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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is an attention grabbing, rare, early style custom that is a
comfortable and reliable driver