1932 Ford Roadster

Robert/Texas said:
There is a nice stock '32 roadster listed on Hemmings @ 50K. If I were 30 years younger I might bid on it.

https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1932-ford-roadster-257661?utm_content=vehicles_for_sale_b&uemlid=9434b79b5d53f45971fe583109462806a90dfeb5f9cd81f20afcc74fa1248351&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Marketplace%20Afternoon%20Update%202025-09-19&utm_term=Marketplace%20Email%20-%20Daily%20List
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Asking Price

$50,000


Description

1932 Ford Model 18 Roadster Deluxe * Original, Unmodified and Fairly Rare!
This car is a fairly rare, original, unmodified 32. the deluxe edition with all the extras: dual taillights, rearview mirror with clock, turn signal lights, trunk, dual spare tires fender mounted, rumble seat. It is in #2 condition with very few mods from original. Note the air cleaner and an electric fuel pump was added. Purchased in 2013 in its present condition from Tom Mack Classics in South Carolina. The car runs great but only rarely driven. Always garaged and covered.



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DavidG said:
Way overpriced.
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Thanks David. I was thinking the same but know too little about 32's to be confident in my thought. It didn't appear to be a very nice car; certainly not a #2 as advertised.
 
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DavidG said:
Way overpriced.
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Besides this 1932 roadster Hemmings shows at least 6 others in "original" form or restoration not a streetrod,many of those.The prices are from 45,000 to one in Minnesota to 100 k ,also one for 95,000 and 88,000 another for 74,000. Lots of them on the market today maybe if I live long enough and more supply than demand I will finally get one,I am going on 80 so doubtfull. Last year around this time was a very nice looking roadster I think it was in New Mexico,ad was very vague and missleading on an "all Henry" steel car. My first question was answered "yes all steel except fenders are fiberglass".Others questioned and it eventually sold but showed up for sale again ,this went on for several weeks sold and then relisted for sale again.Turns out the all steel all Henry Ford roadster was all fiberglass except the hood it was at least steel. Final for sale I saw it was listed as a "replica". I think they still wanted over $40,000 for it.
 
37 Coupe said:
Besides this 1932 roadster Hemmings shows at least 6 others in "original" form or restoration not a streetrod,many of those.The prices are from 45,000 to one in Minnesota to 100 k ,also one for 95,000 and 88,000 another for 74,000. Lots of them on the market today maybe if I live long enough and more supply than demand I will finally get one,I am going on 80 so doubtfull. Last year around this time was a very nice looking roadster I think it was in New Mexico,ad was very vague and missleading on an "all Henry" steel car. My first question was answered "yes all steel except fenders are fiberglass".Others questioned and it eventually sold but showed up for sale again ,this went on for several weeks sold and then relisted for sale again.Turns out the all steel all Henry Ford roadster was all fiberglass except the hood it was at least steel. Final for sale I saw it was listed as a "replica". I think they still wanted over $40,000 for it.
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I average about 6 calls a month from people who just purchased a car with a "Wescott" fiberglass body. I generally have people email or text photos, and guess what... Only about 2 of the 6 are actually have a Wescott body and the rest are something else.
 
There are two sides to the coin demonstrated both here and on other threads that tell of the declining market for flathead Fords. On the one hand, we are critical of an overpriced car, very nice but with many incorrect issues, and the flip side of low selling prices in general. The bottom line being that whatever the final agreed price a car sells for is exactly what it was worth at the time it sold, given that a seller isn’t forced to sell and a buyer could have also walked. There can be second thoughts the next day, but it is what it is on the day of the sale.
I think we would all agree that buyers and sellers should be fully informed for the stability of the hobby, and that threads like this furthers that objective well.
To that end, perhaps a listing of incorrect features may be in order? My previous post about the hose clamps being correct pointed up my belief that nothing else under the hood was correct. Any other observations?
 
Alan - I'm glad you posted your last note (#12). I don't know enough to say what is correct in the engine bay, but do know enough to see lots of incorrect parts.
It's interesting that there are no photos of the underside of the car, or at least I don't see any.

One person in my club purchased a great looking 1934 but once he got it home realized that the underside had not been touched and was full of rust, grease, dirt and old "fixes". Could this car have the same issues?

I suppose it's up to who ever wants to shell out the big bucks for this one.
 
Alan and Mike,

It all depends on what a potential buyer is looking for, but my comments are based on what is important to me. Based on the photos provided, other than perhaps the right side exhaust manifold and a random nut or bolt, there is nothing in the engine compartment that was produced during the 1932 model year, right down to and including the engine block.

As Dave notes, to me good photos of the floor an important omission, although '32 floor pans are less prone to rusting through given the drain holes built and the lack of jute padding beneath the rubber mats.

The only way to find out the extent of cowl and quarter panel repairs is to see the car in person or have a knowledgeable local friend look at it for you.

If I were twenty years younger, healthy, and looking for a roadster to restore, I would consider both this one and the one presently for sale In Minnesota for $43,000. Depending on the quality of the workmanship of the body and paint work, it's worth $38-40,00, whereas the yellow one, $35-37,000.


P.S. None of the yellow one's upholstery material is as built in terms of color for a '32 deluxe roadster, although the rumble seat color is close to that of a '32 cabriolet. In other words, it is a minus, not a plus.
 
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I have to believe that this photo of the undercarriage speaks volumes to the entire so-called "restoration".
 

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That looks like it might be a car for a lower purchase price for someone who will drive it more or less as-is on tours and just have fun driving. Given the visibile general condition of the replaced parts, the buyer better have driven it first since it could be mechanically in very worn out shape.


Also, I'm somewhat confused by the general hate against the dual side mounts. I guess since I grew up around Model As as well as early V8s and other old cars they just look normal to me.
 
While I think that side mounts look better on some body types than others, they can't be avoided on '32 commercial vehicles. Dual side mounts are a bit overdone and interfere with servicing the engine compartment.
 
1932 Ford Tudor on Early V8 Club classified online, $49,000.Claims all original unrestored with a Columbia Overdrive. Weirdest one I have seen lately is a '32 roadster on Ebay,looks really great with the restoration and the grey color but what I think is weird is the seat.Must not have been able to find a '32 roadster seat or just wanted a brand new one with headrest.Other than that a great looking '32 roadster.
 
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