Beschrijving
• Dagenham built RHD, UK market car
• Very rare 'rumble' seat cabriolet
• Recent full engine rebuild including alloy heads
• Converted to 12V and fully rewired
• New set of whitewalls on reconditioned wires
This stylish open topped Ford was one of the most expensive and lowest-production models offered by Ford in 1935. Worldwide production of the cabriolet models is believed to be around 17, 000 (compared with a staggering 942, 000 total Model 48’s built in 1935), with very few built in the UK as RHD such as this car. The 1935 models were a mixture of carried over features and innovations. The latter included the “centre-poise” chassis for added cabin space and additional safety, and an improved three-speed manual gearbox with counterweighting for smoother shifts and synchromesh on gears 2 & 3. The robust and muscular flathead V8 was carried over in capacity and configuration but it was heavily re-engineered for 1935. Despite a revised block, crank and pistons, however, the output remained the same at around 85hp and 145 Ib-ft of torque.
This particular car has little early history but was obviously restored sometime in the 1980’s after which it found itself in a small regional museum for the following twenty years or so. Between being sold off by the museum in 2003 and 2020 it again seems to have seen very little use until the previous owner gave the car a major ‘lockdown’ refresh which included a full new engine and rewiring. The car now runs extremely well and is far easier to drive than its age would suggest with an easy and light gearbox and performance that more than happily keeps up with the traffic flow as well as sounding glorious with a lovely subdued V8 ‘woofle’. Steering is heavy when manoeuvring, though no worse than say a P6 Rover, and lightens up nicely once on the move.
The paintwork is very presentable though typical of a museum car that has had the doors and rubble seat opened and closed many times so there are some touched in chips along the panel edges. Overall, the paint has a lovely deep lustre and was obviously well applied at the time. The chrome work is all very presentable. Underneath the car is in great condition with a good exhaust and the rod brakes pulling up nice and straight.
The interior is trimmed in beige vinyl which is undamaged though the brown carpets are a little worn. Being a Cabriolet rather than a Roadster this UK car has very practical wind up windows which are a nice touch. The hood raises and fits well though has a few marks.
The engine fitted was fully remanufactured by Royal Customs in Dorset and includes new alloy Offenhauser heads and all new ancillaries (water pump, starter motor, alternator, distributor, battery, fuel pump etc etc). The car was also fully rewired and converted to 12V so now starts promptly with everything working as it should. The car has discreetly fitted ‘normal’ indicators – though there are also what seem to be standard UK fit trafficators fitted which should be easy to convert to the 12V electrics now present. Bills for work carried out over the past couple of years total over £17, 500.
Finally, the newly refinished wire wheels have just been fitted with a full set of new whitewall tyres in the correct size and pattern.
