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1933 Ford Model 40 Standard Roadster

  • Chassis Number: 263309
The quintessential hot rod automobile would have to be Ford's Roadster. Boasting of aggressive and evocative styling, the roadster remains the benchmark of the hot rod some eighty years later.

Simple, and yet, sophisticated, the Roadster was the ideal automobile for its time. Coming in a number of different styles, Ford's Model B suited nearly every American. Complimented by its V8 engine, Ford's buyers had the foundations of a whole different automotive genre.

Utilizing the modern construction methods of the day, Ford's Model B would be straight-forward, but with some intriguing touches. Compared to the 1932 example, the '33 Ford would have a stretched wheelbase and revised front grille. The pointed grille added to the look of the car and seemed to blend nicely with the flowing fenders and the rest of the car.

The look, and the simplicity of the design, made the Ford the perfect canvas for aspiring car tuners. Chassis 263309 would be a particularly intriguing example.

One would be hard-pressed to find a better example of the acumen of the Ford's abilities than chassis 263309. Originally purchased in '33 by Harry Warner, the Ford Roadster would be used on his honeymoon. However, it wouldn't be long before this symbol of a love and devotion would be tuned into a speed demon.

Warner had begun work with Lockheed Aircraft at the time of his buying the Roadster. However, Harry wasn't without aspirations of his own. Having met Wayne Horning, Warner would go all-in to help form Wayne Manufacturing.

Wayne Manufacturing would soon earn a name for itself producing 12-port cylinder heads. The men needed a means to test the cylinder heads. What better specimen than that which Warner had used on his honeymoon.

Quickly the two men went to work adapting and evolving the car making it a test bed. As with the day, the Roadster would soon become a regular at drag strips and in speed trials. These events were not about moments of pride as much as they were moments of real world development for the 12-port cylinder heads.

The Roadster would continue to be an important figure within Warner's sphere. All the way up into the 1970s, the Ford would be called upon to perform its test duties. When finally retired in the 1970s, 263309 would be passed to Harry's son Dan. Some fifteen years later, the car would finally leave the Warner family becoming the property of Bill Swanson.

Swanson's purchase of the Roadster in 1994 signaled the beginning of a decade-long restoration project that would include the input and help of many different and talented people. Art Hernandez, Art Chrisman and Pete Eastwood would all play a part in the car's restoration efforts.

True to the purpose of the restoration, Swanson would decide to return the car to original as much as possible. This would include replacing the engine with a correct Flathead V8 utilizing three Stromberg carburetors and Ardun overhead-valve heads to develop around 225hp.

The current owner would procure the Ford in 2003 and would give a further nod to history by acquiring a 12-port Wayne-head inline six-cylinder engine that remains with the car and its Flathead engine.

Featured in Hop Up in 1953 and then in Street Rodder in 2003, this quintessential Ford Roadster would be made available for sale through Gooding & Company's Arizona auction. Estimates prior to auction had the Ford drawing between $125,000 and $175,000. However, bidding for the car would be enthusiastic and the final sale price would be a very healthy and surprising $242,000.

By Jeremy McMullen

2015 Gooding & Company - Arizona

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $125,000-USD $175,000 
Sale Price :
USD $242,000

1933 Ford Model 40 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Ford Model 40

(Data based on Model Year 1933 sales)
1933 FORD CUSTOM ROADSTER
Chassis#: AZ393310
Sold for USD$39,600
  2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ
 
1933 FORD 3-WINDOW CUSTOM COUPE
Chassis#: AZ393341
Sold for USD$66,000
  2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ
 
1933 Ford Coupe Hot Rod
Chassis#: 182699094
Sold for USD$36,850
  2024 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1933 Ford Tudor Sedan
Chassis#: 18499643
Sold for USD$16,500
  2023 Mecum : Dallas
 
1933 Ford Roadster
Chassis#: f5r1000262hr
Sold for USD$38,500
  2023 Mecum : Dallas
 
1933 Ford Model 40 Deluxe Phaeton
Sold for USD$26,880
  2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
 
1933 Ford Phaeton
Chassis#: 40216608
Sold for USD$17,600
  2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023
 
1933 FORD CUSTOM ROADSTER
Chassis#: 18243920
Sold for USD$33,000
  2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas
 
