Earliest Production '32 Ford?

T

Troublemaker427

Member
I'm in the process of reading Tony Thacker's Deuce history book and he mentions that Ford was in the process of building "improved As" Model B 32s when Henry shut the line down to develop and bring out the V8.
Have any of these very early Model Bs ever been found?
Has any '32 ever been found to be the earliest Deuce in existence? How about the Victoria that was first V8 off the line 18-1? Do we know what happened to that car.
Lately I've been wanting to learn as much early 32 history as I can.
Thanks
 
Engine number 18-1 is at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Not in a car. Doesn’t look like it ever was in a car, but I can’t confirm that. Has a tag bolted to it that says Save for Mr. Ford.
 
A good friend of mine had a very early '32 chassis, maybe chassis #3 and it was the earliest surviving chassis. Long story and I don't want to bring up hard feelings but it went to England when he sold it. It should have stayed here but it was turned away.
 
18-1 is actually the 268th 32 engine made, it was just the First for a production vehicle, it was saved when the Victoria was distroyed and then the engine was "Patina" restored by Lynn Stringer. David used to tell me the first 200 or so cars were demo's for employees or used as display chassis and most all were distroyed. The chassis seth was refering to was 18-104 (previously owned by Gene Hetland), the next oldest I had heard of was a frame found in the woods in Indiana that was 18-154. Somewhere there was a Roadster that later became street rodded in CA that was 18-189, it was likely the oldest known complete car.
 
Last edited:
35fordtn said:
18-1 is actually the 268th 32 engine made, it was just the First for a production vehicle, it was saved when the Victoria was distroyed and then the engine was "Patina" restored by Lynn Stringer. David used to tell me the first 200 or so cars were demo's for employees or used as display chassis and most all were distroyed. The chassis seth was refering to was 18-104 (previously owned by Gene Hetland), the next oldest I had heard of was a frame found in the woods in Indiana that was 18-154. Somewhere there was a Roadster that later became street rodded in CA that was 18-189, it was likely the oldest known complete car.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the great information! This is the type of info I am looking for!
 
The part about 32's that intriquing, is by Jan 1932 they had not come up with a dependable V-8 Engine. Henry Ford did not want to sell a car at all until he had a V-8 engine available. So until late may of 1932 if you went into a dealer showroom all they had were posters and pictures. Ford had to store over 5,000 4 cylinder engines and transmissions in a warehouse awaiting a V-8 engine before they started producing cars. Then to think about 1933 it was a similar story they would not produce a car until Edsel designed a more modern appearing car so after the fiasco of 1932 they experienced it again in 1933

The SUPER Early 1932 Engines had some funky differences. Gene Hetland had collected some unique pre production experimental parts over the years such as a Cast Iron Zenith V-8 Carburetor
 
35fordtn said:
The part about 32's that intriquing, is by Jan 1932 they had not come up with a dependable V-8 Engine. Henry Ford did not want to sell a car at all until he had a V-8 engine available. So until late may of 1932 if you went into a dealer showroom all they had were posters and pictures. Ford had to store over 5,000 4 cylinder engines and transmissions in a warehouse awaiting a V-8 engine before they started producing cars. Then to think about 1933 it was a similar story they would not produce a car until Edsel designed a more modern appearing car so after the fiasco of 1932 they experienced it again in 1933

The SUPER Early 1932 Engines had some funky differences. Gene Hetland had collected some unique pre production experimental parts over the years such as a Cast Iron Zenith V-8 Carburetor
Click to expand...
Michael
With all due respect, I "THINK" you missed a "ZERO" in the "5000" figure.....David told me it was 50,000 engine and transmission units that had to be stored until May of 32

MIchael, you can also verify, wasn't there a "certain" Phaeton from South America that was in the #1400/1500ish number that still retained the "first" issued 32 block (is the right rear oil dipstick block) that Ford quickly recalled and replaced??? The earliest 32 I saw!!!
 
Last edited:
The earliest '32's I physically have seen and around the number 300 was the phaeton the MGM owned and auctioned off in the late 1960's and the roadster that Bill Honda( now deceased) found in Auburn CA in the early 1970's.That car had the flange block.It might still be hidden in a garage in the Los Angeles area.
 
As requested here is the flange block. Notice the flange on the block like the Model A 's.Notice also the dip stick just in front and above the starter.It went into the block,not the pan. Also on the early engines was the "elbow carb" as I call it. Back in the mid 1960's a friend found an alu pan and it did not have the boss and port for the dip stick.He thought he had found a NOS alu pan until it was pointed out that it was for the flange block.My knowledge and passion of 32's began as a result of that. Still learning of those oddities of the '32 Ford.
 

Attachments

  • 32 Flange block.jpg
    32 Flange block.jpg
    217.1 KB · Views: 15
Last edited:
alchemy said:
Well now you have to show us a pic and give an explanation of the flanged block. I’ve never heard of it.
Click to expand...
The flanged/right rear dip stick block was the very first issued 32 block and only made it to the first 2500 "ISH" cars (IF memory serves) they had "issues" with them SO many where "replaced" very soon after release...Obviously from mine and Deuce Lovers post Several survived and were not replaced as at least two known sighting of them are posted here!!!! My bet is Michael Driskell as seen one or three?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top