Motor swaps are commonplace in the collector car universe. In the perpetual quest for more power, better reliability, and parts availability, it’s not unusual to see a hot rod or classic on its second or third powerplant. What I find interesting is when a car receives an engine transplant from another brand entirely.
The Pick of the Day is a 1936 Ford four-door sedan listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Stanley, North Carolina. (Click the link to view the listing)
This Ford is powered by a Chevy – a 350ci Chevy crate engine, to be exact.
“Up for sale is my 1936 Ford slant-back four-door sedan custom,” the listing states. “Built from a very nice running original car, this vehicle was disassembled, blasted, and rebuilt as a mild street machine.”
The heart of this custom build (which some Ford purists may consider blasphemous) has been upgraded with a PerTronix ignition system and a Holley Street Avenger carburetor. The seller states that it “runs, drives, and rides great.”
Ford models from 1936 rode on what was known as the Model 48 platform which used a traditional body-on-frame design and was offered in ten different body styles. Design language up front came from an inverted pentagon-shaped grille. While its chassis is 86 years old, modern conveniences were weaved into this build so that it could be driven just as comfortably as a late-model car. Among the features are power steering, Vintage Air A/C, tinted windows, power door locks, and a Jensen CD player with Pioneer speakers.
The body – which features suicide doors out back – shows clean finishes throughout, decorated by a black and red two-tone paint scheme and accessorized with a prominent chrome-finished hood ornament, pin striping, a luggage rack, and dual stainless-steel exhaust outlets beneath the rear bumper. A few of the photos in the gallery illustrate the car and its frame during various stages of restoration about 20 years ago.
“Car was built back in 2002 to 2003 and was my main show car for about ten years,” the seller states. “But as time passed and I built newer cars, it has taken a back seat to them. Now driven only to keep in good running order, it is time to sell and move on.”
Does a Chevy motor in this Ford add or subtract from its appeal? Let me know what you think in the comments. The seller is asking $34,000 for this “Fordvolet” (or Chevord) sedan.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Detracts
I don’t understand a lot of things about this car. Chevy motor, red grill, the price after 20 years of use after rebuild. I liked the car shown in the “before” era better than the new one.