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
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