1934 Ford Model 40

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
Offered Without Reserve $60,000 - $80,000 USD

• Known ownership history stretching back 70 years
• Highly presentable older restoration in Coach Maroon over tan LeBaron fabric upholstery
• Desirable period equipment, including a Columbia two-speed overdrive rear axle, Greyhound radiator mascot, ashtray-mounted radio, mirror-mounted clock, fog lamps, and locking spare tire
• Well-maintained and reported to cruise comfortably at modern road speeds

Few American automobiles are as deeply woven into popular folklore as the 1934 Ford V-8. Celebrated for its accessible performance at the height of the Depression, it became the car of choice for a certain subset of Public Enemies who valued speed above all else most famously Clyde Barrow, who met his end in a hail of gunfire alongside Bonnie Parker in a 1934 Ford V-8. Barrows admiration for the model was no secret; in a now-legendary letter to Henry Ford, he praised the flathead V-8 as a dandy of a car, noting that no other machine matched it for his purposes.

For 1934, Ford introduced a series of thoughtful refinements to its V-8 lineup. The familiar grille remained but was simplified, with fewer vertical bars and a more substantial chrome surround, while a distinctive V-8 emblem appeared within an inverted triangular badge. Additional updates included revised hood louvers, smaller lighting units, painted hubcap emblems, dual hood handles, and triple body pinstriping. Closed cars also benefited from Clear Vision Ventilation for improved cabin comfort. Though the four-door sedan offered practicality, it is the rakish two-door coupes especially the 3-Window variants that continue to define the models lasting appeal.

Offered from The Michael Leith Collection, this 1934 Model 40 V-8 3-Window Coupe is a superb example that benefits from nearly seven decades of known, enthusiastic ownership. A collection of accompanying photographs documents the cars frame-off restoration in 2000 by Ford-trained technician Mike Belmont, whose comprehensive effort incorporated carefully sourced, period-correct components and culminated in a finish of Coach Maroon over tan LeBaron fabric upholstery. The car has been rigorously maintained since the restoration and remains well equipped, with a rare Columbia overdrive rear axle, Greyhound radiator ornament, ashtray-mounted radio, mirror-mounted clock, fog lamps, and a locking spare tire with its original keys.

Altogether, this car is an excellent representation of the 3-Window Coupe, blending understated Depression-era styling with the unmistakable rumble of Fords flathead V-8 to create a classic that affords continuous enjoyment. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.