Image credit: Gooding & Company.
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
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 5-Window Coupe Sold for USD$52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe Chassis#: 307488 Sold for USD$44,000 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1933 Ford Custom Tudor Sedan Chassis#: 1839979233 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1933 Ford Custom Sedan Chassis#: 1823999067 Sold for USD$46,200 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1933 FORD 3-WINDOW CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#: AZ393341 Sold for USD$66,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1933 FORD CUSTOM ROADSTER Chassis#: AZ393310 Sold for USD$39,600 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 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 Chassis#: KY15049 Sold for USD$47,300 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 |
Ford Model 40s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1933 Ford Model 40's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1933 Ford Tudor Sedan | mvin200358ind | 2024 Mecum : Indy | $14,000 | ||
1933 Ford Victoria Street Rod | scdmv000000533479 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | |||
1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe | az238798 | 2024 Mecum : Glendale | $35,000 | ||
1933 Ford Coupe | 182177416 | 2024 Mecum : Glendale | $27,000 | ||
1933 Ford Speedster Street Rod | 182434199 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $47,000 | ||
1933 Ford Roadster | 0r94088 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $18,000 | ||
1933 Ford Victoria Street Rod | scdmv000000533479 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $55,000 | ||
1933 Ford Roadster | 18243920 | 2023 Mecum : Chattanooga | $40,000 | ||
1933 Ford Roadster | 18286360 | 2023 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 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $53,247 range.
1968 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Chassis#:124678n326246 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1960 Cadillac Coupe Deville Chassis#:60j022499 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Coupe Chassis#:136379z338328 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Chassis#:59m057906 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1934 Ford 5-Window Coupe Chassis#:18k037627 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1968 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:194678s407438 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Hardtop Chassis#:1g1yy12s635100409 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 Convertible Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1966 Ford Fairlane GTA Two-Door Hardtop Chassis#:6K40S175961 Sold for $53,200 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Enthusiast Auction | |
2015 MERCEDES-BENZ G550 Chassis#:WDCYC3HF6FX236487 Sold for $52,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1957 CHEVROLET CAMEO PICKUP Chassis#:V3A57B119577 Sold for $52,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1975 FERRARI DINO 308 GT4 Chassis#:10478 Sold for $52,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1970 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS 396 Chassis#:124870N518098 Sold for $52,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1981 GMC C1500 CUSTOM PICKUP Chassis#:1GTDC14H9BS526598 Sold for $52,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:124379N536639 Sold for $52,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary Chassis#:2x87z9l169294 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1970 Chevrolet CST/10 Pickup Chassis#:ce140j143542 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback Chassis#:9t02m207840 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1987 Chevrolet El Camino Chassis#:3gccw80h1hs912219 Sold for $52,800 2024 Mecum : Houston |
1933 Ford Model 40
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