Rare 1938 Ford Standard Roadster

[mercman from oz]

How rare is rare? This super rare 1938 Ford Standard Roadster is presently advertised for sale on Australian eBay. It is possibly the only one still in existence. Ford Australia offered Roadsters in both Standard and Deluxe for 1938. While you hardly ever see a 1938 Ford Deluxe Roadster any more, the chances of seeing a 1938 Ford Standard Roadster are even more remote.
Check out the picture from the original Ford Australia Sales Brochure showing the 1938 Ford Standard Roadster which proves that Ford Australia did indeed make such a car. It is just a pity that earlier owners of this car didn't take better care of it by storing it undercover. As you can see from the photos, this car requires a full extensive restoration. Had better care been taken of it earlier on, that would have saved a lot of hard work and expense, making it that much more valuable today.

[mercman from oz]

Just for a comparison, here is the page advertising the 1938 Ford Deluxe Roadster from the Australian 1938 Ford Sales Brochure. The photos of this 1938 Ford Deluxe Roadster were taken many years ago in Sydney. It is a long time since I have seen any 1938 Ford V8 Roadsters.

[TonyM]

Thanks for posting these.

[34Phae]

Strange to see the windshield wipers above windshield on the standard and below on the deluxe

[Ralph Moore]

First pics look like 37, second like 38, did Ford carry over the grille look during those years?

[mercman from oz]

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Hi Ralph, For the first time, in 1938, the Ford Standard models had a completely different front end design from the 1938 Ford Deluxe. While the Grilles on the 1938 Ford Standards look similar to the 1937 Ford Grilles, they are totally different. What is strange is the the front fenders on the 1938 Ford Standards are unique to that model only. They are different to the 1937 Ford front fenders and are totally different to the fenders on the 1938 Ford Deluxe. Ford continued to have seperate looking models from 1938 up to and including the 1940 models. From 1941 onwards, the economy standard models had the same looks as the more expensive models, albeit with different names. Apparently this exercise of having two distinctly different looking models in the same year didn't produce the results that Ford was hoping for?

[mercman from oz]

Hi 34PHAE, That was very good observation on your part picking up the different mounting points for the Wipers. I didn't pick this up until you mentioned it. I just had a look at the original Sales Brochure, and the Wipers are shown mounted on the cowl on the Deluxe model, but there are no Wipers shown at all on the Standard model. All very unusual. Thanks for pointing this out.

[Ralph Moore]

I see, a friend of mine has a 38 Deluxe Fordor and I'm so used to seeing the "bird beak" style grille.

[sidevalve8ba]

I really, really like '38 Standards in almost any body style but I sure don't see many around. I passed up a chance on a solid '38 standard Tudor a few years ago and I've been kicking myself ever since. Oh well, snooze and you lose.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Top irons on the one for sale are interesting...looks like the front part of top can be tucked back into the center so front seat is open, rear covered as in many British cars...?

[sidevalve8ba]

This brings up another question for me. I was always under the impression that Ford's last true roadster (i.e. side curtains as opposed to roll-up side glass) was built in '36 or perhaps '37. Yet these photos list the standard and deluxe models as roadsters and they clearly show provisions for side curtains. Am I mistaken on this or was the roadster still available in the Australian market?

[37 Coupe]

Not only the points you make but have you ever seen a true roadster with a back seat,not as a rumble seat?

[DavidG]

Welcome to the wide world of Ford outside of the U.S. where it has been producing automobiles since 1904. Many are unique to the countries where they are sold and were not available in the U.S. or Canada.

[Newc]

Hi all; A lft door for one of these was just at the Albany Or swap meet this Nov. Did not sell I believe. Newc

[FlatheadTed]

I was talking to a man here that attended the EFC dinner he drove a 37 same body style there ,roadster . Also there is a 38 roadster Aust here in Auckland as well .

[mercman from oz]

In reply to sidevalve8ba's question, Ford Australia continued producing Roadsters for both 1939 and 1940, as illustrated in the Original Sales brochures of the day. These models got the side wind wings to help protect the driver.
The bodies used on these 1939 and 1940 models were carryover 1938 bodies and never had the Rumble Seat, as they had a back seat. Unfortunately in Australia, 1940 was the last year that Ford offered a variety of body styles.
This was the last year an open car was offered and the last year a Two Door Model was offered, even thought it was not a proper Tudor but a Sloper. For 1941, all we got was the Four Door Sedan and a Ute.

[FL&WVMIKE]

mercman from oz ....................
A 1940 Roadster sure would be a showstopper, here in the USA. People would think it was custom made !
Bring one over.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[rockfla]

The 38 Standard pictured doesn't look like it has provisions for side curtains for the doors or quarter windows and obviously NO glass for the doors and quaters??? I assume the 39 and 40 Roadster's in Aussie form didn't have glass either??? Any confirmation on that???? Or pictures with side curtains affixed???

[Bruce Lancaster]

If you look closely at the bottom center picture of the standard,, you will see two sockets for posts in the door top and snap fasteners along the reveal line

[mercman from oz]

Just for the comparison, here are the pictures of the 1939 and 1940 Ford Convertibles from the same Sale Brochure. You will notice that the Roof is completely different to the Roadsters.