History Old 1937 Ford Racecar out of storage after 30 years

1937 Ford Coupe with an injected 427 ZL-1 motor. What would your ideas be for this car if you owed it? Sell the engine to a Camaro, corvette, nova or chevelle builder? Keep it all together? Put it back in the garage..........mmmm. Put it back on the street.

 

Keep it together and ether race it or drive it on the streets but don't change the paint! HRP

 

x2 or give it to me I think I could find something to do with it, even though it has valve covers

 

Do you have the matching front sheetmetal? Put it back together and get it running. Looks pretty cool from here.

 

Do you have any history on the car, year built, where raced, who owned it, ect. I agree, if you have the front sheet metal bolt it back together and bring it up to race safety specs and run it at the nostalgia drags. Looks like a fun ride.

 

looks like a street car to me if you put front sheet metal on it and FGS change those tailights.

 

Chances are the engine parts are modified enough that a restorer would not give big money for them- if heads are original ZL-1, check valve size and evidence of rocker boss breakage- if they are raced, rocker bosses are weak. If aluminum block, is it bored out, clearances, etc..? Really, unless the numbers match someone's car, probably not high bucks. But, if parts are worth a lot, sell them- you can get current aftermarket parts that work better and are more robust....

 

No cage in a C/A?

 

I'd be wanting to get the history of the car before I decided. Paint looks the part, but between the motor and the wheels/tires.... ??? Somebody started a more modern interpretation on it and then? Lack of cage is certainly suspect.

 

That's a cool old car. Probably not a race car though, at least in it's final configuration. I'll bet it was one badass street machine in it's day though.

 

Yes cage and floor is removed for new custom frame. It would not be hard at all to go back as a Gasser.

 

Now THAT'S cool!

 

I'd get it running and drive it like I stole it. I would probably even try to drive it 150+ miles to the track and race it.

 

I think it was for sale on flee bay. I know I saw it somewhere...

 

An early Ultimate Rat!
Nice lookin' platform too.

 

Wild project - have to go through motor to really know what you have - be Cool as a weekend cruiser, exhibition nostalgia races - guess big question is what do you have in mind for it, and how deep your wallet is. but, if ready for a frame replacement could build set up for the street with a milder big block.

 

Man, that pic at the strip! That'd be my inspiration right there!

 

If it were mine, I'd match up the original mags ; detune the Rat a little, make sure the mechanicals were up to snuff...then HAUL ASS!!!...down the road. Really COOL ride ,man!

 

more pics.........

 

Your just pulling our leg's-Right?

 

I would come to Texas, pick it up and bring it to Wisconsin and race it for you, if you want! What a great car, Gary

 

THAT is exactly what should be done to it. Find the correct wheels/tires and get it out there for people to see.

 

X2

 

Chances are the block and heads, if really orig ZL-1 and have the right casting dates and codes would be worth substantially more to a restorer. Figure out what exactly you have there, I tend to agree the engine internals are likely changed out, but you never know. Then use those funds to buy a new badass BBC that makes more power. It seems a great candidate for a nostalgia-type racer or put back on the street using the old gasser pic as inspiration. The modern pro-street look as it has now is not so traditional.

 

I wouldnt be afraid to sell the engine, but dont change the looks.

 

Glad to see the Texas Department of Pubic Safety approved of it in 1978!
'37 Ford front end is a favorite of mine. The only ZL-1 I've seen is in a local museum.

 

I'd sell the engine to fund the resurrection. Put in a tamer engine and enjoy!

 

Since it appears that you have already removed and dismantled the engine, I would sell it and put in an engine that would be easy to drive on the street. But not touch the paint.

 

Damn,some people have all the luck.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

You seem to have two of them in the garage; share, and give one to me, I'll pick. If you make it a trach car again, there's always the risk of wrecking it; I'd put it back on the street with a mild BBC/TH400 trans. Squirrel the race motor away. Let EVERYONE see the car, just not the people at the track. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.