Photo: B. Nowakowski THE CAR AND ITS OWNER
1937 Ford Panel Delivery street rod owned by Bob Nowakowski
WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
These rides were the workhorses of the Great Depression, serving as ambulances, police wagons and delivery vans. Ford was so proud of this model that, for 1937, it built 42 Model 78 Deluxe Panel Delivery vans as an educational fleet to promote sales of Ford parts and accessories to dealers. Only one is known to have survived and it sold at auction in 2006 for $170,500. The rest were stripped of their special equipment, given a black paint job and sold as used Ford fleet vehicles. Nowakowski says his customized Panel Delivery "still has many of the original features, such as a crank-out windshield.”
HOW LONG HE’S OWNED IT
Since 2006
WHERE HE FOUND IT
“I purchased it on Long Island (New York) and was able to insure it and drive it home,” he says.
CONDITION
“The original 85-horsepower drive train has been replaced with a Chevy 350-cubic-inch engine and automatic transmission," Nowakowski says. "The truck has been repainted to a bronze color used on the Plymouth Prowler. I’ve been able to refinish an old oak floor that I found under the carpet.”
VALUE
He values the street rod between $30,000 and $35,000
TIPS FOR OWNERS
“Buy something pretty much completed and add your own touches to it," Nowakowski advises.
THE BOTTOM LINE
““The truck has been owned by a few different owners on Long Island," he says, "including a brewery company, a collector and a restorer. Everybody along the line has added a few features. I have added a mural of an old repair shop on the side and pictures of the vehicles I have owned in past years.”
1937 Ford Panel Delivery street rod owned by Bob Nowakowski
WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
These rides were the workhorses of the Great Depression, serving as ambulances, police wagons and delivery vans. Ford was so proud of this model that, for 1937, it built 42 Model 78 Deluxe Panel Delivery vans as an educational fleet to promote sales of Ford parts and accessories to dealers. Only one is known to have survived and it sold at auction in 2006 for $170,500. The rest were stripped of their special equipment, given a black paint job and sold as used Ford fleet vehicles. Nowakowski says his customized Panel Delivery "still has many of the original features, such as a crank-out windshield.”
HOW LONG HE’S OWNED IT
Since 2006
WHERE HE FOUND IT
“I purchased it on Long Island (New York) and was able to insure it and drive it home,” he says.
CONDITION
“The original 85-horsepower drive train has been replaced with a Chevy 350-cubic-inch engine and automatic transmission," Nowakowski says. "The truck has been repainted to a bronze color used on the Plymouth Prowler. I’ve been able to refinish an old oak floor that I found under the carpet.”
VALUE
He values the street rod between $30,000 and $35,000
TIPS FOR OWNERS
“Buy something pretty much completed and add your own touches to it," Nowakowski advises.
THE BOTTOM LINE
““The truck has been owned by a few different owners on Long Island," he says, "including a brewery company, a collector and a restorer. Everybody along the line has added a few features. I have added a mural of an old repair shop on the side and pictures of the vehicles I have owned in past years.”
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