1932 Single year model

T

TradModelA

Member
Does anyone know why the 32 was a single year model when the A and those after lasted longer? Was it viewed less highly than how we view it today? Thanks
 
Yes thought about that, but it seems like all the better reason to leave it alone and not cram money into a redesign for 1933.

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Starting in 32 all the models years that followed were one year only (even though some years look fairly simmilar to the previous year). In 38 they went to standard and deluxe with the deluxe of one year looking simmilar to the standard of the next year. All of this was to sell cars! You have to be competitive with what the other manufacturers offerings.
 
Ok I thought the 33-34-35 were closely related and had only minor restyleing. Thanks for that.

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The Model A was obsolete, and had to be replaced...and it gave Henry a good opportunity to pursue his eight and one-up the world. Styling was moving fast at the time, and the vertical radiator/open fender look was changed by just about everyone between 1932 and 1933. Don't ask me how they all got the world at once, but they sure did...
Thenn look at the change to 1935...styling change almost as radical, especially by 1936, and as in '33 the engine was shoved even farther forward as the whole industry continued to evolve. '37 and '39 ALSO produced big changes in the overall look... and at each big change, Ford was almost in step with the industry.
 
I always wondered that as well. 30-31 A's are almost identical. Different grills and running boards. 33-34's too, different grills and other small odds and ends but a 32 door only fits a 32.
 
Right 32 seems to be a unique bird and if Ford only knew how well liked they'd be in the future!

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The decisions regarding the '33 models were already made by the '32 Job #1 date of March 10, 1932, necessitated by the long lead times required for the hard tooling required for new chassis frames, fenders, major body panels, etc. The degree of change between the '32 and '33 models could not be accomplished in six months time in those days, nor could it be done today.

Public introduction day was March 31st, but way fewer than one vehicle per dealership had been produced by that date. Once the glitches had been mostly worked out and all of the U.S. plants were producing '32s (which wasn't until May, 1932), the car sold well and was #1 in sales for the rest of 1932. Unfortunately, with little or nothing to sell in the first four months of the year, Ford was outsold by Chevrolet in the full year.

Given the above, it reasonable to assume that public acceptance of the '32 was not an important consideration in the decision to render the '32 its "orphan" status. Far more important was likely the "word around town (Detroit)" that all nearly all manufacturers' '33 models were going be dramatically different in terms of their styling, which proved to be true.
 
One thing is for sure, they didn't make enough of em! :)
If only they were as plentiful as model As, then I might have one.
 
Superficially the 1932 looks a lot like a model A, in fact it was very common for 1932 to have a 4 cylinder model "B" engine. I know many 1932 lovers will kill me for saying that, but it was not until 1933 that the ford took on a new distinctive look, which is unique to the 1933/34 fords. Ford most likely did not want to produce a 1933 that again looked very similar to the Model A.
 
...what a day it must have been, when the racy 33s came out, compared to the somewhat boxy As & 32s. Is there a older Barner who could elaborate on it? But, don't take me wrong, I like all the early Fords.
 
The 32 was produced while Ford was in survival mode. It took Edsel a while to convince his father of that but sales spoke louder than words. I'm sure a lot of the decisions were made in 1931 about changing the cars for each model year. It was also a time for new innovations in order to recapture the market. They were always looking for ways to manufacture things better/cheaper and that doesn't always work well without major changes to design.
 
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