History 1938 Ford Roadster Pick Up - A Story...

2 and a half years later...

 

To cool for school, these are so bad ass. I love that 38 front sheet metal, stylin city! ~sololobo~

 

what a cool truck. I would imagine it was a 1 of 1. amazing find.

 

Today...cab almost ready to come off after some heavy bracing due to the shot floor and rockers.

 

I remember seeing it on craigslist when it was for sale !
Cool to see it resurface again ,and local to boot!
Definately amused to see its metamorphesis into same yet slightly updated so to speak!
Awesome score!

 

Stock headlights. Please.

 

I could live with the accessory headlights....the fluting of the lenses is so cool. Plus they are one of the less ugly of the ad-on's on this thing. The cowl light will stay, and we'll probably try to replicate the running boards. But might toss the antenna, the third wiper, and maybe the mirrors and marker lights on the front fenders.

 

Insist on the BnL tires and a nice healthy rake!! I really like this thing, but isn't it really a CPU (cabriolet roadster pickup)? hehe

 

I keep forgetting to take a pic of the partial license plate we have. It was from a town called Maria Juana in Argentina. no, that's not a joke, we have the license plate to prove it haha. Also found a antique car show registration paper under the seat. Apparently the guy worked for a company that builds train boxcars, there's some other stuff related to that, that we've found.

 

38 Deluxe's are super cool!
How about a picture of the rear cab conversion? Is it basically just one large piece of metal welded to the door posts?

 

38 Deluxe's are super cool!
How about a picture of the rear cab conversion? Is it basically just one large piece of metal welded to the door posts?

 

I think the cab back panel came from something else, maybe an actual truck...it has compound curves and actually fits the profile of the doors very well. I'm 100% sure it wasn't hand made for this truck, considering the questionable methods of the rest of the modifications.

 

Amazing how many gearheads are not aware that this model truck is NOT a roadster pickup!
The last Ford roadster was produced in 1937---That means REMOVABLE windshield & NO roll up windows.
And I'm not sure there were ANY 1937 RPU's produced by Ford in the USA.
John Mellencamp knows his RPU's!!!

 

Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe.

 

It's kind of hard to put any one label on it. It is most likely a one-of-one. There was never a pickup with a front end like this, so technically it's not a pickup either. It's not a cabriolet, since it has a bed on it, it's not a UTE because the bed is not integral with the cab, and not a roadster since it was roll up windows and a permanent windshield frame. It was built in Argentina, I don't think the model line-up rules that we have here really apply to what they built down there.

 

Tadaaa...

 

Nice project. Last pic also proves once again how much space a dismantled car takes up.

 

Man that is something else!!! Love it.

I hope someday to build a chopped tail dragged ice cream truck just like this. I love 38's.

Doesn't seem like you guys are going to hot rod it too hard. But I have the exact same 38 deluxe hood with old louvers. The good ones! Love to see it on that little Pu.

Great thread

 

great rpu,i like the rear fenders,they look like they should be there to me,and ryan argentinian is a word!!

 

I don't care if it is all factory or a 1 of 1 or an owner custom. It looks right and I hope to see it finished. This is a very interesting thread. I didn't know anything about Fords being produced in Argentina. Thanks for the little history lesson.

 

Been making a lot of progress.

 

DeuceDaddy.......re the last Ford Raodster being 1937.....not quite.........here in Oz they made them up to 1940, a mate has one and its genuine, no windup door windows, he's had it since the early 70's.........roadster utes were made here till 1938 and are uncommon but around.........I have seen a factory 40/41 Ford Roadster Pickup(not ute) still being used by a plumber about 20yrs ago...........very uncommon................andyd

 

its a convertible sedan delivery
tk

 

Here is a couple pics of that hood. Louvers are so nice. Pretty sure it's a 38 deluxe.

 

Good news......the dropped axle has landed!

We also had the "new" frame blasted and painted by North Texas Customs (thanks guys!)

Got it back today....some parts are ready to be picked up, some still on the way.....the chassis may be a roller again by tomorrow afternoon!!! Pics soon,,,

 

Nice!

 

I was thinking the same thing, it looks like the front half of a convertible sedan, still a cool truck, there were a lot of cars made into pickups in the 50s surprised we don't see more here.

 

I like the way the bed fits over the 37 creation. It looks like it belongs, even with the tail pan in place. KQQL.

 

Quoting an old post in this thread, but this is in fact the case. The rear door post is a giant cast piece. I assume a factory piece of the convertible sedan. After cutting off some of the hastily wrapped around sheetmetal and removing the wood, I could see the backside of the post and where the rear door hinge would have bolted on.

The rear panel was brazed to these cast posts.

Will have some updated pictures soon. Got the steering box rebuilt today, and the chassis is a complete roller now minus wheel cylinders and the front spring, still waiting on that shock kit that has new shackles in it. Tomorrow the transmission will go together, and will continue with working on the body.

 

Backside of the post...


Plates bolted on, giving me something to weld to.


Made a new top piece, tied it into those plates. Added som bracing down to the floor, now it is very sturdy.



Chassis is a roller now, still without the front spring though. Also finished the transmission rebuild.