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Many consider American hot rods to be an art form of sorts. Art museums have made a lot of money displaying carefully curated exhibitions of the most beautiful among these vehicles. One of the most popular canvases for this art was produced by the Ford Motor Company in 1934. If you are the type of talented person that can build a work of art, then this 1934 Ford three-window coupe is for sale on Craigslist in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. This $35,000 project car has waited in storage for years as the seller collected parts. Would you be interested in creating a work of four-wheel art with this unfinished project? Thanks to T. J. for this Flathead find!
If you truly want to understand the root of the hot rod culture, spend some time listening to The Rodcast. This is an occasional podcast produced by the American Hot Rod Foundation where they interview folks who were influential to the movement. From the people who raced their hot rods on the dry lakes and in the city of Los Angeles to celebrities who have brought notoriety to the craft, The Rodcast has it all.
It takes a deep education on the history of the hot rod to understand the opportunity available with this 1934 Ford coupe. The seller tells us that the project was acquired from an 80-year-old hot rod guy who had been there and done that. The handiwork so far was performed by the previous owner. These modifications include filling in the roof and channeling the body to make it sit lower on the frame.
The seller intended to “un-channel” it, chop the top, and build it into a Salt Flats racer. Unfortunately, it is not stated in the ad whether that meant chasing an actual land speed record or just building a street-legal facsimile. At any rate, a large amount of money was spent collecting parts for the project. These purchases were made from Tom Bay in Wichita, Kansas. A quick internet search and a deep dive into The Ford Barn forum reveals that Mr. Bay runs a sheet metal business called R&J Enterprises and is held in high regard for his metalworking skills.
The seller tells us that among the body parts purchased were a new floor and a drip tray for the back window. There are pictures of other bare metal parts sprinkled around in the pictures, and the statement that “all body panels” were purchased would benefit from a bit more elaboration. Also included in the sale are a “beautiful” 1934 Ford frame, a “Rocket” Oldsmobile rear end, a “patina” grill and hood sides, and all you would need to finish the build. There is no mention of an engine.
The asking price may seem a bit steep. In the absence of a detailed parts list, chances are the seller spent a lot more than the $30,000 asking price over the time they had this project. We have all been in a situation where we spent all our time working to afford the parts we collected only to abandon ship on the project at a loss. This has to be a painful situation for the seller.
This is a golden opportunity for a gifted craftsperson to build the ’34 three-window of their dreams. It is also an opening for an opportunist to purchase the lot and sell it piece by piece. Let’s hope that a craftsperson finds this car in time.
Have you ever built a hot rod? Did you end up spending a lot more time and money than you thought? Or, have you abandoned ship on a big project like this before? Please share your experiences in the comments.
FAQs
According to Conceptcarz.com valuation, the median sales price for 1934 Ford Coupes are: Coupe: US $45,100.
What was the top speed of the Ford hot rod in 1934? ›
It was not without its problems however, and it produced only 65 bhp. Within two years Ford was sorting the problem and with new Bohnalite aluminum heads output rose to 90 bhp at 3,300 rpm. Top speed was said to be 65 mph.
What is the most sought after hot rod? ›
The 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevrolet cars, known as the Tri-Fives, are highly sought-after by hot rod enthusiasts for their classic style and performance potential. The Chevrolet Tri-Five is a series of iconic American automobiles produced by Chevrolet from 1955 to 1957.
What does "hot rod" mean in slang? ›
US. Slang. 1. an automobile, usually an old one stripped of extraneous parts, adjusted or rebuilt for quick acceleration and great speed.
How many 1934 Ford coupes were made? ›
Ford produced 26,348 three-window coupes for 1934 (plus seven four-cylinder models). The five-window was far more popular: 47,633 standards (plus 20 four-cylinder) and 26,879 DeLuxes (plus three four-cylinder).
How fast did a 1934 Ford go? ›
Other sources, Herman notes, put the capacity of the 1934 Ford Fordor Deluxe even lower: around 65 miles an hour. “Compared to today's world, it's slow, super slow,” he says of the stolen Ford.
What is the most popular Ford Hot Rod? ›
The iconic hot rod.
That red '32 Highboy Roadster is perhaps the most iconic hot rod of all time.
Did Ford have a V8 in 1934? ›
But these cars were understandably poor sellers, and by 1934, all of Ford's production was switched to the much more powerful V8. The 1934 Fords also featured a more streamlined body highlighted by a distinctive V-shaped grille.
How much horsepower did a 1934 Ford have? ›
Engine & Transmission
| V 8 90-degree | L-Head |
|---|
| Power : | 85 HP (62.56 KW) @ 3800 RPM |
| Torque : | 150 Ft-Lbs (203 NM) @ 2200 RPM |
| Bore : | 3.1 in | 78 mm. |
| Stroke : | 3.8 in | 95 mm. |
5 more rowsThe common theme is that "hot" related to "hotting up" a car, which means modifying it for greater performance. With regards to the word "rod", one theory is that it means roadster, a lightweight 2-door car which was often used as the basis for early hot rods.
First, let's establish some guidelines. Let's consider a hot rod to be a 1948-earlier car built to go fast and look cool. Then, let's consider a muscle car to be a mid-50's and up American car, built either by the factory or by you at home, also to go fast and look cool.
What is the quintessential hot rod? ›
Without question the 1932 Ford—affectionately called the “Deuce”, is the quintessential hot rod.
What is a vintage hot rod? ›
A street rod is also referred to as a “hot rod.” It's an old car that's been significantly modified, usually for performance purposes. Street rods can be based on any make or model of vehicle, but they're typically pre-1949 cars.
What is a hot rod KFC? ›
What are KFC Hot Rods? Described on the menu as “crispy, spicy, succulent”, they're literally strips of the Colonel's spicy coated chicken served on a stick. Why is it that everything tastes better on a stick? Hot Rods were first introduced in 2007 for a limited time, then made an exciting return in 2021.
What is Rod in police terms? ›
Police & FBI Acronyms
| 187 | California Penal Code for Murder |
|---|
| ROD | Relieved of Duty |
| ROR | Released On Own Recognizance |
| RTC | Return To Custody |
| RTD | Return To Duty |
113 more rowsFord's flathead V8 produced 85 horsepower from 221 cu in. of displacement. This model was equipped with a 3-speed transmission and a single downdraft carburetor, and it weighed a feather-light 2,461 pounds. It sold for $575 when new in 1934 — or almost $11,000 today when adjusted for inflation.
What was the most expensive car in 1934? ›
The Duesenberg Model J was also the most expensive car built in America with prices ranging from $10,000. to $20,000 during a period when a brand new Ford was less than $600. and the average American home was $4,000.
What engine is in a 1934 Ford coupe? ›
A: The engine powering the 1934 Ford Model 40 was a V 8L-Head (3622 cc | 221.0 cu in. | 3.6 L.) with 85 HP (62.56 KW) @ 3800 RPM and 150 Ft-Lbs (203 NM) @ 2200 RPM.
Is the Ford Model A rare? ›
The very rare special coupe started production around March 1928 and ended in mid-1929. The Model A was the first Ford to use the standard set of driver controls with conventional clutch and brake pedals, throttle, and gearshift. Previous Fords used controls that had become uncommon to drivers of other makes.
