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

[Don W/Norfolk]

Make it a dependable driver and run the wheels off! I vote for option #1. dw

[19Fordy]

Leave it "as is".
I think there is a growing trend to keep old cars in their original "as found" condition.
It adds to their provenance.

[37 truck]

I vote 1, I did a lengthy restoration on a truck that turned out great, but I miss the patina, the door signage, the character that it lost by restoration.

[rich b]

If the delivery could talk; I think it say that would rather continue on in it's current life. So #1.

I know it's not for this venue; but there is a third choice that would both increase it's utility and value.

[Kube]

A little "history" for those that may be interested.
This car came originally from Massachusetts. It was purchased by the fellow I bought it from in 1964. From what I have been able to figure out, it was then placed in storage and very little was ever done with it other than the collection of a ton of NOS parts for its eventual restoration.
The odometer shows 34,000 miles which I tend to believe.

The "here and now": This car has been on my bucket list for as long as I may recall. Acquiring it was a dream come true for me.
I am in the process of sorting it out now, reassembling it, etc. I felt this may be a prudent direction for me as I have never restored a sedan delivery and as such, well, I don't know what I don't know. Also, even though I have longed for this model / year, I have heard numerous times these are terrible in traffic. Read: huge blind spots. Thus, I want to see how I like it before committing to a possible full-blown restoration.

It is in amazingly good condition with zero modifications other than a couple of holes in the rear bumper and the installation of cast iron heads. The rear fenders are beautiful as is the body where they mount. Rear door and panel below that door are beautiful as are the doors.
The floors will require some work. I am puzzled by why they are rusted when the remainder of the car is rust free. My theory (good as any I suppose) is this was used by delivery folks that often got in with wet feet. I thought perhaps it was a leaking windshield, but that area is solid as a rock.
I do believe the plated windshield frame to be incorrect. From my research it should be painted.
The body paint is original as is the pin stripe.
The top insert is without damage.
Door panels, all three, are tattered but there.
The headliner is about 60% missing.
Even the original floor mats are there although quite brittle.
There were a few pieces (hot air heater heat exchanger (thank you Mr. Driskell), optional right tail lamp bracket (thank you Mr. Wescott) and a couple of front bumper arms missing that I was able to locate. I am still searching for aluminum heads.
The engine appears to have been rebuilt in the very distant past and used very little. It is super clean inside with no measurable cylinder wear (+.060" bore).

So, guys, that's about it in a nutshell.
I am so enjoying your comments / opinions thus far and would appreciate it if they kept coming.
As I'd mentioned in my (#13) post, unlike our politicians, I will do as you guys vote. Fair is fair

[Cool Kat with Hot Car]

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The delivery has earned its worn look. As a preservation oriented V8er, I would like to see the car remain as it is. The truth is that a restored car is no longer original and somehow looses the spirit and character that only a survivor retains. My experience is that even the general public responds to an unrestored driving early Ford. Restored cars are invisible to them. For example my 32 Cabriolet gets 10x the attention as the restored 39. Every time I drive an unrestored V8 the car feels alive and you can sense the history earned by the passage of time. The restored cars are nice but are lacking in the vibe. The few younger guys who are into the old Fords are ambivalent to restored cars, they prefer cars that have earned the look of years of use.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Cool Kat with Hot Car

The delivery has earned its worn look. As a preservation oriented V8er, I would like to see the car remain as it is. The truth is that a restored car is no longer original and somehow looses the spirit and character that only a survivor retains. My experience is that even the general public responds to an unrestored driving early Ford. Restored cars are invisible to them. For example my 32 Cabriolet gets 10x the attention as the restored 39. Every time I drive an unrestored V8 the car feels alive and you can sense the history earned by the passage of time. The restored cars are nice but are lacking in the vibe. The few younger guys who are into the old Fords are ambivalent to restored cars, they prefer cars that have earned the look of years of use.

[tubman]

I've been watching this thread for a while and have refrained from commenting as my skills and experience are not on a par which is the norm here. However, I have decided to come down on the "don't restore" side. If you can leave something alone with the skill and panache' you have shown on your high-point restorations, it will without doubt, be a winner.

Don't go for it!

[PeteVS]

I have an old Chevy coupe that I used to drive 7 days 52 weeks a year. And, then it sat in a garage for a long time. I dragged it out, took the body off, refurbished the running gear and put the body back on with shot paint and dirt in the fender wells. Some people tell me to paint but way more tell me keep it as is.

Now I'm building an A roadster with a XXX V8 from parts and I want to wind up with it lookiig nice and shiny when it's done (if ever.)

[JayChicago]

I agree with what others have said.

A survivor as nice as this should be preserved as a survivor. Not restored.

[34fordy]

Originally Posted by Cool Kat with Hot Car

The delivery has earned its worn look. For example my 32 Cabriolet gets 10x the attention as the restored 39. Every time I drive an unrestored V8 the car feels alive and you can sense the history earned by the passage of time.

Jeepers creepers!! What a thrill it would be to pilot that 32 for a couple hours. I am way past the days of lusting for a woman but that "honey" has got me old heart a pumpin!!!

[mfirth]

Keep the patina, make her very road worthy, and "refresh" the interior to include a headliner and drive it man ! I had a friend with a 41 sedan delivery and you learn to deal with the blind spots. He drove it to Hershey and all around. Ohio, never an accident. I loved driving it too.

[gwistrup]

I bet it would look pretty good after a thorough washing and buffing. Another thing to think about if it matters to you is what it is worth when you are done restoring it.

[Gary Tosel]

I voted to leave it as much original as possible and enjoy it!

Back in 1972 I bought my 36 Ford 5W Coupe as a $200.00 shell and frame and it needed so much work, I did not have an option to leave it original. Only 30 years later it was completed and I could not have been happier with the results.

[nelsb01]

Did you remove the front fenders and grille as a unit? Is that what I see in the background of the drivers interior door photo?
If so, a gentleman by the name of Nacewicz once told me he had documentation that Ford assembled passenger vehicle front sheet metal as one piece at the assembly plant and then mounted it on the chassis. Think about it. For all of us who have spent hours aligning the grille, radiator and front fenders-- the assembly plant would not have taken the time to do that.
The bad news is that I never got a copy of that documention before Roy passed.
Without the documentation, it maybe just a rumor, but it does make a lot of sense.

[pistonbroke]

Kube, My 38 Zephyr ,42 half ton and my 41 half ton were all drivetrain restoration only, and my all time faves out of over twenty pre 1969 rides most of which got the full resoration. Tim {no matter what , keepem rollin}

[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

[petehoovie]

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

[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

[Kube]

Originally Posted by nelsb01

Did you remove the front fenders and grille as a unit? Is that what I see in the background of the drivers interior door photo?
If so, a gentleman by the name of Nacewicz once told me he had documentation that Ford assembled passenger vehicle front sheet metal as one piece at the assembly plant and then mounted it on the chassis. Think about it. For all of us who have spent hours aligning the grille, radiator and front fenders-- the assembly plant would not have taken the time to do that.
The bad news is that I never got a copy of that documention before Roy passed.
Without the documentation, it maybe just a rumor, but it does make a lot of sense.

Good eye!
Yes, I did remove the front clip as one unit. It's quite nice. I believe the horn covers are incorrect and should be painted, not stainless as they are.