32 Cabriolet and 32 Roadster comparison

Fredb_

Fredb_

Well-known member
I’ve got a question for the 32 Ford experts. I have a friend that has a 32 Cabriolet that she wants to sell. She inherited from her father who was a friend of mine. She was under the impression that it was worth $40k due to its rarity. It’s a project, so I’m thinking that’s a bit steep on value. One interested person compared the price of the Brookville Roadster at around $13K so it got me wondering how many things are unique to the Cabriolet when compared to the Roadster. Are there significant differences between the Cabriolet and the Roadster that makes a solid Cabriolet more valuable? Appreciate any insight shared.
 

Attachments

  • image000001.jpg
    image000001.jpg
    55.2 KB · Views: 140
  • image000002.jpg
    image000002.jpg
    39.4 KB · Views: 137
  • IMG_6999.jpg
    IMG_6999.jpg
    43.7 KB · Views: 131
Roll up windows,weathertight
not much in common body wise
Your car is a lot more complete than a Brookville body.
 
We have a 33 Cabriolet and a 36 Phaeton and even in coastal Georgia it gets relatively chilly in the fall, winter, springs months. Having roll up windows make the choice of which to drive on a coolish day really easy. Love the Cab!
 
A friend of mine has a nice running driving complete 32 Victora for sale for 35k as a perspective. I would think more cabriolets were made than Victorias.
Lots of Cabriolet only parts on the car in question and if any were missing, good luck finding them.
 
John Gibson said:
We have a 33 Cabriolet and a 36 Phaeton and even in coastal Georgia it gets relatively chilly in the fall, winter, springs months. Having roll up windows make the choice of which to drive on a coolish day really easy. Love the Cab!
Click to expand...

I understand that aspect of the vehicles design. What I’m wondering is can you buy a 32 Ford roadster body and easily build a Cabriolet with a few parts or is the Cab body different enough to make that difficult?
 
Fredb_ said:
I’ve got a question for the 32 Ford experts. I have a friend that has a 32 Cabriolet that she wants to sell. She inherited from her father who was a friend of mine. She was under the impression that it was worth $40k due to its rarity. It’s a project, so I’m thinking that’s a bit steep on value. One interested person compared the price of the Brookville Roadster at around $13K so it got me wondering how many things are unique to the Cabriolet when compared to the Roadster. Are there significant differences between the Cabriolet and the Roadster that makes a solid Cabriolet more valuable? Appreciate any insight shared.
Click to expand...

I sold one three years ago that was fully restored as well as properly restored. The engine froze the year before and cracked.
$25k.

$40k for this one is dreamland.

I firmly believe many of these cars that have been held a long time by "old boys" (like me) that had never kept up with current values and / or refused to accept current values.
Thus, they led their (now) widows to believe something that simply is not reality based.
 
I would have to agree with you on this one. The people that are interested in these vehicles are dwindling in number and most of them don’t place as high value as they did 10-15 years ago. I’ve got about $40K invested in a 32 five window and might have difficulty getting it back. I personally wouldn’t give more than about $15K for this Cab project but I hate to tell her that.
 
If that is the cabriolet from the Roseburg basement, It is a 10K project. Owner died about 2 yrs ago. No eng/ trans, no upholstery, some good parts still there, cowl light holes leaded solid. ect. A fully restored one [blue] with original V8 sold in Eugene, Or for 43K two yrs ago. also. I bought my '33 5 window from that fellow. Newc
 
Newc said:
If that is the cabriolet from the Roseburg basement, It is a 10K project. Owner died about 2 yrs ago. No eng/ trans, no upholstery, some good parts still there, cowl light holes leaded solid. ect. A fully restored one [blue] with original V8 sold in Eugene, Or for 43K two yrs ago. also. I bought my '33 5 window from that fellow. Newc
Click to expand...

Yes, same car. He was a friend of mine and I bought the 32 five window that he was working on. Probably some disagreement on its value of course but that’s always the case. Thanks for your input.
 
There were two on EPay within the last few months both in the 40K to 45K price range and were on there for several weeks to a couple of months!!!!! NOT sure if either sold both nice driver, very presentable cars.
 
Fredb_ said:
I would have to agree with you on this one. The people that are interested in these vehicles are dwindling in number and most of them don’t place as high value as they did 10-15 years ago. I’ve got about $40K invested in a 32 five window and might have difficulty getting it back. I personally wouldn’t give more than about $15K for this Cab project but I hate to tell her that.
Click to expand...

I agree with others who posted above. $15K is way too high in my opinion. If your offer is to help them out, so be it. Hard to tell by those pictures, but $10K may even be too much. Do they have the title? If not, deduct another $2K.

I don't mean to come off sounding harsh, just brining some reality to the situation.

Projects are very hard to sell in this market unless it's going to someone with parts on hand to finish.
 
Tim Ayers said:
I agree with others who posted above. $15K is way too high in my opinion. If your offer is to help them out, so be it. Hard to tell by those pictures, but $10K may even be too much. Do they have the title? If not, deduct another $2K.

I don't mean to come off sounding harsh, just brining some reality to the situation.

Projects are very hard to sell in this market unless it's going to someone with parts on hand to finish.
Click to expand...

Yes it has a clear title and some additional parts.
 
When it comes to a comparison of a 32 Cab vs Roadster, the bodies (from the firewall back are completely different). The trunk lid is probably the same as a roadster (best guess), but everything else is unique to the Cab. The hood, fenders, running boards, grille, etc - are all the same as with the other 32's.

They're kind of a "richer man's roadster" back in the day - due to the roll-up windows, deluxe trim, rumble seat, etc.. I've had mine about 10 years . . . and it has been a VERY enjoyable and fun car.

Also, you don't see many of them as you can't just go buy one from Brookville and slap it together. If you can purchase that car for somewhere around the $13K number, I'd say you'd have a good project on your hands.
 
Kube said:
I sold one three years ago that was fully restored as well as properly restored. The engine froze the year before and cracked.
$25k.

$40k for this one is dreamland.

I firmly believe many of these cars that have been held a long time by "old boys" (like me) that had never kept up with current values and / or refused to accept current values.
Thus, they led their (now) widows to believe something that simply is not reality based.
Click to expand...

Very true, values are always fluctuating and a lot of people are out of touch on values. Consider no one is making a top or inferior for these right now or anytime soon. Paint and bodywork aren’t cheap anymore.

I’d take the $13k, avoid the endless emails, phone calls and no shows trying to get more than that.

Also, rare doesn’t always equal valuable.
 
Hitman said:
Very true, values are always fluctuating and a lot of people are out of touch on values. Consider no one is making a top or inferior for these right now or anytime soon. Paint and bodywork aren’t cheap anymore.

I’d take the $13k, avoid the endless emails, phone calls and no shows trying to get more than that.

Also, rare doesn’t always equal valuable.
Click to expand...

Oh my... your comment "rare doesn't always equal valuable" is spot on.
As an example, there was quite recently an Aston for sale on Bring A Trailer.
Documented to be one of five built in "those colors". The seller was attempting to equate that rarity to value.
The main issue? The colors were hideous! I firmly believe Helen Keller chose the colors.
Sometimes there's a good reason why few were built and / or survived.
 
Unless the daughter gets a serious dose of reality she will also die with this car at $40,000.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top