1937 Ford Roadster Deluxe

‘KXS 199’, a 1937 Ford DeLuxe Roadster that’s been in the seller’s care since 2018, was previously part of the Milton Robson Collection in Georgia. The recipient of a body-off restoration some years ago, it was freshened around 2008 and repainted in Ford’s Coach Maroon.

Fitted with a brown buttoned leather interior, wood-grain dashboard, and the correct rubber floor mat, the accessory ‘wind wings’ on the A-pillars help divert the airflow away from the cabin for relatively little interior buffeting.

But if sitting in the cabin is a little too civilised for you then the rear ‘rumble’ or ‘dickey’ seat provides an even greater open-air experience for you and a close friend – and if you don’t need the space, it can be utilised for luggage.

We understand that great care was taken with the restoration, which displays a tidy engine compartment with correct wiring, hardware, and hoses. This attention to detail, along with the tan roof and whitewall tyres, ensures this example stands out even among its fellow ‘37s.

The Ford Coach Maroon paintwork gives the Roadster a surprisingly up-to-date appearance, its colour and minimal exterior trim giving it the look of a much younger car.

This illusion is reinforced by the faired-in headlamps and enclosed wings – and the Art Deco radiator grille and bonnet ventilation don’t harm the car’s good looks, either.

Nor does its condition, which is still excellent. The refresh and respray might be more than a decade old now but it was clearly done to a very good standard as it is holding up very well indeed.

And a similar degree of care seems to have gone into the pre-paint preparation as the shutlines are tight and consistent, and the panel alignment is outstanding.

This fastidiousness has been extended into its everyday life as the panels are still free of dents, ripples, dinks, and other damage.

As are the beautiful chrome bumpers, which run straight and true and have an unholy shine to them. There’s no pitting and corrosion, either.

The rest of the chromework is equally impressive including that imposing radiator grille and bonnet-mounted ornament. The split windscreen adds further interest, as do the unusually shaped headlamps.

The wheels might be plain steel jobbies, but they’re painted to match the coachwork and enhanced with chrome trim. They’re also fitted with a set of whitewall tyres from the Universal Tire Company but then you wouldn’t expect anything less on a car like this, would you?

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Wisconsin numberplates, which bear its UK registration number, are a nice touch, as are the rubber-covered running boards that give good grip should you want to stand on them wearing a double-breasted suit while pretending to shoot a Tommy gun.

The tan canvas hood is in great shape. Free of rips, tears, and other damage, it seals well when it is raised. It’s also got a proper glass rear window, and the panel it sits within can be unzipped to offer a healthy dose of fresh air without having to lower the roof completely.

Not that this would be a problem, because the whole assembly rises and falls as it should.

As for faults, there is a blemish on the lower edge of the offside front wing.

The cabin is so well trimmed it must have been reupholstered during the 2008 renovation. With tan buttoned leather seats in the front and a simple leather bench seat aft, their elegance is enhanced by an unusual wood-grain-effect dashboard.

The same wood-grain trim is used to great effect around the windscreen, and the upmarket DeLuxe interior includes white Bakelite controls and some impressively labelled chrome switches.

The factory instruments are of a wonderfully ornate design, and they’ve been supplemented by an aftermarket coolant temperature gauge from Smiths, which seems prudent to us.

The driver’s controls include a trio of floor-mounted pedals, a vintage-vast steering wheel, and one of the longest gear levers we’ve ever seen, albeit one that’s topped by a funky Ford V-8 gearknob.

As for flaws, the rear dickey seat has a small tear in its base, and one of the buttons on the front seat has lost its leather covering.

The paint finish under the bonnet is every bit as good as the exterior. Very clean and beautifully presented, it forms a suitably impressive canvas for the two metal plaques that confirm the body number and the various patents the Ford Motor Company relied on for its construction.

The engine and ancillaries are every bit as clean as the sheet metalwork, and the genuine Ford USA rubber coolant hoses are another nice detail.

The Ford doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and the history file includes its Wisconsin title, a letter from the DVLA after it was registered here in the UK, and a V5 for it in the seller’s name that shows he is the first registered keeper in the UK.

With only a dozen 1937 Roadsters on the Early Ford V-8 Club register, this is one of the rarest cars to have passed through our hands this year.

Wonderfully period, opportunities to buy a Ford V8 with a rumble seat don’t come along very often, so if you’ve got one on your Bucket List then now’s the time to jump.

With an estimate of between £45,000 and £55,000, it isn’t likely to be desperately expensive, either.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Maidstone, Kent. To arrange an appointment to view this vehicle please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.