Vehicle Description
This 1938 Ford convertible sedan is body number 1991 (firewall tab
included) out of 2743 built that year. It was the lowest production
run of this body type for Ford that built convertible sedans dating
from 1935 to 1939 inclusive. The bodies were contracted out to
Murray Body Co. then shipped to Ford for assembly. It is estimated
that fewer than 100 of these '38 convertible sedans exist.<
/br>< /br>The car has been built to replicate a typical
mid to late '50's custom with body modifications appropriate to the
era. The modifications include: moulded hood and deck lid with the
deck lid hinges removed from the outside and placed on the interior
of the trunk, smoothed and painted running boards, moulded cowl
vent, Hagen fuel door, not chopped, all steel car. Typical '50's
exterior style items include wide whitewalls (Coker radials),
Cadillac hub caps, California rake stance, Appleton style dummy
spotlights and the biggest modification of all is the lift-off,
Carson style top. The owner prefers the 'phaeton' look (no middle
divisors for the windows) but they are finished inside and out and
supplied with the car. So are the original top irons. Exterior
paint is black acrylic urethane that has been striped in a typical
'50's era style.< /br>< /br>Interior style items are
the black and white, tuk-n-roll upholstery with white headliner and
white beaded carpets, Ididit chrome column with a Lecara banjo 15
steering wheel. The dash and garnish mouldings are painted a satin
black with 1950 Ford type chrome ball switch knobs. Two speed
electric wipers, no heat, air or stereo. A very unique feature is
the Von Dutch painted eyeball gear shift ball that has been
attached inside the clock mount. Dutch did the knob in 1977 and I
have carried it since.< /br>< /br>Although the car has
been built to accurately represent the 1950's style of customs seen
on the streets back then there have been numerous modern era
improvements for better function, convenience, safety and
reliability. Dynamat type insulation has been applied from the
firewall back to the rear of the trunk, the Ididit column is a tilt
type, Speedhut quad gauges take care of engine operation and there
is a separate electric speedo/tach: both are in the stock dash
openings. The speedometer is GPS activated. It runs a Chevy 350
engine that has been balanced and blueprinted; high volume, high
pressure oil pump an Edelbrock Performer intake and 600cfm carb
with electric choke, Holley mechanical fuel pump, ceramic coated
and smoothed rams horn exhaust manifolds, MSD electronic
distributor, Griffen aluminum radiator with a Griffen shroud
holding two 10 Spal electric fans and a stainless radiator
overflow. Transmission is a 350 Turbo with floor mounted Lokar
shifter. Rear end is a Ford 9 with a 3.5+- ratio. Power disk brakes
in the front and 10 drum rear. No power steering (steers easily)The
emergency brake cables are Lokar.< /br>< /br>Chassis
modifications include a split wishbone connected to a Magnum 4
dropped I beam axle, parallel leaf rear springs and tube shocks on
all corners. So although you are cruisin' Back to the '50's Style
you are driving a car with modern day safety, comfort and
reliability components. The car has less than 300 miles on a recent
rebuild and any prospective buyer is encouraged to personally view
it to confirm its quality, detail and condition. If you cannot
personally view the car please send an appraiser to inspect it for
you. A California Car Cover and Wardlow front fender protectors are
included. < /br>< /br>This is an attention grabbing,
rare, early style custom that is a comfortable and reliable driver
< /br>< /br>< /br> < /br>< /br>View
this vehicle here:
https://bno.com/202/auctions/auction_item/1938-ford-81-a-deluxe-conv-sedan