joined: Oct 2009 Hi Mike, That's kind of what I was thinking too. I could add value by getting a title for it. Maybe hang on long enough to find a chassis for it. But I didn't want to say the dreaded "R" word (Rod.) He was going to power wash it down for me and then I can see what's really going on underneath of it. 39Fordfan 05-19-2021 @ 4:05 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 202 Joined: Oct 2009 Hi Gregg, He's asking $1500. He doesn't have a title, but does have a Bill of Sale. I've been through the hoops with the State of Minnesota with missing titles, etc. and while they are slow, they don't seem too bad to work with generally. There is no hood, but it does have a grille. I would say except for that and no hubcaps, it is a complete car. The motor is intact, but is seized up. Not sure about the transmission or drivetrain. It's possible the motor could be unseized and then gone through, but unknown at this point. I don't know how bad the rust is. It's possible it just needs some body work and the frame rails touched up. I was just assuming the worst, that everything underneath is junk. But I don't know for sure. I'm thinking I am going to go over and look at it again, but I didn't want to get the guy's hopes up. This message was edited by 39Fordfan on 5-19-21 @ 4:09 PM 39Fordfan 05-19-2021 @ 4:30 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 202 Joined: Oct 2009 '37 Ragtopman, Thanks! That's really good feedback. That's a lot of stuff I didn't know. I'm not sure if there is anything left on those tires to see if it is a 60 hp car? Yes it is a 2 door flat back sedan. Not the humpback. I don't have the greatest car skills, I don't weld or paint (though I am one the world's best airbrush artist's) I'm a good parts finder and changer. And as a former General Contractor I'm good at finding people and at getting projects finished as seen with my '39 Deluxe. I was sort of thinking of getting a title for it, and then seeing if I can find a chassis for it and then see where I'm at. I've already got 3 classic cars, two that are complete but always want attention, and one that is in need of a body off. But like you say, it might be cheaper to just go out and buy one of these. I don't need more things to do, but it's not everyday that a '37 Ford comes knocking at your front door either... 39Fordfan 05-19-2021 @ 4:49 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 202 Joined: Oct 2009 Hi trjford8, Yes that Age 60 Rule seems to be a good one. My Dad was told of that Rule back in the 80's when he started the project on his '39 Deluxe that he'd owned since he was 16. He would've gotten away with bucking the Rule by starting the project when he was 65, except he had an excellent painter who pulled the body off to paint it, but it turns out he was a cr*ppy mechanic when it came to putting it back together again and ran the clock out on my Dad. Now I'm getting close to the same boat, heehee. I had a look on the California Craigslist Ads and couldn't find the Ads you mentioned. Is it possible for you to post the links? I'd love to look at them, if possible. I found a really nice '39 pick up truck in Los Angeles for $19,000. trjford8 05-19-2021 @ 5:14 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4219 Joined: Oct 2009 39fordfan, I just checked and both cars are gone. One was a tudor flatback and the other was a 4 door flatback. Both were less than . The 4 door was $14,000 and the tudor was $15,000.They were nice cars with good paint and upholstery and mostly stock. I saw them about 5 days ago. I have a friend who may be selling his 37 tudor. It's a flathead car with a C-4 automatic behind the flathead. Let me know if you are interested and I'll check for sure.

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

EFV-8 Club Forum Home | Back to Home Page | Contact the Webmaster

Copyright © 2009 - EFV-8.org
Powered by < CF FORUM > v.2.1