In the days of the Model T, touring cars or phaetons easily outsold all other body types. Open cars were cheaper, and tourers were more spacious and convenient than roadsters or runabouts. By the era of the Model A, however, creature comforts had become more important and less expensive. The most popular Ford body style was a two-door sedan – “Tudor,” in Ford parlance. This held true right through to World War II.

As the 1920s came to a close, convertibles with roll-up windows and better weather protection began to make inroads into roadster sales. Ford’s first was the Cabriolet, added to the 1929 Model A catalogue. At first the Cabriolet sold in very modest quantities, but by 1935, Ford Cabriolets outsold Roadsters three to one.

The Roadster, however, still had appeal, and the style remained in the catalogue through 1937. But the handwriting was on the wall; just 1,250 were built that year, the rarest of all body styles. The only Ford Roadsters built with the new-for-1937 yacht-inspired styling by designer E.T. Gregorie, the ’37s stand clearly apart from all predecessors.

This rare 1937 Ford DeLuxe Roadster was previously in the famed Milton Robson Collection in Georgia. The recipient of a body-off restoration some years ago, it was freshened around 2008. Repainted at that time in Ford’s Coach Maroon, it has a brown buttoned leather interior, wood-grain dashboard, and correct rubber floor mat. Accessory wind wings provide passenger comfort with the top down, and side curtains are provided for inclement weather.

The rumble seat provides open-air motoring for two passengers, or a limited luggage space, if needed. The car has a tan canvas top and matching boot cover, as well as sports wide whitewall tires. Great care was taken with the restoration, which displays a tidy engine compartment with correct wiring, hardware, and hoses. Since acquisition by the current owner six years ago, it has been carefully maintained by a full-time mechanic.

Surviving 1937 Roadsters in the Early Ford V-8 Club register number about a dozen, making this car rarer still. If your bucket list includes riding in a rumble seat, then this is your car.