Least expensive rumble-seat roadster?

David Conwill

David Conwill

Senior Member
If a poor, young family man wanted an open V8 Ford to cart his family around in the summer months, in what direction would you steer him? The ‘32-‘34 cars seem out of reach due to the hot rodders; are the ‘35-‘36 cars any better? What's a reasonable price to expect on a driver-level car?

Thanks,

Dave
 
There is nothing cheap on your list, and if you buy any of those cars at the low end the cost of missing parts and body patching will eat you alive...
I speak as one who got into '32's at each 14 or so in the early '60's...Since being unable to afford much then, I have spent my life watching prices escalate steadily at a rate greater than my rising income!
I now have my dream '32 roadster, but mostly through dumb luck.
My thoughts here on how to get into a roadster, not cheaply but as cheaply as possible:
Start with an original '32 chassis...not cheap, but relatively under valued.
From there, Brookville roadster body. Again not cheap, but a pretty damn good and WAAAY cheaper than an original, way more satisfying than fiberglass. And you know what the cost will be.
This could be assembled one lump at a time, and repro parts eventually swapped out for original if your funding and/or luck increase radically.
'33-4 original expensive, repro steel substantially more expensive than same for '32.
I think '35-6 only available in glass, and of course originals also expensive.
In addition, as roadster sales became less important. '33-6 original roadster bodies regressed to heavy use of structural wood, making everything harder to deal with than '32.
 
If your good with metal, a '35-'36 5-window has enough dimensions similar to be able to be made into a look-alike roadster.... now if your paying for the work... you'll be ahead to buy a real one...

but its an option...
36over35.jpg


Also keep in mind that a trunk can be converted to a rumble pretty easily if you find a deal....
 
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No matter what year car you are looking for, if the top goes down, the price goes up! Convertibles, Roadsters, Phaetons, etc. are the most expensive to buy, restore and maintain, second only to full wooden body cars. Good luck in your search.
 
If you're looking for fun, a model A roadster is less than 2/3's of what a 1932 and up will cost. Smile per mile value is the same. The family won't even notice it's not a '32.
 
av8paul said:
If you're looking for fun, a model A roadster is less than 2/3's of what a 1932 and up will cost. Smile per mile value is the same. The family won't even notice it's not a '32.
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I meant to post these with a earlier reply.
 

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And another thought: I hate rumble seats (like my roadster has...). They are uncomfortable for any serious use as seats, and are lousy trunks. For family use, consider getting a second job as a bank robber so you can afford a phaeton.
 
I have found that there are not very many 35/36 roadsters or cabriolets that do not have a lot of body issues. I have seen good looking ones that when they are disassembled at the restoration shop are in need of most of the lower portion of the body, not to mention the problems with the frames being rusted through. When I started with mine, I knew what was going to be needed as it was purely junk, rusted through and through. I have watched 4 others going through the same rebuild of 36 cabriolets and it is a grim task and very expensive. Be aware that you need to look carefully under the car at the body around the frame. The low spots collect rain water and rust through. I have even seen one that some owner in the past replaced the lower rear quarter panels in expertly carved wood. He did a good job of hiding the problem until it came time to sell it and the restorer found the problems. The buyer had no idea what he was in for. By the time it was built, they had over $88,000 invested in the car. This is not a job for the faint of heart.
 
On '32's, less so on the later cars, cabriolets are considerably cheaper than roadsters and there is the possibility of bargaining. You can't bargain for a roadster because you will have about a thousand other people lined up to buy it...
As CN points out, the later bodies are serious trouble. '32's are structurally steel, and the stell body is also easier to evaluate for trouble.
 
My wife wanted me to convert my '32 from trunk to rumble seat. I reluctantly got all the stuff to do it. Then my kids said "and who do you think wants to ride in that rumble seat mom." I still have my trunk.:D

Lee
 
Bruce Lancaster said:
And another thought: I hate rumble seats (like my roadster has...). They are uncomfortable for any serious use as seats, and are lousy trunks. For family use, consider getting a second job as a bank robber so you can afford a phaeton.
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I'll second that one, I removed the rumble seat from my 34 Roadster, reversed
the deck lid and converted it to a trunk. Far easier to back the bags in when you are going on a trip.
 
The Brookville Model "A" roadster bodies are much cheaper than the '32 roadster bodies and with a '32 grille shell, cowl vent top, '32 dash, most people can't tell this from a '32. Of course Deuce people can spot it right away. Who cares, you want a fun car. Brookville sells all of these parts. Last I knew the Model "A" body was about 1/3 the price of 32 bodies. You have a steel body when done. Just my thought. Jim
 
If carrying more than 2 people , you should consider the convertible sedan of 37-39 .
You have windows and some are not as pricey as earlier models.
 
Or get a Model T touring, i guess its the cheapest.
And fourseater sortoff.
And take a look on other cars than Ford, ussually cheaper to. Though Open is never real low cost.

Ford-Model-T-Centennial-In-Egypt-1914-1920x1440.jpg
 
Mr 42 said:
Or get a Model T touring, i guess its the cheapest.
And fourseater sortoff.
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Oh gosh, I absolutely love T tourings, and have since I was a little kid, but it seems like they'd be rather severely underpowered running around town in the summer.

I wonder how one would look with 18-inch Deuce wires, and a flathead V8? :D

-Dave
 
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