Vehicle Description
Everyone has their favorite year of Ford V8, and mine is the 1936.
The one-year-only styling combines a traditional upright grille
with a streamlined body to create one of the best-looking cars of
the period, no matter the manufacturer. This rather rare 5-Window
Coupe with its integrated trunk is a neat resto-rod that keeps all
the great Ford styling while merely adding a few modern
conveniences for today's roads. Built right and dialed-in, this
turn-key hotrod needs only one thing: a new owner.
If you admire the '36 Ford like I do, then you'll definitely
appreciate the extra mile the builders went on this handsome
Ferrari Red coupe. Fortunately, it hasn't been chopped, channeled,
or smoothed, leaving all the original steel (that's right, the body
and fenders on this baby are all-steel) pretty much as it was when
it was new. The gently rounded fenders with their peaked crease
through the middle, the highly detailed hood vents, and
not-so-practical yet very stylish rumble seat with adjoining
rear-mount spare tire - it has all seemingly been transported
intact from 1936. Finished in what was likely Henry Ford's
least-favorite color (if the man had his way, every car in the
world would be black and we'd be living a very boring existence),
it's got some classic flash that's still sensible and very nicely
finished, with a high-class air to it much like a damsel in a long
red dress. It's not perfect, having been built several years ago,
but the look will never go out of style. Sure, there are some
imperfections in the paint and signs of past wash-and-wax
applications, but it's still a highly presentable driver with an
unforgettable curb presence. Much of the original brightwork made
the translation, from the neatly dipped bumpers to the original
door handles to the original taillights which now feature blue-dot
lenses. Up front, there are cool modern bulbs in the original
buckets, and the V-shaped cascading grille up front really sets the
tone for the entire streetrod. And true to its original roots, this
'36 still features a black vinyl roof panel up top, along with a
color-matched spare tire cover out back.
Inside, all pretensions of being a stock Ford are long gone,
replaced by high-back bucket seats and many of the modern features
you'd expect in a relatively recent build. The contoured seats
appear to have been swapped-in from a late-model car, with the rear
bench seat and door panels upholstered to match in a unique
off-white vinyl upholstery accented with red piping. Ford's
original dash remains, painted in matching Ferrari Red and
augmented with a full array of cream-faced Classic Instruments
gauges ahead of the driver. Options include a custom R134a A/C
system that was neatly installed under the dash, a tilt steering
column, and a Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit that was cleverly
integrated into a custom panel in the headliner. And if A/C is not
your thing, the front windshield still tilts open with the stock
crank on the dashboard, and the rear window is actually functional
too. A thick-wrapped Grant GT steering wheel looks right in the
Ford, and it tilts to give even the tallest of drivers plenty of
room at the helm of the cockpit. Plush carpets below are protected
by vinyl floor mats, the rear seat look practically untouched, and
the rumble seat was beautifully tailored in the same patterns found
inside the cabin.
While the flathead was celebrated for its performance at the time,
today you need more horsepower and the best source of that is a 350
cubic inch Chevy V8. Sensibly dressed with an Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetor and aluminum intake manifold, an updated ignition system
and chromed alternator, and chrome valve covers to keep it
interesting. It was built a few years ago, so it's totally sorted
by now - a smooth, reliable, powerful travelling companion for the
guy who likes to drive his rods. The Chevy is a neat fit in the
Ford's engine bay, and all the accessories tuck in tight so the
hood fits well. A big Walker radiator, power steering and power
front disc brakes, and a Mustang II front clip make it drive like a
modern car. The transmission is a TH350 3-speed automatic spinning
a Ford 9-inch rear end hanging on air shocks and leaf springs, and
the dual exhaust with chambered mufflers sounds just right.
Competing the illusion is a set of polished Weld Racing wheels with
big-n-little blackwall radials for the perfect stance.
Classic good looks never go out of style, making this is a
well-sorted rod that's a true pleasure to drive. Call today!
