Ford’s 1936 Cabriolet was, by many accounts, a styling revelation for both the company’s image and its fortunes. The hood began with a sharp body-colored radiator housing, which was radically V-shaped and highlighted in DeLuxe models by thin vertical chrome bars echoed in a double row of hood side louvers separated by thin chrome spears. Since Edsel Ford was never much for embellishment, body accents were subtle, defining features that refined the form and function of the sheet metal rather than being discreet design elements themselves. The fenders were fully skirted in both the front and back, hiding the car’s chassis completely from view. Finally, gracefully formed bumpers and gracefully raked windshields provided the crowing touches.

The Ford Cabriolet represented the upper end of the Ford model range. It skillfully combined the open-air sportiness of a convertible with the crisp lines and practical weather protection of a closed car thanks to a padded convertible top with Victoria-style blind rear quarters. Just 4,616 Cabriolets were produced for 1936, out of a total calendar-year production of nearly 800,000 cars, and today, survivors are far rarer.

This striking 1936 Ford Cabriolet Custom is presented in a beautiful Plum Crazy purple borrowed from the Dodge catalog and highlighted with black fenders and hand-applied detailing. This aesthetic is further improved by the car’s black convertible soft top with matching interior upholstery and wire wheels. Though the burlwood interior trim has been retained, the cabin sports a vintage-look accessory cooling fan, modern head unit, roadrunner shift knob, and aftermarket center console. The rear bench and exterior rumble seat are trimmed to match in patterned black vinyl.

Power comes from the car’s factory-correct flathead V-8 engine which has been upgraded with a supplement of desirable vintage speed parts from Eddie Meyer Engineering, including an aluminum intake manifold and finned performance heads. A stainless steel exhaust by Fenton terminates under the rear bumper in a pair of large chrome tailpipes. Fuel is delivered by a pair of Stromberg 97 carburetors which work in tandem with the engine’s updated Malloy distribution unit and MSD ignition suite. Power is sent through a three-speed manual transmission which is linked to a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle—an ideal combination to lower engine rotation at faster cruising speeds.

Combining performance with striking design and tasteful updates, this stunning 1936 Ford Cabriolet Custom is not to be taken lightly.