Unrestored 34 3 window coupe

34fordy

34fordy

Well-known member
Having always wanted an un-restored 34 3 window coupe, I have wondered if there is such a thing. I would assume that if there is the owner might be a Fordbarn member. There is just something about an original paint car, no matter how faded, is so special to me.
 
Its a dream for us all, but here's my take, 1st, only about 26k made, then most were wrecked on the circle tracks, and more important I find it hard to believe that there is a car out there that no one knows about. Meaning, they seldom come to the surface because there is always a friend, a neighbor, a club member, a family member etc who has known about the "not for sale" car for decades. So when it does come up for sale it will be sold under the table, never advertised, and we only get to see the new owner crying out with joy, "look what I found". So if you don't know of one hiding somewhere its unlikely it will end up in your garage. Sometimes big shot dealer guys will get a call from a widow who knows that maybe he bought parts or had other dealings with, but not us regular folk. Thats my take, best of luck to ya
 
I know of one setting in a barn , The current owner is getting up there in age , but is not interested in letting it go. I do call from time to time to keep tabs on the existence of his pride and joy car.
Vic
 
About 10 years ago, I had a great one completely original, including paint, ran great, drove it all over the place, sold it to a friend of mine in Houston, Texas, a great experience overall
 
Well preserved original would be my first choice, but I'm not about to give back the restored one that I have.
 
DavidG said:
Well preserved original would be my first choice, but I'm not about to give back the restored one that I have.
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If you should ever need a warm friendly spot for the cold winter months I have just the spot David. Free rent too. All you would need to do is wipe the drool that would drip as I oogle the winter away! I might even move a cot beside it for a daily nap!

P.S. In fact, I would pay $100.00 per month just for the privilege
 
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I attended the EFV8CA western national meet at Bend Or. in 1987. A fellow arrived with a 34 3w coupe on a trailer. The most original v8 I have ever seen.Black, still had the original battery in it, and I dont think it had ever been disconnected! About 4000 on the speedo. It was for sale.
 
I'm partial to '33 3w. It's classier; i.e., the grill design, of course. machine-turned dash-gauges panel, the styled hood vents, the V8 grill emblem - not a plaque as in '34, the number of 36 grill bars as opposed to the number of 33 grill bars in 1934, even the hubcap design as opposed to the '34 hubcap design. This is fact; not opinion. Replies welcome for additions, fact, or opinion! Thank You.

1933 3w= 23,619 total.
6,884 std. $490.
16,735 dlx $540.(great price compared to the std, all agreed) for 50 bucks Ya get those cowl lights fer in-city driving . . . and nickel-plated windshield surround! (wrapped around to the back of the surround edge. My back of the surround nickel-plated edge has some very light rust across that top nickel-plated edge.
Dirt, road debris across the bottom nickel-plated edge.

windshield crank mechanism rusted tight. so, Liquid Wrench & oil. for that.

But the Ford choice of not completely nickel-plating the windshield surround front AND BACK; instead just wrapping the nickel-plating over the front edge of the windshield surround; leaving the back side bare . . . how much $ saving would that be, if any!
Thank You!

And why not stamp the windshield surround as one piece!!!

(the bottom piece is a separate project!
 
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highbeams said:
I'm partial to '33 3w. It's classier; i.e., the grill design, of course. machine-turned dash-gauges panel, the styled hood vents, the V8 grill emblem - not a plaque as in '34, the number of 36 grill bars as opposed to the number of 33 grill bars in 1934, even the hubcap design as opposed to the '34 hubcap design. This is fact; not opinion.

Ha Ha. Another kennel blind owner that believes his opinions are facts!

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"


I find it humorous how we tend to defend our personal cars! The points that you refer to are the same reason I prefer the 34. I have access to a 33, and possibly my second choice, but it just does not make my heart "flutter" like the front view of the beautiful 34.
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I like the 33's too, but from memory I think about only half as many produced as compared to 1934
 
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Yes, you're right. Stated my opinion. I now realize my opinions . . . are not facts!

Upon completing the '34 build, Edsel's Design Department and Edsel, agreed that the lower longer '33 & '34 conveyed to the public as flat-out downright slow, slow, slower car.

