NEW PRICE! Nice older restoration in great condition for driving events. Recently rebuilt 8BA flathead, working accessory AM radio, great color combination, desirable body style. Everything that's great about flathead Fords at a reasonable price.
This is an older repaint that might date back to the 1990s, but it shines up nicely and represents Washington Blue properly, so this Ford looks right. It has been driven and enjoyed, which is the whole point of owning an old car, is it not? You probably shouldn't expect perfection, but it's perfectly OK to expect this to be a car that you can get in and enjoy with thumbs-up gestures from fellow motorists along the way. Panel fit is quite good, with doors that fit flush, a hood that latches easily, and the rumble seat pops up from a nicely finished opening. It appears that much of the chrome has been refinished, including the bumpers, with the rest being nice original stuff that shows some light pitting, as expected. The handsome 1936 grille is augmented with an accessory greyhound hood ornament as well as a pair of Ford-script driving lights that dress it up quite a bit. Twin taillights for safety, a metal cover for the spare tire, and a rakish profile make this cabrio one of the most handsome of the '36 Fords.
There's no new ground being broken inside, where you get familiar Ford brown leatherette, a rubber mat, and a big banjo steering wheel. We suspect that much of the interior is original, and with that in mind, it's in fantastic shape. The rubber mat isn't torn or cracked, the seats show no splits or tears, and the door panels, which are probably newer than the rest, are in good order. All of the original gauges are fully operational, including the thermometer-style temperature gauges and fuel gauge. There's also an accessory AM radio in the center of the dash, and remarkably, it works! It takes a bit for the tubes in the box on the firewall to warm up and given that the antenna is mounted under the running board, reception is spotty, but to find such a device still fully operational is pretty amazing. The rumble seat is upholstered in the same brown leatherette that's durable and weather-resistant. The canvas top is older and shows its age, but it isn't ripped or torn and seals up well enough to keep the rain off your head if you get caught in a shower.
It's powered by a recently rebuilt 239 cubic inch 8BA flathead, which is really the one you want. It isn't totally correct for 1936, so this isn't a car for the absolute purist, but it does everything you want a flathead V8 to do and makes all the right sounds. There's still a familiar Holley 2-barrel carburetor on top, complete with oil bath air cleaner, as well as a generator to make 6-volts' worth of electricity. The big advantage of the 8BA is the distributor, which is more conventionally located on the passenger's side of the block rather than on the front between the heads—service is ever so much easier. There's a big radiator up front that seems to have no problem keeping this flatty nice and cool, and the mechanical fuel pump delivers the fuel without any signs of flathead fever. Regardless of your tastes, this one looks right and runs great.
We do not believe the body has ever been off the frame, so please don't expect sparkling perfection underneath (that's also why this car is so affordable). The 3-speed manual transmission has clean shifts, clutch action is light thanks to a fresh disc and pressure plate, and the dual exhaust system has vintage glasspack-style mufflers that have just the right V8 soundtrack. Modest 3.55 gears give this Ford great punch around town, yet it is still happy to cruise on the highway at 55-60 MPH without working very hard. Ride quality is surprisingly good for something with leaf springs and rigid axles at both ends, and the brakes—which are still mechanical—work rather well, so don't believe that nonsense about conversions being mandatory if you want to drive. Beautiful artillery wheels wear chrome "spider" hubcaps and trim rings, as well as a proper set of 6.00-16 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whitewall tires.
This lovely cabriolet also comes with a nice set of books and manuals, including the original owner's manuals with envelope, a specification book, brochures, and a radio operator's manual.
Perfection is over-rated. This Ford was built to drive and it does that EXTREMELY well. It looks great, and the road manners of a well-sorted Ford V8 like this are just delightful. It's reasonably priced for a 1936 V8 Deluxe Cabriolet, the engine is strong and fresh, and it does everything right when you're behind the wheel. And all of those are the right reasons to own an old car. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
