FAT FENDER RESCUE

A forgotten 1938 Ford Deluxe Coupe is pulled from the weeds.

- TOMMY LEE BYRD

Although "barn find" is still a popular buzzword in the hot rod world, you'll find that it is much more common to find an old car in a field or backyard. The unfortunate side of a field find or backyard discovery is that the car is typically not preserved as nicely as the ones that are stashed away under a roof. Such is the case with this forgotten fat-fender Ford that was recently pulled out of the weeds.

This 1938 Ford Deluxe Coupe was found in the hills of Tennessee where it sat outside for most of its life, so it's quite rough. You might notice that the paint is gone due to the abrasive cycle of sunshine, moisture, and of course, time. The climate plays a huge role in the condition of the car and Mother Nature isn't kind to cars that sit outside for decades. West Coast cars tend to survive the elements due to the dry conditions, while other parts of the United States have various obstacles. Northeast and Midwest cars often have rust issues due to the time spent on the roads during harsh winters where salt and other corrosive materials are used in snowy and icy conditions. Cars in the Southeast suffer from rust because of the humidity.