So in '35, Ford's sales pitch was the word 'Fast'! in its ads, and the car was shorter, and higher. mmmm. Perky.

Upon accompanying Henry into the presentation of the new for '35 5w coupe, he stopped, stood - no words - viewed the clay model, then saying: Take two inches off the rear. Turned around and walked out.
Walked back in. saying, (probably shaking and pointing his index finger.): NOT THERE/BACK THERE! - NOT BACK BY THE BUMPER! . . . BEHIND THE REAR WINDOW! OUT OF THE QUARTER PANEL! Walked out

(my understanding, he wanted equal lengths: (1)front to the windshield; (2)rear quarter panel to the rumble seat/trunk)

Thank You-
 
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The 1933 Ford is a pretty car, a design that hit the mark for sure. The 1934 Ford was a classic with some issues of the 33 addressed, mainly everything mounted on the intake manifold. The manifold itself vastly improved by distributing the fuel to all cylinders much more evenly. The Stromberg 40 or 48 twin choke carburetor completed the job and cured the Detroit Lubricator carbs poor performance. The fuel pump redesign fixed the pump problems of the 32 and 33 Ford V8s. . The 34 generator with its cooling fan incorporated into the pulley and air cooling holes in the front and back plates improved the generators output amps if required. And the smoother hubcaps compared to a 33 increased the speed. And that streamlined art deco grille was a masterpiece for sure. There were other mechanical improvements in the 34 Ford which I wont go into here. THE 1933 had 75 horsepower compared to 85 HP (some publications say 90 HP) of the 1934 Ford. Just ask the gangsters of the day which was the one to steal. I would take a 34 Ford any day , every time. Regards, Kevin.
 
All well and good on the mechanical side of the ledger, but in terms of styling, the '33 holds the edge when viewed from the side. Please look at the hood side panels in the Ford archives photos below. Note on the the '33 that the louvers are at the same angle as the rear edge of the hood side panel. Note on the '34 that the louvers are at a different angle than that of the hood side panel rear edge. In fact, the angle of the '34 louvers don't line up with any of the lines on the side of the car from the front edge of the door forward. What were they thinking?


I agree that the '34s have the edge mechanically, but their hood louver positioning drops them down a full notch compared to the '33s.


P.S. I have had more than my fair share of both of them over the years and I like them both.
 

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DavidG said:
All well and good on the mechanical side of the ledger, but in terms of styling, the '33 holds the edge

Ahh David, You are injecting opinion just like the original poster. I am sure in my "opinion" that Henry Ford did not feel as you do! He must have felt that they improved the 33's styling mistakes! LOL Beauty still resides in the EYE of the beholder!
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Yes, to each his own (opinion). When it comes to styling, I don't that the word "fact" applies.
 
I'm probably prejudiced. I was born in 1934 and own a 1934 Ford roadster. I feel that these are the best looking cars that Ford ever built and that the 33's were the second best.
 
It is interesting to me how my own opinions of style have changed over a lifetime. Possibly influenced just by lust and desire. Upon turning 16 the 40 coupe tickled my fancy and for $100 my dream came true. By the time I was 18 in 1963, a deuce coupe became the object (never fulfilled) of my wanton desire. I felt the 33/34 grilles were way too large. Then my lust turned to the 57 Chevy 2dr HT and on to the 64 GTO. Now in my later years I am back to the 33/34 Fords, and especially the 34. To me the experience of the feel and smell of a non-restored car gets my heart pumping. (Fact)
I have a friend who once told me-"I am happy that everyone doesn't like the same thing as they would all want to be married to my wife!"
It would be kind of boring if every car parked at the side of the road was a beautiful 1934 Ford 3 window coupe. Or not. LOL
I am still pondering that 33 I mentioned in a previous post. It is not restored or painted but has a 303 Olds heart transplant.
 
34fordy said:
I am still pondering that 33 I mentioned in a previous post. It is not restored or painted but has a 303 Olds heart transplant.
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Don't ponder it too long . . . figure out a way to acquire it! You can easily remove the 303 Olds and convert it back to a flathead.

You can't reproduce the rest of the originality and putting a correct engine in it is not that big of a deal . . . especially since the engines were NOT serialized to match the VIN of the car.

Best of luck and let us know what you end up doing!

B&S
 
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