So, my '36 sedan delivery: restore or leave the patina POLL

[Kube]

Originally Posted by flatford8

I’m in the #1 group…..and not that I think you would…..but, please don’t clear coat it…..
IMHO that makes a survivor vehicle look fake and just awful……Mark

If I go the "keep it as it is" route, I would not think of clear coating it. I doubt I'd even wash it other than the glass. Seriously...

[Kube]

Originally Posted by SUHRsc

When I first bought my '39 Delivery I had considered restoring it, it's a pretty nice vehicle, parked in 1948. it had a few major issues where the shed roof had leaked on it. In the end I've just patched in what was needed to make it solid and pretty much left it alone otherwise. I did add my own letting and aged that to match the paint. I've slowly been making it pretty reliable. I drove it quite a bit, locally, this year. Even averaged 20mpg using it as my only transportation for 2 weeks.
I know you do beautiful restoration work which is beyond my skill level and that may be playing a part for me, but there is something that can't be explained about getting in a vehicle that is pretty much just a time capsule. It seems a higher number of people that see mine seem to really appreciate it for being as it is. I think if it were in pristine fresh condition it would lose some of its charm for me. It seems the value would likely drop also if selling in the current market.

I also like old furniture and other items that you can tell have been lived with. There is a Japanese term called "Wabi-Sabi" that I have really related with my feelings towards this old stuff.

Good luck with whichever direction you decide to take it, but if it were mine, I would surely leave it alone.

Zach

Zach, my gosh I like your truck.
Did you ever come up with the reason why it was parked in 1948? The history always intrigues me.

[1942deluxe]

Mike, the history intrigues me too. In fact, Chris and I had that conversation in the last day or so. Chris's truck would've had little value in the early 1950's when it was parked. It had to have been a special part of that family getting their business started or it would've been junked. Kind of like the first tractor a farm family ever had. Really neat that those vehicles survived and if they could talk, they would have a story to tell.

[SUHRsc]

Originally Posted by Kube

Zach, my gosh I like your truck.
Did you ever come up with the reason why it was parked in 1948? The history always intrigues me.

This was originally sold new to a company called "Real French Cleaners" (which i recently acquired their original sign from the building). The company sold the delivery to the Stahl family just before or during WWII. They had gas ration books but wouldn't let me keep them with the vehicle sadly. The Stahls had a small farm and sold produce, using the 39 to do their deliveries. After the war they moved off the farm and into town and left the delivery parked in the shed. It appears it may have had a fire at the fuel pump at some point as the back of the hood looks like it got hot and it was stuck open when I bought it. Id guess either thats when they stopped driving it, or maybe someone attempted to get it going later. In any case the title had been transferred to the grandson and he and his father listed it for sale on Craigslist where I ran across it a while back.

[34fordy]

Carved hearse from years ago. A little gaudy but unique for sure,

[ActionYobbo]

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Where’s the pikchars?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 34fordy

Carved hearse from years ago. A little gaudy but unique for sure,

[34fordy]

Originally Posted by ActionYobbo

Where’s the pikchars?

Ya gotta luke kloser I guess yobo lol

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by ActionYobbo

Where’s the pikchars?

-
Some at this link: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showp...66&postcount=7

-

[TJ]

Kube leave the patina and make a good driver out of it. Original cars get far more attention at V-8 Meets than restored cars. I once bought a '38 Ford club coupe from Pennsylvania. Was going to restore it. When it got out here it was such a nice original car I did not touch the paint or the interior. The motor was tired and had it rebuilt (it used a quart of oil every 60 miles !). There was not a rattle or squeak in the car when I drove it. It always drew a ton of attention anywhere I parked it. Stay with option #1 and you will be glad you did.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by SUHRsc

This was originally sold new to a company called "Real French Cleaners" (which i recently acquired their original sign from the building). The company sold the delivery to the Stahl family just before or during WWII. They had gas ration books but wouldn't let me keep them with the vehicle sadly. The Stahls had a small farm and sold produce, using the 39 to do their deliveries. After the war they moved off the farm and into town and left the delivery parked in the shed. It appears it may have had a fire at the fuel pump at some point as the back of the hood looks like it got hot and it was stuck open when I bought it. Id guess either thats when they stopped driving it, or maybe someone attempted to get it going later. In any case the title had been transferred to the grandson and he and his father listed it for sale on Craigslist where I ran across it a while back.

