Description
1932 Ford Model 18 / Model B Cabriolet
!!! COLOUR IS CREAM - NOT BEIGE !!! Cream not available to select as a colour on selling template.
Original Steel Body (wooden floor has been replaced at some point) with Dickie (rumble) seat. Steel running boards with fibreglass fenders. Original steel bonnet and louvred side panels.
Original but modified chassis – for different engine, axles, front end etc..
Ford V8 289 small block engine – block casting date 1964, edelbrock 2122 performer plus camshaft kit and new pulleys fitted, later ford cast iron 4 barrel intake manifold and 600 cfm holley vacuum secondary carburettor with manual choke. Cast iron cylinder heads dated late 1963 so believe they are original to the engine. These early 289 head castings are now difficult to source. The big end and main bearings were reground and new Vandervell / Clevite shells fitted when my dad completed the car circa year 2000.
Jaguar E-type 4. 2 / series 2 gearbox – 4 speed, all synchromesh. This is the later type Jaguar box, not the moss box fitted in series 1 E-types that wasn’t all synchro. Casting date 1969. There is an adaptor plate that mates the Ford engine to the Jaguar gearbox.
Jaguar Mk2 3. 8 Salisbury 4HA rear axle. This is the one to have as it came with the Powr-Lok diff (LSD) as standard. J61 stamped into the case which indicates June 1961 manufacture. Rear disc brakes and Jaguar 15" wire wheels on splined hubs.
Front end is Mk2 Jaguar with disk brakes. It has a steering rack not a box so maybe this was an upgrade from an XJ6. Again, the wheels are 15" Jaguar wires on splined hubs.
Steering wheel is E-type series 2. The boss is rivetted (not nut and bolt) and the original horn press is present in the centre – these are ultra rare.
It has servo assisted brakes.
Below is what I have completed to recommission the car:
Rebuild Holley Carburettor
New air filter
Replace all water hoses
New Water Pump
New Electric Fan
New engine oil and filter
New petrol pump and flexible hose to carburettor
New spark plugs
New HEI distributor and spark plug leads fitted
New ARP Oil Pump Drive
New water temperature sender fitted
New brake servo vacuum hose
Fabricated new rear gearbox mounting
New clutch master and slave cylinders
New steering column Universal Joint cross
Gearbox oil drained and refilled with new oil
Differential oil drained and refilled with new oil
The body and chassis are solid and in very presentable condition. The hood has been replaced at some point. It has a little wear on one side but there are no rips or tears. The original hood frame and locking mechanism is all present. The chrome is very good on the front bumper but the rear has some pitting. Although 25 years old, the paintwork polishes up well and has a lovely patina to it. There is a little cracking and surface rust / bubbles here and there but it's hardly noticeable.
The interior bench and dickie seats have no rips or tears. The door panels are all good. The E-type steering wheel wood is split around the circumference so could do with restoring in my opinion. The wind down windows operate well. The exterior door handles are rigid with solenoids fitted that operate from inside the cab. There is an odometer, battery charging amp-meter, tacho / rev counter, water temperature and oil pressure gauges. There is a period radio that works but the power aerial doesn't seem to be operating (this can be extended manually if required).
The engine starts easily, runs smooth and shows good oil pressure (45 - 50 psi at tickover when fully warmed up). There is no visible smoke when cold or warm at either tickover or mid-range. The clutch is light and the gearchange smooth. All four brakes work well and are effective at stopping the car. All the lights and horn work as do the wipers and washers.
The limited slip diff works perfectly, spinning both rear wheels upon a spirited pull away. The car feels quite high geared so should be a nice cruiser. The engine has plenty of grunt for a rapid pull away in 1st gear.
If you know what you are looking at you will realise this is an original and very rare 1932 Ford Model 18 Cabriolet. The ‘32 cabriolet differs from the roadster in that the windscreen is fixed, whereas the roadster windscreen folds forwards. There were only around 5000 cabriolets produced versus around 11, 000 roadsters. During my research over the last year I haven’t seen one for sale in the UK and only 2 or 3 came up for sale in the USA.
My late father acquired this car when he was 18 years old in 1962. He had plenty of fun in it during his youth and hot-rodded it which was his passion. We have old photographs of my dad and his friends larking around in it. The original logbook from 1962 is also present in the documentation folder, with my father’s name hand written as the current owner.
The car was moved over to a modern V5C logbook some time ago. Although a 1932 model it was registered in 1933.
During the 1970’s my dad built the car to its latest specification but never finished it due to work and family commitments. It stayed under cover in his barn. He finally completed it in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s but it’s had very little use after that.
I have spent a long time researching the car, the parts fitted and recommissioning it ready for sale.
The car is 92 years old with running gear that is 50 – 60 years old. It is a unique driving experience. This is not a modern hot rod that is purpose designed and built using a newly fabricated chassis and fibreglass body. It is an original steel 1932 hot-rod, built with all the right period parts from the 1960s inspired by the hot-rodding trailblazers of the 1950s. The car has an old school feel that you won't get with a new build. There is a long history behind it with the last 62 years being in my family.
Due to the age of the car it is tax and MOT exempt (in the United Kingdom) and is eligible for classic car insurance.
Try to find another 32 Cabriolet in Europe for sale - you won't. I have a headed letter from the 'Early Ford V8 Club of America' President indicating it's a rare car. I also have another headed letter from a well known and respected motoring historian (the founder of Classic Car Mart) who has validated it's a Canadian built car and the registration was issued in London during mid 1933.
