1932 Ford Type 18 Special Convertible Victoria

Ford Motor Company was already a major global automaker, with assembly operations in many countries, by 1932. The chassis for this unusual example of the new-for-1932 Ford V8 came from the Ford plant at Cologne, Germany. The 5-passenger Convertible Victoria body was built and finished by Drauz, a large, well-known coachbuilder at Helbronn, in the German state of Baden.

Coachbuilt cabriolets on American chassis were popular and prestigious on the Continent in the 1930s. Sometimes they were offered in limited series, as 'catalog customs,' by the original manufacturer. Such cabriolets make for interesting and, due to their extreme scarcity, often unique, collector cars today.

This Ford V8 was a relatively expensive, large and powerful car in the Germany of 1932. The cabriolet body crafted for it by Drauz was well appointed, with full leather seating, a burled walnut instrument panel, natural ivory control knobs and many other special touches. Features such as the coachbuilder's special hood, a grille with Lincoln-like thermostatic shutters and the European-style 'trafficator' turn signals resulted in a 1932 Ford V8 that had remarkably little in common with the standard Ford of the same year built for the U.S. market.

The owner has had this very special Ford since 1973. It was restored from a very rough car with what can only be called loving attention to detail.