37 deluxe demonstrator dual wheel

[Cool Kat with Hot Car]

Demonstrator commercial vehicles painted in the respective special color schemes per year were just that. A Ford dealer would loan the trucks to a fleet or business owner for a period of time. The hope was the potential customer would see the improvements over the older trucks he was using and purchase new Fords. The 36's were two tone yellow and blue, 37's were silver and blue, and I believe the 35's were vermillion and cream.

 

[highbeams]

Is it because it would be the model the dealers would have as a demonstrator? Get the customers in with the fully optioned deluxe model. Didn't they have non standard fancy paint jobs too? Not an expert, just what I think I have picked up here.

Mart, I bought a '36 half-ton years ago, a picture ad in the EFV8 mag For-Sale ads.

I have posted a couple few times about the truck; re 1936 half-ton demo.

If interested, type key words in search including 'highbeams'; you'll see the entire story as a result of my researching.

(I bought the truck because in the photo ad I saw the 'not typical' extras that it had; dual spares(one per running board rear fender, the driver-side rear fender had an indentation for the spare and the Ford mount.
Chrome windshield surround.
Passenger wiper installed by dealer per Ford because it required a hole to be drilled through the cab, which made it an uncommon cab permanent fixture

Dealers ordered, and paid in advance for a Ford bright-yellow demo.

 

[GB SISSON]

The '38 dealer demos were black cab and box/bed with chrome yellow fenders and triple yellow stripe at the belt line. Mine showed a lot of that under flaking red paint. A member here goes by 'Revenski' recently completed a concourse restoration on a dealer demo. Yours is the first survivor I've seen that retains the sign panel on the forward stake rack. I have some serious truck envy with that '37. Thanks for posting!

 

[Model51]

Ford had an official factory Demonstrator program. It's purpose was to promote and sell vehicles. The concept was for dealers to loan specially painted (and regular) vehicles to good prospects to let them see what it would be like to have a new truck working for their business. Ford requested that every Ford dealer purchase a specially painted Demonstrator truck and use it for this purpose. Ford provided sales training, flyers, brochures, print ads and more to support this program. Each year featured a differently painted truck (and other vehicles). Once the year was over the truck was sold as a used vehicle. Surviving trucks are out there, just there weren't many to start with and they were ofter painted over.

 

[ford38v8]

Ford had an official factory Demonstrator program. It's purpose was to promote and sell vehicles. The concept was for dealers to loan specially painted (and regular) vehicles to good prospects to let them see what it would be like to have a new truck working for their business. Ford requested that every Ford dealer purchase a specially painted Demonstrator truck and use it for this purpose. Ford provided sales training, flyers, brochures, print ads and more to support this program. Each year featured a differently painted truck (and other vehicles). Once the year was over the truck was sold as a used vehicle. Surviving trucks are out there, just there weren't many to start with and they were ofter painted over.

Ford Dealerships operated "at the pleasure" of Henry Ford. They were closely supervised, suffered arbitrary rules under which many failed. They had no option but to purchase every vehicle allotted to their dealership. A "request", under those conditions would have been politely worded, but was not to be denied.

 

[highbeams]

My '36 half-ton demo, I purchased it in the '80s+- from a seller's picture ad in EFV8.

I hadn't heard of demos, but viewing the '36 Ford-green, dentless, obviously rare-optioned pics, I realized this one was special. The only reason I purchased.

Owning the truck, I researched the demo history, per Ford;, i.e., use it as a demo with its attention-getting bright yellow cab, hood. After the year of demo'g, have your dealer paint shop paint over the yellow w/a Ford truck-color paint and black fenders. Then it will sell.

hmmm. this truck was green w/black fenders. I scratched one scratch, low, back of cab by the running board six inches in, between the cab & box.. Yellow! This was a demo. The doors had a vague worn-off/buffed-off two-foot diameter apparently company logo of some kind. (sold it to buy a '33 coupe when one became available ( the '36 pickup is still being enjoyed on California roads 150 mi east of here.

Thank you for 'listening'.

 

[GB SISSON]

My '36 half-ton demo, I purchased it in the '80s+- from a seller's picture ad in EFV8.

I hadn't heard of demos, but viewing the '36 Ford-green, dentless, obviously rare-optioned pics, I realized this one was special. The only reason I purchased.

