1932 Ford 3-window coupe

This 1932 Ford 3-window coupe, Lot 359.2, sold for $49,500, including buyer’s premium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County sale on June 22–24, 2012.

The 1932 Ford 3-window coupe is one of hot rodding’s iconic models. Ford Motor Co. understood that its 4-cylinder Model A, built from 1928 to 1931, was not sufficient to satisfy a growing cadre of potential buyers who, despite the Depression, demanded fresh styling, more comfort, more convenience, as well as considerably more power.

The 1932 Ford’s chassis featured a sturdy K-shaped cross-member that accommodated a new flathead V8. This cross-member allowed subsequent updated Ford and Mercury flatheads to be readily installed, which made it a favorite of hot rodders.

The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), founded in 1937, initially accepted only roadsters for racing, but the success of the Pierson Brothers’ ’34 Ford coupe, which appeared on the cover of Hot Rod in April 1950 as a 142-mph record-setter, encouraged other hot rodders to build modified coupes.

Both 3-window and 5-window ’32s soon became popular hot-rod raw material. With its suicide doors, the ’32 3-window had a special style. The model itself didn’t appear in the Ford lineup until April 1932. It was a one-year-only effort, and it was only sold with DeLuxe features — 20,506 were V8s and 968 were fours.

Steel or fiberglass?

After decades of hot rodding and years of providing fodder for modified stock car racing, the supply of good, usable ’32 Ford 3-window bodies began to dry up. Fiberglass replicas became available, thanks to the efforts of the late Dee Wescott and others in the 1970s. Real steel bodies began to be very expensive.

Although enthusiasts still prize authentic Ford coupe bodies, Brookville replica steel bodies are fully accepted, as are new chassis by companies such as American Stamping and So-Cal Speed Shop. Fiberglass bodies, like the one used on our subject car, tend to be much cheaper. Although they don’t share the same feel as real steel bodies, it can be hard to distinguish between the two from more than a few paces away.

Build it or buy it?

Why would someone build a hot rod coupe like this, drive it very little, and offer it at auction only to receive a fraction of its build cost? Admittedly, it doesn’t make much financial sense. But if you want a hot rod that is done completely to your standards, with your engine, chassis, paint, and interior choices, you’ll always pay a premium over what it’ll cost to buy someone else’s dream car that has already been built. And when it comes time to sell, it’ll be near impossible to recover your initial investment. Is it worth it? That question depends on you and how much you’re willing to spend on the experience of having exactly the hot rod you want.

But for any hot rodder who wants a contemporary deuce 3-window and isn’t concerned about having every detail to his or her own specs, starting with a completed car is always a smart move. As was the case here, chances are you’ll buy it for less than the cost of assembling the components and either fabricating it yourself or having it built. It’s a popular shortcut to a cool ride at minimal expense.

The sum of its parts

There may be very few actual early Ford parts on this car. The 18-prefix, eight-digit chassis number is correct for a ’32 Ford. The buyer believes the chassis is original. The top on this coupe has not been chopped. Consider it a modern interpretation of a classic ’32, equipped with an LS1 V8, a four-speed automatic and a Currie nine-inch rear end.

A mix of styles is present here, with steel wheels fitted with large and small blackwalls, an aluminum Moon fuel tank wedged between the front frame rails, large Ford Commercial-style headlights and early Chevy taillights. It’s equipped with popular updates such as a replica ’58 Buick-style wide-finned drums concealing Wilwood front disc brakes, air conditioning, power-operated windows and an electrically operated deck lid. The leather interior, by noted trimmer Ron Mangus, is tastefully done with what appear to be Glide seat frames. Everything is top quality. It’s basically a modern hot rod. If this particular coupe is your cup of tea, it was a bargain at $49,500. It should prove to be a reliable, comfortable cruiser.

A short and profitable ownership

It was a short ownership experience for Doug Byrd of Clearwater, CA, who both bought and sold this car at Barrett-Jackson. “I was looking for a ’32 Ford coupe,” he told ACC, “so I went to Barrett-Jackson [in Scottsdale this past January] hoping to buy one.” Byrd inspected several cars. “This was the nicest one,” he said. He was the winning bidder at $40,700, including B-J’s commission. “It had a lot of nice equipment on it, and that beautiful Ron Mangus interior.” He believed the car came from Georgia, and estimated it had cost about $80,000 to build. ACC’s Premium Database indicated it was offered earlier at a MidAmerica auction, where it failed to sell despite a high bid of $40,000.

Why did Byrd sell the coupe so quickly? The answer is simple. “I’m a tall guy and it was tough to drive it. I couldn’t sit in the car comfortably.” So off to Orange County it went, where it achieved $49,500 — a nearly $9k profit.

Was it a deal?

The market, as usual, tells the real story. This car was not a reworking of a famous coupe. It had no magazine feature history. It has a fiberglass body. It’s a shortcut to a “starter” hot rod, with quality parts, bought for less than it cost to build.

Was it worth the price paid? Absolutely. But don’t ever expect it to increase in value — just enjoy it.&nbsp