The fate of a 1934 Matford Saloon (update: 1936-1937)

hello,im the owner of the choped matford
the car was already choped when i bought it last year
i see a fun car to be in the future
make it running with the original 2.2 v8 flathead(no big engine or automatic )

Now that the car has the roof removed, it looks elegant just like the decapotal in the Matford collage. Replacing the running gear with modern units would destroy the essence of the car. It reminds me of a parish priest who was advised to "upgrade" the mid 18th Irish grandfather clock in his sanctuary to eliminate the need to wind it. Out went the lovely brass face with Roman numerals and cherubs on each corner. In came a white Smiths electric clock in the elegant mahogany body.
Yes it did show accurate time and did not need to be wound. It did not last long though as everybody tut-tutted under their breath, the priest became embarrassed by his mistake and eventually the clock was quietly spirited away.

The fact that this individual didn't even know the date of what he wants to chop up is just typical. Knows nothing and cares even less.

I can fully understand the frustration of those who want to see this car restored to its original state. That's a great goal, but your aren't going to get your virginity back either.

I have a 1935 BMW 319 that was 'customized' by clowns. The hack work done on it can't be called improvements. Now, do I try and spend very big money to make this a restored car or customize it to make it a personal statement?

Let the man do as he wishes with the car. It's his baby and he'll be judged by the results. I wish him well in his endeavor. It's going to be a lot of work.

to me making a hot rod is no different to making a special ,, they are both custom cars,,, Unfortunately only a few people can create something that looks better than the original designers or designs´team idea or drawing. Still you only know that when u are done. Looks like you need more artisans on this than mechanics. The real kicker on this is going to be the roof, its form and line. And that is going to be a matter of taste ,,, you have to think how far it will go towards the back of the car , will it have a round back, pointy or straight, perhaps that has already be decided and chosen upon as that looks like a VW beetle screen frame which is already welded in place (!)If it were mine i think i would be tempted to weld up the boot a little bringing the hinge further towards the back and maybe copying the forms from the bonnet for the roof...
then you got to think about performance,,, and what u want at the end of the day.. burnout adequate cruising speed etc.. . Bolt on suspension brake upgrades are easily obtainable from usa ,
somethings i would not do is
tub it
channel it
and my favorite bug bear modern 70s steering columns and steering wheels please please please keep that looking original
what ever u decide to do just decide soon or it will be not two years but fifteen before it is finished
Of course that also may not be a bad thing ! at least u will have time to forget how much it costs... and it could be rolled out on its centenary... best of luck

Some would say that the Matford itself was a sad end for the Mathis brand.

It would a shame for the owner if this were hot-rodded. He obviously fell in love with the car, so why change it? Get it running, keep it as it is, and enjoy. If he likes hot rod he should go and buy one or make one out of a pile of bits rather than destroy this car (please note, not shouting, just lamenting)

I suspect that the value of the finished vehicle will be higher if it is an open car (rather than saloon) and I think an original looking car would be more valuable than a hot-rod. So, is future value important to the owner?
Whatever is decided, the car belongs to a Dutch guy who will do with it what he wants.

Good morning,
As I wrote earlier in 1936
S.A. Francaise Matford Strassbourg built the first body with the modern front that lateron also got used by the Lincoln-Zephyr 1936 and the 1937 models of the US-Ford's 60 hp and 85 hp.In England the 22hp Ford looked like the Matford and do not forget the German Ford Eifel before WWII.In 1947 the French Ford came on the Dutch market as Ford France with the 60 hp-engine, the same engine they used in the Ford Vedette (a kind of a small Mercury)too. Kind regards,Frans Vrijaldenhoven

Firstly the owner is free to do whatever he choses. The more the purists scream NO, the more likely he is to hotrod it. If we chose to outlaw anything other than standard where do we place Campbell's LSR cars, Cobb's racers, Bolster & Issigonis' specials etc. Taking a car & changing engines led us to Allards, AC Cobras, Tigers etc. The car is not original and even if the saloon body was reinstated it would still be a replica to some degree.
Instead let's embrace and encourage. Embrace the fact that it is a survivor (arguably of sorts), and encourage a sympathetic transformation into whatever it becomes. If it gains a larger period V8 then all well and good, but even if it gains a more recent powerplant then at least it has survived. Personally I have no problem with period specials, or modern recreations as long as they are not misrepresenting themselves. This does not appear to be underhand so let's encourage and wait to see what appears from this metamorphosis

making a hot rod is no different to ripping the body of some Rolls or Bentley to make something it was not

A sad destiny for such a rare french car, no matter how you look at it...

There are a lot of hot rod parts made for V8-60s
Theres can be "bolted-on" and keep the car period

I don't think it was ever a 1934 Matford. More like 1937, I believe.

That can't be a 1934. It has similarity to the 1937 Ford V-8 marked in the United States. Furthermore the smaller V-8 engine, 60 h.p. was first sold by Ford in 1937 and continued into 1940 models. That engine was also used in some French cars in later years, the Simca Vedette, etc.

I am not an expert on foreign cars, but it seems like most Fords produced abroad took on the looks of cars made in earlier years than what was offered in the U.S. Therefore, I doubt this is actually a 1934, To me it looks more like a 1936 or 1937 Ford, so I would guess the date is closer to 1937 or 1938.