Authenticity is important criteria for any collector car, whether it’s an all-stock classic, a vintage race car or a custom street rod. Which is what makes the Pick of the Day so appealing, a 1937 Ford coupe that was tastefully hot rodded 57 years go, and presents today as a window into how such things were done back in the street rod heyday.
“Built and painted in 1960!” declares the advertisement on ClassicCars.com placed by a dealer in Mount Vernon, Washington. The ad does not include a detailed history of the Ford, other than to note it was featured in the September 1960 issue of Rod and Custom Magazine.
This glossy-black Ford immediately caught my eye with its nicely lowered stance over classic V8 hubcaps on artillery-style steel wheels and wide-whitewall Firestones. This was a great look in its day, and translates well as a preserved showpiece.
The photos under the hood sealed the deal for me, showing a 1949 Ford flathead V8 with Offenhauser heads and dual intakes with twin carburetors, the period-correct bolt-on performance treatment. The flathead is linked with a three-speed manual transmission shifted via the long, factory stalk.
The black-and-white interior with stock factory gauges (“Everything works!” the dealer says) look great, as do the detail shots of the trunk. Apparently, the only nod to modernity is a CD player, and that is hidden in the trunk with controls concealed in the glove box.
That such a period piece should survive in such superb condition is kind of amazing since a street rod built in 1960 would be driven and enjoyed, not preserved. While the ad lists much of the custom work that the car retains, any prospective buyer would need to ask the details of how this car survived, and what has been done to keep it in running shape.
The asking price of $42,950 seems fair considering the Ford’s authenticity and seemingly time-warp condition. A video included with the ad shows the car accelerating and being driven on the highway, which not only demonstrates how well it goes but how much fun it is.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
