65 bhp, 221 cu. in. “21-stud” L-head V-8 engine, single-barrel carburetor, three-speed manual transmission, live front and rear axles with transverse leaf springs, and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes. Wheelbase: 106"

- An older restoration, nicely presented

- Rare today in period-correct and unmodified form

- Well equipped with desirable period accessories

By 1931, dwindling sales of Ford’s Model A had automotive industry insiders writing off Henry’s “Flivver Car Company” as being unable to keep up with the times. However, Henry Ford had an ace up his sleeve. The revolutionary V-8, developed in secret and introduced on March 31, 1932, was a massive success as the world’s first affordableV-8 automobile.

Henry Ford’s insistence on a low-priced V-8, against the four- and six-cylinder competition, was a stroke of engineering and marketing genius. Relentlessly developed, the “Flathead” powered most Ford cars and trucks until its replacement by an overhead-valve V-8 in 1954. Aesthetics of the new 1932 Ford were a new design benchmark with Lincoln-inspired styling influenced by Edsel B. Ford. Nearly 300,000 of these “baby Lincolns” were sold in 1932, and of the 14 models comprising the 1932 Ford model lineup, the Roadster remains a favorite today. Fewer than 7,000 examples were originally produced, and of the limited number that survive, not all have been left in their original form.

An older but very presentable national prize-winning restoration, this 1932 Ford Deluxe Roadster is handsomely finished in black with a red pinstripe and red wheels with chrome hub caps, complemented by brown faux leather upholstery and a tan canvas top with brown piping. Desirable period features and accessories include dual side-mounted spares, dual “Duolamp” taillights and a rear luggage rack. A correct Unity spotlight, a rare Ford factory accessory, is mounted on the driver’s side of the car. A correct 65 bhp, “21-stud” V-8 engine occupies the tidy engine bay and is equipped with a carburetor and a “high hat” distributor.

Acquired by the current owner in 2009, the roadster has accumulated only about 40 miles since then, and it is reported to run and drive well. A historic first-year V-8 Ford in its most desirable form, this is a must-have addition to any Ford enthusiast’s collection.