1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe Street Rod
Chassis#: nd7138
Sold for USD$79,200
  2023 Mecum : Indy
 
1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Chassis#: 18295988
Sold for USD$75,900
  2023 Mecum : Houston
 
1933 FORD CUSTOM ROADSTER
Chassis#: KY15049
Sold for USD$47,300
  2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1933 FORD 3-WINDOW CUSTOM COUPE
Chassis#: F5R1001025HR
Sold for USD$66,000
  2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1933 FORD CUSTOM WOODY WAGON
Chassis#: 182424665
Sold for USD$48,400
  2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1933 FORD CUSTOM ROADSTER GURNEY EAGLE SPECIAL
Chassis#: 182188609
Sold for USD$28,600
  2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1933 Ford Cabriolet
Sold for USD$104,500
  2023 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1933 Ford Roadster Street Rod
Sold for USD$34,100
  2022 Mecum : Las Vegas
 
1933 Ford Roadster Street Rod
Sold for USD$33,000
  2022 Mecum : Las Vegas
 
1933 Ford Tudor Sedan
Chassis#: 40424533
Sold for USD$24,200
  2022 RM Sothebys : The Hershey Auction
1933 Ford Model 40 image  1933 Ford Model 40 image  
1933 Ford Custom Hot Rod
Sold for USD$41,800
  2022 Mecum : Fountain City
 
1933 Ford Deluxe Fordor Sedan
Sold for USD$3,850
  2022 Mecum : Dallas
 

Ford Model 40s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1933 Ford Model 40's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1933 Ford 3-Window Coupeaz2387982024 Mecum : Glendale$35,000  
1933 Ford Coupe1821774162024 Mecum : Glendale$27,000  
1933 Ford Speedster Street Rod1824341992023 Mecum : Kansas City$47,000  
1933 Ford Roadster0r940882023 Mecum : Kansas City$18,000  
1933 Ford Victoria Street Rodscdmv0000005334792023 Mecum : Kansas City$55,000  
1933 Ford Roadster182439202023 Mecum : Chattanooga$40,000  
1933 Ford Roadster182863602023 Mecum : Harrisburg$30,000  
1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe Street Rod 2022 Mecum : Kansas City$40,000  
1933 Ford Victoria Street Rod 2022 Mecum : Kansas City$35,000  
1933 Ford Custom Roadster 2022 Mecum : Dallas$25,000  
1933 Ford Cabriolet Lil Dough Hot Rod 2022 Mecum Indy$50,000  
1933 Ford Custom Limousine 2022 Mecum : Glendale$90,000  
1933 Ford Custom Woody Wagon 2022 Mecum : Glendale$50,000  
1933 Ford Roadster 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee$45,000  
1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe 2021 Mecum : Las Vegas$35,000  
1933 Ford Victoria Coupe 2021 Mecum : Dallas$20,000  
1933 Ford Coupe Street Rod 2021 Mecum : Glendale$42,000  
1933 Ford Factory Five Hot Rod 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee$35,000  
1933 Ford Woody Wagon 2020 Mecum : Las Vegas$100,000  
1933 Ford Model 40 2020 Bonhams July Motoring Auction $10,000$12,000
1933 Ford Roadster 2020 GAA : July 2020$29,000  
1933 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster 2020 Mecum : Glendale   
1933 Ford Victoria Street Rod 2020 Mecum : Glendale$100,000  
1933 Ford Coupe Street Rod 2019 Mecum : Las Vegas$60,000  
1933 Ford Roadster Pickup 2019 Mecum : Dallas$50,000  
1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe 2019 Mecum : Phoenix Auction$52,000  
1933 Ford Coupe 2019 Greensboro Auto Auction : March 2019$24,000  
1933 Ford Victoria Coupe 2019 Russo & Steele : Scottsdale   
1933 Ford 3 Window Coupe 2019 Russo & Steele : Scottsdale   
1933 Ford 2019 Mecum : Kissimmee$22,000  

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1933 Ford Model 40

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1933 Ford Model 40 Vehicle Profiles