Owning the truck, I researched the demo history, per Ford;, i.e., use it as a demo with its attention-getting bright yellow cab, hood. After the year of demo'g, have your dealer paint shop paint over the yellow w/a Ford truck-color paint and black fenders. Then it will sell.

hmmm. this truck was green w/black fenders. I scratched one scratch, low, back of cab by the running board six inches in, between the cab & box.. Yellow! This was a demo. The doors had a vague worn-off/buffed-off two-foot diameter apparently company logo of some kind. (sold it to buy a '33 coupe when one became available ( the '36 pickup is still being enjoyed on California roads 150 mi east of here.

Thank you for 'listening'.

And thank YOU for posting. This stuff is important info for us truck fans!

 

[sugarmaker]

Excited about this truck still in research mode got it running been sitting in a hay barn since early 40's up on blocks 2800 miles all original including tires US ROYALS four still hold air any info is greatly appreciated will be at Carlisle ford nationals in june 23 can't wait to talk to everyone

Dr,
I can see why you excited! 2800 miles, and stored in dry conditions since the 40's! Oh my, what a rear gem that is in great condition. It also runs! Just awesome!
What are your plans for it? Sounds like a show in June. That would be cool! Keep the pictures coming too please!
I too am learning about these demo trucks.
Welcome to the Ford Barn!
Regards,
Chris

 

[Bored&Stroked]

That truck is in unbelievable condition - way to go finding it! If you do repaint it, make it 100% factory original.

 

[drwoodruff]

My plans this year are to get it drivable and trailer it to some shows going to stay all original it’s quite the time capsule

 

[sugarmaker]

Dr,
I looked at the show in Carlisle. Wow, It may be very big with trucks of all types!
Well There is the Early V8 Eastern Nationals in Dearborn. Early June.
Regards,
Chris

 

[Mike/Franklin]

Was up to a truck show at Bethlehem CT Fairgrounds today and saw the 1937 demonstrator. Looks like it just came out of the barn. Didn't track down the owner to talk about the truck. A once in a lifetime find for sure. Looks like the only thing updated was the plug wires. I'll try and post a couple of photos tomorrow. That whole Litchfield County shouts MONEY. Beautiful area. Probably other stuff to be found up there.

ML

 

[GB SISSON]

If you are able to contact the guy, tell him I will give him a set of original dusty, somewhat frayed spark plug wires, and I will even pay the shipping. Sure they might throw an occasional arc to the block, but that's a small price to pay when we are talking as 'found barn find'...Nothing spoils the look quite like a new modern wire or a gasp, home depot cad plated grade 5 bolt in a stakeside or an intake manifold.

 

[highbeams]

I had a '36 half ton 'demo' and researched its facts. Regarding half ton pickups, Demos were provided at dealerships for customers to 'test drive'. Demos were shipped directly to a dealer from Ford, if the dealer wanted a demo and paid Ford prior to shipment. Ford wanted its demos noticed on the streets and roads when it was being demo'd, so Ford painted their demos with a bright yellow cab and box, with black fenders, chrome windshield surround, dual spares with Ford written name on the tires and tires indented into each rear fender, chrome rear bumper, Ford car gauges as opposed to truck gauges.
At Ford's directive, the demo was to be demo'd for a month or so, displayed in the dealer showroom, then repainted with a Ford finish color by the dealer and sold as a new truck. Ford's idea, the public's attention would be attracted to the bright yellow new Ford on the streets and rush to the local dealership to get a close look and possibly a purchase.

Thank you for reading! (I sold the demo to purchase the '33 3 window coupe - a tough decision.

 

[Bruce of MN]

Any photos?

 

[Mike/Franklin]

Photos of demonstrator are attached (I think)

 

[petehoovie]

Photos of demonstrator are attached (I think)

 

[mercman from oz]

1937 Ford V8 Demonstrator Truck

 

[mercman from oz]

Original Photo of 1937 Ford V8 Demonstrator Truck

 

[ford38v8]

THe barn find and Mercman's original photo differ in that one has the V8 on the hood side and the other does not. I believe the reason may be that the scottie dog was associated with the v8 60 only, while the demonstrator without the scottie has the 85. Still, I've seen both versions of the logo, so who knows?