• Year of manufacture 
    1931
  • Car type 
    Other
  • Lot number 
    286
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Location
    United States
  • Exterior colour 
    Other

Description

  • One of just 4,967 examples produced for the model year
  • Features a desirable “slant-windshield,” three-window body by Murray
  • Used in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire
  • Powered by a 201 cu. in. inline-four cylinder engine paired to a three-speed manual transmission
  • Benefits from a previous restoration

1931 proved the final year of Ford’s Model A production, although inventory sales continued through April of the following year. With a great variety of civilian and commercial body styles available for the model, Ford relied on supplemental coachbuilders to fill out contracts of specific body styles. Detroit’s own Murray Body Corporation the Briggs Manufacturing Company were both responsible for bodying “blind” window and three-window (both terms referring to the side windows of each design) Tudor and Fordor Sedans, like the example offered here. Thankfully, there are some minor but telltale signs to distinguish a Briggs body from a Murray body, and both remain equally desirable within the vast Model A marketplace.

This Murray-bodied 1931 DeLuxe Fordor Sedan is a desirable “slant-windshield,” three-window example which benefits from a previous restoration. It is one of just 4,967 Fordor Sedan examples completed by Ford for the model year, though not all received this particular windshield and side-window configuration.

The car is presented today wearing an attractive dark blue exterior body with black fenders, trim, and wire wheels. It has many desirable period-correct finishes like woodgrain cabin trim, mohair upholstery, dual side-mounted spares, and a rear-mounted luggage rack. Additional notable equipment includes the DeLuxe cowl lights, radiator stone guard, wind deflectors, and an ever-appreciated Quail hood ornament. A later set of turn indicators lights have also been added. The consignor notes that the car’s present restoration was executed prior to his ownership. More recently, this Model A was featured in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire starring Steve Buscemi.

The car’s tried and true 201 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine is paired to a floor-mounted three-speed manual transmission. The design’s four doors allow easy and comfortable access to the rear seats, while the full suite of side windows provide ample illumination (when the dome light is not needed).

The DeLuxe Fordor Sedan by Murray is among the most alluring closed body styles executed upon the Model A chassis during its production run, and this example is sure to please its next owner.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf21.


RM Sotheby's
5 Heron Square
Richmond
TW9 1EL
United Kingdom
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Title 
Mr
First name 
Augustin
Last name 
Sabatie-Garat

Phone 
+44-2078517070