Nobody built an ugly car in 1934, but somehow the 1934 Fords were special. When they were new, they sold quite well, and today, they remain some of the most highly-sought collector cars both in stock and modified form. Tidy proportions, dramatic fender lines, and that incredible heart-shaped grille make these as timeless as anything ever built. It explains why there’s a sizeable cottage industry dedicated to churning out fiberglass replicas and at any show you attend, there are sure to be more than a few ’34 Fords of all shapes, sizes, and styles.

Yet one thing remains constant: the most cherished of all ’34 Fords are the 3-window coupes made by Henry Ford himself. Sure, there are a dozen ways to get a plastic 3-window but 100% steel cars like this bright red Ford will always live at the very top of the Ford food chain. Fenders, hood, deck lid, all of it is made-in-1934 Henry Ford steel. It was a cost-no-object build that ran into the six-figure range and was finished three years ago, and represents a classic take on a design that really needs no help from amateur designers. That means the roof isn’t chopped, the bumpers are still in place, and even the hinges are still exposed on the outside of the bodywork. That bodywork is beautifully finished with expert attention to fit and panel gaps, resulting in one of the most carefully-assembled ’34 Fords we’ve ever seen. Check out the gaps around the doors, the way the hood sits flush with the cowl, and the way the deck lid follows the contours of the bodywork. Once it was all aligned, smoothed, and sanded, a half-dozen coats of brilliant Torch Red paint went on, followed by a few coats of clear, a round of wet sanding and buffing, and a few more coats of clear to give it a deep, lustrous finish that seems to glow from within. There’s no metallic in the finish, no questionable graphics that’ll be dated in 10 years, not even a pinstripe to highlight the beltline. This sucker is CLEAN!

It also got a lot of fresh chrome and stainless, again all OEM-spec, not repro stuff, including the lovely pointed grille and big, round headlights that always look great. It retains the twin horns that were included with the Deluxe models, as well as the cowl lights, a feature we’ve always loved. The bumpers have had their guards removed and the rear bumper is a custom piece that removes the dip that was ostensibly to clear the rear-mounted spare tire, but it retains a very OEM look. The radiator cap is a simple plain piece instead of the greyhound, but if you like that look, repros are available and that’s something that I might choose if I were keeping this car for myself. You’ll also find those lovely scroll-shaped door handles and twin taillights with blue-dot lenses, a traditional touch. It’s likely that this car originally carried a rumble seat, but in the interest of practicality, it’s been removed in favor of a trunk, which is probably the right choice on a rod built for long-distance cruising.

The stunning tan leather interior cost nearly $35,000 all by itself and it shows. Like the exterior, it retains a lot of the original design elements, including the door hardware and garnish moldings, but there’s not a single component that hasn’t been massaged or modified to improve the look or function. The door panels are works of art, offering a variety of textures and shapes that highlight the contours of the custom bench seat. That bench seat adds a lot of leg and head room to the compact cabin, making it feel a lot more spacious inside and making it all-day comfortable. Note the cool built-in controls for the Sony AM/FM/CD stereo head unit, which is stashed behind the seat—very trick! Top grade leather covers almost every surface you can touch, and even the banjo-style steering wheel is wrapped in matching butterscotch hides. Vintage Air supplied the HVAC system, and the vents are neatly integrated into a neat panel below the original dash so everything looks like it was born there. A custom billet instrument panel holds a full array of white-faced VDO instruments, and the original secondary control locations in the center of the dash now hold the knobs for headlights, wipers, and even the original ashtray. The T-handle crank opens the windshield and the cowl vent is also still fully operational, perfect for those days when you don’t quite need the A/C. In addition, the rear window cranks down to make for pleasant breezes inside without being too windy and there’s a bit of storage space behind the seat. Overhead there’s a consolette from a late-model that’s expertly integrated into the design and offers a pair of map lights as well as a special compartment for your sunglasses. In back, the trunk is fully upholstered in matching materials and the side panels there are just beautifully crafted. There’s simply nothing on this car that is merely adequate.

The choice of hardware can make or break a rod, and with this one designed to be a cruiser, reliability was as important as performance. As a result, there’s a Corvette-spec 350 cubic inch LT1 V8 living under the hood. Complete with fuel injection from Street & Performance, it starts instantly and idles smoothly, even when it’s cold, and with more than 300 horsepower on tap, performance is more than entertaining. Lots of chrome and polished aluminum make the engine bay pop, and with OEM-looking Corvette covers to hide the wiring and plumbing, it looks clean and sleek, so you’ll be eager to show it off every chance you get. There’s a giant aluminum radiator up front that’s cooled by an equally massive electric fan, and a serpentine belt drive system for the accessories ensures trouble-free motoring. You can see that they took great pains to hide the wiring so there’s nothing hanging on the smooth firewall and even the hoses for the A/C were carefully routed to distract as little as possible. Custom block-hugger headers lead to a fabricated dual exhaust system with mellow-sounding mufflers and turn-downs just ahead of the rear axle.

The frame itself appears to be the original Ford piece, albeit heavily reinforced and modified. Most of it has been boxed for strength and a custom front crossmember carries an independent suspension with polished stainless A-arms and adjustable coil-over shocks. The rear suspension is a traditional 4-link with another set of chrome coil-overs and a trick sway bar that tucks up into the frame. The LT1 is backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission whose overdrive gear allows triple-digit cruising speeds with effortless ease. Out back there’s a 9-inch Ford housing that’s been filled, smoothed, and painted to match the bodywork (in fact, everything under the car is either painted bright red, chrome plated, or polished stainless), and filled with 3.73 gears. Wilwood supplied a set of their disc brakes, both front and rear, with polished aluminum calipers and the hats on the rotors finished to match the bodywork. A new stainless gas tank hangs out back. Billet Specialties Legacy wheels are an awesome choice and carry staggered 205/60/15 front and 215/75/15 rear Michelin radials for a traditional look that rides great.

This is one of those rods that just gets more and more impressive the longer you look at it. Professionally built and with only 2000 miles on the clock, it’s still at the top of its game and has never seen rain or inclement weather. It’s totally sorted, 100% functional, and ready to enjoy, whether your preference is show or go. And there’s just nothing like going to a show and telling the guys with their plastic rods that yours is 100% Henry Ford steel. This ’34 just gets everything right. Call today!