For Sale: 1936 Ford Model 68 in Bradenton, Florida

1936 Ford Model 68 DeLuxe Cabriolet �€" Rumble Seat, 302 V8, Full Restoration Why This Car Is Special The 1936 Ford Model 68 DeLuxe Cabriolet is one of the most visually distinctive body styles Ford produced during the prewar era. Ford designated its 1936 lineup as the Model 68, a reference to the engine series rather than a traditional model name. That year, Ford offered the cabriolet as part of the DeLuxe trim line �€" a two-door, open-top body style with a folding soft top, a front bench seat for two, and a rumble seat in the tail for additional passengers. The rumble seat configuration made the cabriolet a social car in its day, and it remains one of the most sought-after body styles among prewar Ford collectors. The 1936 Ford was a significant styling step forward from the 1935 model. Designer Eugene 'Bob' Gregorie, working under Edsel Ford, refined the body lines into something more aerodynamic and cohesive. The vertical bar grille, which debuted in 1935, was revised and given a more pronounced V-shape for 1936, and the headlamps were fully integrated into the fenders for the first time. These changes gave the 1936 Ford a much more modern appearance than its predecessors, and the design has aged well enough that it remains a crowd favorite at shows and on the street nearly ninety years later. The cabriolet body style was produced in relatively small numbers compared to the Tudor and Fordor sedans that made up the bulk of Ford's volume. Surviving, drivable examples �€" especially those with rumble seats and DeLuxe trim �€" are genuinely scarce. This particular car has been fully restored and upgraded with a 302ci Ford small-block V8, a 5-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and four-wheel disc brakes, making it a capable driver that retains the visual character of the original. Features List - 302ci Ford small-block V8 - 5-speed manual transmission with floor-mounted shifter - Independent front suspension with coilover shocks - Rack-and-pinion steering - Four-wheel disc brakes - Tilt steering column - Air conditioning - Folding black soft top with zip-out rear window - Functional rumble seat - Updated 12-volt electrical system - Performance dual exhaust system - Wood-grain dashboard and trim - Red leather interior with tan piping - Tan exterior paint, professional quality - 16-inch steel artillery wheels with V8 hubcaps and beauty rings - Wide whitewall tires on modern radial construction - Chrome-plated vertical bar grille with hidden horns - Teardrop-shaped integrated headlamps - Detailed and painted undercarriage - New glass throughout Mechanical Under the hood sits a Ford 302ci small-block V8 �€" a sensible and historically appropriate engine choice for a prewar Ford build. The 302 shares its lineage with the Ford small-block family that traces back to the 1962 221ci unit, and by the time the 302 was fully developed it was one of the most proven small-block V8s in American automotive history. Running with a carburetor, performance exhaust headers, and an electric cooling fan visible in the engine bay photos, this engine is set up to run reliably in warm weather and stop-and-go driving conditions. The Ford Motorsport valve covers are a period-correct hot rod touch that fits the build style well. The 5-speed manual transmission is paired with a floor-mounted shifter �€" visible in the interior photos as a chrome-topped unit rising from the tunnel. This gearbox gives the car usable highway gearing that the original three-speed Ford transmission never offered. The combination of the 302 and a 5-speed makes this a legitimate cross-country driver, not just a show car. Underneath, the suspension has been fully updated. The front end uses an independent front suspension setup with coilover shocks �€" a significant improvement over the original solid front axle that came on the 1936 Ford. Rack-and-pinion steering replaces the original worm-and-sector unit, delivering much more dire