The Ford Barn

John_Milner · 04-01-2026, 11:06 AM

I am new to the forum. Here is a picture of a 1930 Ford Cabriolet that we bought this last weekend. I believe it has been off the road since the early 60's. We have had our eye on it since the mid 90's and finally brought it home as it was for sale at our local swap meet. The plan is to see if it will start and run. From there, we will replace some of the wood in the body. We are undecided on if we will paint it yet or drive as is for a while. The body is very solid with no real rust issues to speak of. We will redo the interior and add a new top. The engine turns over so we plan on seeing if it will run soon.

JayJay · 04-01-2026, 12:06 PM

Looks like you have the start of a fun project.

Sounds like you're going at it in the right order. Get the mechanicals sorted out first, then deal with the cosmetics.

old31 · 04-01-2026, 01:29 PM

Good for you, have fun, and welcome to the Barn.

400A · 04-01-2026, 04:27 PM

Nice unrestored cars are still out there. Best of luck to you with this new project.

rfitzpatrick · 04-01-2026, 05:20 PM

Don't paint it!!

WHN · 04-01-2026, 05:52 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Take your time and enjoy yourself.

mcgarrett · 04-01-2026, 08:18 PM

Congratulations, and welcome to the Barn. Lots of knowledge here for the asking, so don't hesitate...there are no dumb questions!

I just got a '30 coupe going for a lady that hadn't run in at least 40 years; maybe longer. There are some handy hints to help you get the engine going again that I learned here on the Barn so feel free to hoist up your questions. Myself, or anyone here on the forum will be glad to share those hints with you when you're ready to try to get the engine ready to run (or anything else for that matter).

Steve_Mack_CT · 04-02-2026, 09:10 AM

Wow great find and it has to be rewarding to have acquired it after watching for so long. Good luck with whatever route you take. Seems like a great base and body style for a restoration if you decide to do that.

jwmckenzie · 04-02-2026, 11:30 AM

We saw the old girl at the Duncan Swap Meet. It looked like a very solid car.
Congratulations. I like your plan to keep it un-restored, as possible.

nkaminar · 04-02-2026, 12:50 PM

In my opinion the Cabriolet is one of the better body styles. It combines the open top sports car appeal of the roadster with the weather tightness of a coupe. Good luck with your restoration.

ronn · 04-02-2026, 01:57 PM

a little rubbing oil goes a long way with the rust................

I personally use used motor oil for "coloration"

JayJay · 04-03-2026, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronn

a little rubbing oil goes a long way with the rust................

I personally use used motor oil for "coloration"

Reminds me of what the hot-rod wanna be’s in my high school called a “suede” paint job. Spray with flat primer, rub oil all over, then presto! A “suede” paint job. Made it a bit problematic to ever apply a top coat of color, though. And you don’t want to think about if you ever leaned up against it. Or the girl you were trying to impress leaned up against it.

ronn · 04-03-2026, 01:13 PM

we dont need no stinkin "color"....! it only lasts about 6 months and then needs re application

lol

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 04-03-2026, 03:40 PM

Welcome to Fordbarn John.

04-01-2026, 12:06 PM	#2
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,670	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Looks like you have the start of a fun project. Sounds like you're going at it in the right order. Get the mechanicals sorted out first, then deal with the cosmetics. __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan (under reconstruction) 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan It isn't a defect, it's a feature!

04-01-2026, 01:29 PM	#3
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,686	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Good for you, have fun, and welcome to the Barn.

04-01-2026, 04:27 PM	#4
400A Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: New England Posts: 190	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Nice unrestored cars are still out there. Best of luck to you with this new project.

04-01-2026, 05:20 PM	#5
rfitzpatrick Senior Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 747	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Don't paint it!!

04-01-2026, 05:52 PM	#6
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 2,066	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Take your time and enjoy yourself.

04-01-2026, 08:18 PM	#7
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Corsicana, Texas Posts: 1,551	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Congratulations, and welcome to the Barn. Lots of knowledge here for the asking, so don't hesitate...there are no dumb questions! I just got a '30 coupe going for a lady that hadn't run in at least 40 years; maybe longer. There are some handy hints to help you get the engine going again that I learned here on the Barn so feel free to hoist up your questions. Myself, or anyone here on the forum will be glad to share those hints with you when you're ready to try to get the engine ready to run (or anything else for that matter).

04-02-2026, 09:10 AM	#8
Steve_Mack_CT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Central CT Posts: 379	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Wow great find and it has to be rewarding to have acquired it after watching for so long. Good luck with whatever route you take. Seems like a great base and body style for a restoration if you decide to do that. __________________ Steve Current: 1931 Model A Deluxe Roadster

04-02-2026, 11:30 AM	#9
jwmckenzie Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 246	Re: 1930 Cabriolet We saw the old girl at the Duncan Swap Meet. It looked like a very solid car. Congratulations. I like your plan to keep it un-restored, as possible.

04-02-2026, 12:50 PM	#10
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,847	Re: 1930 Cabriolet In my opinion the Cabriolet is one of the better body styles. It combines the open top sports car appeal of the roadster with the weather tightness of a coupe. Good luck with your restoration. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

04-02-2026, 01:57 PM	#11
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,873	Re: 1930 Cabriolet a little rubbing oil goes a long way with the rust................ I personally use used motor oil for "coloration"

04-03-2026, 01:13 PM	#13
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,873	Re: 1930 Cabriolet we dont need no stinkin "color"....! it only lasts about 6 months and then needs re application lol

04-03-2026, 03:40 PM	#14
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 12,241	Re: 1930 Cabriolet Welcome to Fordbarn John. __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .