1931 Roadster pickup

[26Tudor]

I just found one in this tiny little town, it's an indented firewall '31, the body is 99.99% rust free. The guy bought it in 1965, took it apart, and tagged and bagged everything, then never did anything else. He's 82 now, and has come to the realization that he won't ever be able to do anything with it. It has the fenderwell spare tire fenders on both sides, the (as far as he knew in 1963) original engine, original perfect chassis, splash aprons, rear fenders, even the original non-peaked radiator shell.
He wants 4,000 for it, but I know I could get it for 3,500.
The question is, is it worth it?

 

[Will Kimble]

Would be in my garage by now...

 

[wardkew]

What town did you say you lived in?? My trailer is already hitched up.

 

[HoarseWhisperer]

That's way too much money; don't do it!

You can tell the owner that I will remove that trash from his property for little or no fee.

For the environment's sake.

 

[peters180a/170b]

Why ? Why ? Why ? is it not in your hands? $4,000.00 [look what a brookville repro . body cost alone. A rare truck !!! One thing to check out and very hard to find!!! THE WINDSHIELD STANCHIONS ![Hens teeth] But that would not stop me from buying that truck. Good luck , when you get it..... let us know...

 

[Charlie Stephens]

I have an early 1931 RDPU (small bed like the one you are looking at but no indented firewall). According to "The Ford Model A As Henry Built It" the truck went to the larger bed in May of 1931. If I was looking for another one I wouldn't even think twice about buying that one, he would have the money and I would have it in my garage. As far as the radiator shell goes the pickup needs the one with the peak. The straight across one was used on the AA with a thicker radiator. According to an old Ford Life Magazine article they made 2637 open cab trucks including pickups and the ones on the AA chassis. How is the paperwork on it?

Charlie Stephens

 

[marc hildebrant]

Great Buy !

Marc

 

[TinCup]

Talk about a no brainer.
As you can tell from the other posts If you have the space and the money you should have already towed it home.

Good Luck with a great find.

 

[Charlie Stephens]

It may just be a trick of the camera but the wheel wells look too wide. Does anyone else agree with me on this? I would still buy it and if the wells are too wide trade them to a street rodder. For reference my wheel wells are 6 1/4 inches wide in the center of the opening at the fender level. I wonder if the fenders are from a AA since the radiator shell if from a AA and it looks like a farm in the background? But the bottom line is if you like it and are willing to put a little work in to fix it up buy it because you will probably not find another one in that condition at that price

Charlie Stephens

UPDATE: 26Tudor measured the wells and they are correct. He got 6 1/8 which is close enough. Must have been the camera angle or maybe I just need glasses.

Charlie Stephens

 

[26Tudor]

To the poster that asked about the paperwork-
He has the title, dated 1965, in his name, when he bought it.

 

[Tim]

Hand him $4500 it's still a deal. that is a great opportunity for a really unbelievable piece.


Tim

 

[29RPU]

Make it a done deal.

The wheel wells look proper to me. 30-31 would be slightly larger than the earlier because of tire right?

 

[Model A Man]

I would pay $6,000.00 in a heart beat and still think that would be a cheap price

 

[Dan Baron]

If you don't want it I'll take it...I'm still looking for a new truck. Sorry that would be a new "old" truck. Good luck in your new find. We all know of a guy who has things like this, that will never do anything with them and won't sell a thing. Then they pass away and the family gets ripped off by vultures. At least this guy is willing to let things go. Again good luck you lucky *******.

 

[Roadster62]

Hell yes! Don't be an *** pay the guy FULL ASKING PRICE!

 

[Charlie Stephens]

Time for a confession. With one exception I like the '32 body styles better than the Model A. I like a '32 roadster better than a Model A roadster. I like a '32 sedan better than a Model A sedan and so on throughout the list of body styles that were available both years. What is that one exception? I like the '30-'31 roadster pickups better than the '32 roadster pickups (although due to their novelty I would probably take one if it was forced on me). The Model A roadster pickups used the smooth flowing cowl section from a roadster/phaeton while the '32 roadster pickups had a unique commercial looking cowl that looked like it belonged on a jeep. I should note here that the reproduction '32 roadster pickup by Brookville uses the cowl section from a roadster.

Charlie Stephens

 

[Chris in WNC]

BUY IT RIGHT NOW!!!!

then start looking for a good non-welled fender for the passenger side.
it will look much better (like a proper truck) with only one sidemount.

I keep looking. someday it will be MY turn to find a gem like this.

enjoy!

 

[1931 flamingo]

If nothing else, BUY IT and flip it or at least save it from someone who may cut it up. JMO If avail I would buy it.
Paul in CT

 

[26Tudor]

Thanks for all the opinions, guys.
I will most likely buy it, but I am afraid I could end up having to sell it again it I get laid off from work (which, as it stands right now, is a VERY distinct possibility).
If that happens, I will contact the folks who have voiced an interest in it, in the order they posted on this thread about it.
Here's a few more photos of it... the guy says he has every single piece and part for the truck, windshield stanchion and frame, near perfect chassis, every nut and bolt that came off the car... He was a Mechanical Engineer, so I have a feeling he did, in fact, "tag and bag" everything

 

[Mitch]

For goodness sake. The body alone is worth more than $4,000 to me. Original stantions? Whoah.