Frame Up Built Steel Sedan 377 V8 TH350 with A/C

Basic black, nothing looks better on vintage Ford sheetmetal. Henry Ford was fond of it, and it never goes out of style. This beautifully done '34 Ford features a steel body, a built small block Chevy, and a spectacular leather interior that you'll be thrilled to cruise this summer. Fully sorted and ready to run cross-country, it's available for less than the cost to build.

The body, as I said, is original steel with fiberglass front fenders, and it has been expertly chopped 4.5 inches with a laid-back A-pillar and a filled roof insert. The finish work is very nicely done, as it must be on a black car, and though it has been driven since it was finished, someone looked after it properly. Interestingly, the tudor sedan is the most spacious car in the Ford lineup, except for perhaps the woody wagons, and it makes for an ideal traveling companion if you have a family. The original steel hood was retained, including the elegant louvers in the side panels. Usually they're the first things to go, but smart rodders know they're there for a reason: they help keep the engine cool. The paint is two-stage urethane, and the black surface is about a mile deep and almost completely distortion-free. Someone definitely went the extra mile on this one.

Perhaps the most handsome component of the '33-34 Fords is that V-shaped front grille, and the piece on this car is absolutely beautiful. I don't know if it's a perfectly restored original or a reproduction, but it is highly authentic-looking, right down to the crank hole at the bottom. A traditional Ford greyhound hood ornament leads the way, and is one of the coolest mascots of the era, suggesting speed and agility. Smaller King-Bee headlights trim up the front end, and you'll notice tiny turn signals hidden just under the curve of the front fenders. In back, the tail lights have been smoothly integrated into the rear splash apron, remaining almost invisible until you hit the brakes. Glass is tinted safety glass all around that gives the car a clean, monochromatic look.

The engine is a beautifully built 377 cubic inch Chevy, featuring things like ported and polished Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads, a matching Edelbrock intake and carburetor, and a set of beautifully made Sanderson long-tube headers. Although it was built to drive, the builder took great efforts to make sure the engine bay was show-worthy, and there's a ton of brightwork, including a chrome air cleaner and alternator, and a bunch of billet aluminum. There's modern heat and A/C, both of which function perfectly, and a massive big block aluminum radiator up front and an electric fan keep this cruiser running at 185 degrees under the most severe conditions. This is not a temperamental rod.

Gear swaps are handled by a TH350 3-speed automatic driving a 3.08-geared rear end from a late-model Camaro. The front suspension is fully independent by Heidt's, featuring tubular A-arms and coil-over shocks. In back, it is a Bitchin' Products setup that isn't radical, but rides well and doesn't make any fuss. The chassis isn't so detailed that you need to put mirrors under the car, but it's clean and nicely finished, more proof that this rod was carefully built. There's a true dual exhaust system that rumbles with appropriate hot rod gusto, exiting in cool low-profile tips just ahead of the rear wheels. It rolls on classic polished aluminum Weld Pro-Stars wearing 195/70/14 all-season radials up front and fat 26x12.5-15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pros in back for just the right look.

The interior is exquisitely finished in two-tone tan and orange leather that's striking in design and brilliant in execution. Borrowed from a production car, the front buckets are OEM comfortable, but the beautiful upholstery with tan bolsters and orange inserts cleverly hides their origins. The door panels were styled in art-deco fashion and upholstered using matching materials, tying the entire passenger compartment together. Overhead there's a custom consolette and a full-length leather trim panel that features overhead lighting. The rear bench was upholstered to match, with a center armrest and plenty of hip room thanks to clever packaging around the rear wheelwells. White-faced gauges live in a billet aluminum panel that fits where the original used to live, and the clock in the glove box lid has been replaced by a tachometer. Power windows, remote door openers, and A/C are all included.

The market for quality hot rods that are fully sorted and completely drivable never goes soft. Every time we get one of these cars on the showroom floor, it leaves almost as quickly. The explanation is easy—why wait? It would take two or three years to duplicate this car. With only 6244 miles since it was completed, this one has been tested and tuned to run properly, and its mettle has been proven on the road. It tracks straight, stops well, and cruises effortlessly at modern highway speeds. It also looks amazing, which really is the whole point. A great rod for less than the cost of the build and no waiting. Call today.