That's interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Gosh, many decades ago ('73ish), I had pulled a '35 Auburn out of a junkyard that had been closed for twenty plus years. VERY complete car, and actually very nice. The best I could tell (1951 plates) the car had been scrapped as the axle seals leaked very badly. In '51 that car was scrap price at best.
My brother dragged home factory customized body '34 Pierce Arrow for $1200 around that same time. Cracked head.
Replaced that, got it running and made a fortune (at that time) on it. Not too many years ago I saw they very same car go through auction north of $175k.

I brought home MANY '40 Fords that were nice cars sans a bad transmission, bad engine, etc. Great memories for me and proudly, nearly every one of those were placed back into service.

[SUHRsc]

Originally Posted by Kube

I brought home MANY '40 Fords that were nice cars sans a bad transmission, bad engine, etc. Great memories for me and proudly, nearly every one of those were placed back into service.

It's sad to think that something so minor would cause them to sit but it worked out for you, and I it seems.

Another thought I had with your 36 delivery. When I was working on my '39 I tried to keep in mind that it was parked in 1948 and then only do things that may have been done to it before that date.

it may be something you'd enjoy with the '36. Pick a date that is NOT factory fresh but a few years later. Allowing the hunt for accessories or various things like license plate toppers that would have been available at that later date. This allows a similar level of research to making a car match day 1 but on different paths in finding magazines or advertisements for parts, patent dates, etc. to learn when they were available and whether or not they "COULD" have been used on your vehicle at your chosen point in time.

This is what I personally enjoy with these old cars. I have quite a few what many would call "hot rods" but to me they are a similar research project to a point in time and what people would or could have done to them at or before that date.

Just anther perspective to consider, good luck with it!

Zach

[Kube]

Zach, while I appreciate and respect your opinion on this, well, I couldn't swerve even as far away from "original" as a license plate topper.
For me, yes, I'm weird, to leave this unrestored would be a HUGE change in direction for me.
If I go that route (thus far voting strongly is in favor of just that) I know myself well enough that it'll be a struggle

[highbeams]

Option 1. Save this car as it rolled off the assembly line. Old is Gold. Just like people!

[19Fordy]

"Kube", I have noticed that people will flock to look at a nice original unrestored old Ford at a car show MORE than one that has been restored -especially when two are parked side by side. It's a treat to see and unmolested "oldie but goody" and getting more uncommon as time marches on.

[Mart]

I'd leave it substantially as it is, but I would give it a wash and polish the paint so it can look the best it can. Actually just a wash is probably best as polishing can leave white residue in the imperfections in the paint.

[Kube]

I appreciate all of the thoughtful comments thus far. Thanks guys.
Voting ends Saturday

[325w]

I built a36 sedan. It came out great. But I was scared to drive it. Could have built it a bunch cheaper and drove it.

[al's28/33]

I cast my vote for LEAVE IT ALONE .... it's only original once.

[34fordy]

I have been diligently pondering this again Mike. It is really hard to tell someone what you think they should do with a project. I do not have the skills or the physical ability to do restorations of perfection like you do. I enjoy my 36 pickup just as a driver and it seems to get lots of smiles, waves, and comments at the gas station. But, ----I am wondering if there is a 36 sedan delivery anywhere that is equal to one of your restorations. I am quite sure there is not.
I kinda wish that you would do one more 100 point restoration to maybe end up in Ford Heaven. The majority of votes are predominantly not to restore it but I think you are itching for one more. Whatever you choose I am sure that you will take all of us Ford lovers a long for the ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!