1935 Panel Delivery Year/Model conundrum

dudford

dudford

Junior Member
Hi all, I recently bought what I’m reliably informed is a 1935 Ford Panel Delivery Truck. Thing is, the more I research and read the more questions arise. As with any vehicle over and certain age and especially when shipped to the UK with no idea of its proveneance before being passed from owner to owner parts are swapped, butchered or lost. That in mind is still like to cobble together an idea of what it is I have at this point in time exactly.

So the things I’ve checked thus far are this forum, the HAMB, Van Pelt site, a book preview by John Gunnell and the infinite universe of the google. What have I learnt... sometimes too much information is misleading!?!

OK so, here’s some details:

Chassis Number *18-1395530*
Engine Serial 18 1651560
Transmission Serial *18 3243792

From what I can tell from the chassis number from the van pelt site this is a 1935 Model 48 however the John Gunnell book, I think, alludes to it being a Model 50 - 820.

The engine though I think is the correct year I don’t believe it’s the one that came out the factory saddled in this chassis.

I also believe the trans is a later one, possibly 1936? If it is a 36 is this then superior to the 35?

Then there’s little things like the the hood sides, the ones I have are Louvered with the Ford emblem nearest the headlamps which I think may be the 36 and not the 35.

Like I say, I understand that car parts get swapped around, I’m just looking for clarity if anyone can offer me the help?

Thanks in advance!!

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source https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...1935 ford model 50 820 panel delivery&f=false

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source http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm


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Welcome to the Barn. Where are you getting the engine serial number from? U.S. engines do not have a serial number, but no idea on overseas engines. Looks like a 1936 transmission.
 
JSeery said:
Welcome to the Barn. Where are you getting the engine serial number from? U.S. engines do not have a serial number, but no idea on overseas engines. Looks like a 1936 transmission.
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I found it on the right-rear corner of the intake manifold gasket surface, here’s a pic
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check the serial number on the trans just above the inspection plate, if there is one you can run down the year it was built, I have never seen on a US car the number stamped there, unique to say the least. But above all I do like the panel truck!
 
The engine with the earlier serial number may have been swapped in, the hood sides and wider surround for the grille are definitely 1936.
 
Both the frame and the firewall cowl appear to be 35, The frame number is 35, the engine number was not put on the engine by the Ford factory but in some areas, when an engine was changed, the vehicle number was mandated to be on the engine. So that number can not identify the engine year. The transmission number is 36. The original floor pan for the 35 has to be modified slightly to fit the top of the 36 transmission. 35 shift top is angled rearward and the 36 is straight. There is only a slight advantage to the 36 transmission. Does your vehicle have a body number tag attached RH side of the firewall. Held to the firewall with two rivets? Ford did not assemble commercial bodies. The body assembler such as Murray or Briggs attached their body tag to the firewall before shipping the body back to Ford for assembly on a Ford chassis. What is the measured wheel base on your vehicle?
 

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Dudford, From the photos, You have an early Jan 1935 Panel delivery body and matching frame. I say it is early based on the chassis number 18-1395530 and the sharp angle between the windshield posts and cowl of the body. Another sign that you have a 35 chassis is the single hole in the radiator mounting brackets and of course the wire wheels.

The engine number indicates a date of March 1935 and probable is not original to the vehicle. The transmission number indicates Aug of 1936 and was definitely added later.

The hood sides are from a 36 truck/commercial vehicle and from what I can see of the grille shell, it is 36 also.

You have a very nice early 1935 vehicle and good luck with the restoration. I have recently completed a complete restoration of a early 1935 panel delivery and would be happy to answer any further questions that you might have. Here are some photos of my early 1935 panel delivery.

Regards,
Don Rogers
convV8@aol.com
 

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Terry said:
Both the frame and the firewall cowl appear to be 35, The frame number is 35, the engine number was not put on the engine by the Ford factory but in some areas, when an engine was changed, the vehicle number was mandated to be on the engine. So that number can not identify the engine year. The transmission number is 36. The original floor pan for the 35 has to be modified slightly to fit the top of the 36 transmission. 35 shift top is angled rearward and the 36 is straight. There is only a slight advantage to the 36 transmission. Does your vehicle have a body number tag attached RH side of the firewall. Held to the firewall with two rivets? Ford did not assemble commercial bodies. The body assembler such as Murray or Briggs attached their body tag to the firewall before shipping the body back to Ford for assembly on a Ford chassis. What is the measured wheel base on your vehicle?
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Sadly no, there is no tag on the firewall. I’d recognise this as I have a Briggs tag on my ‘30 Chrysler CJ.

It’s evidently a hodgepodge of a 35/36!


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Don Rogers said:
Dudford, From the photos, You have an early Jan 1935 Panel delivery body and matching frame. I say it is early based on the chassis number 18-1395530 and the sharp angle between the windshield posts and cowl of the body. Another sign that you have a 35 chassis is the single hole in the radiator mounting brackets and of course the wire wheels.

The engine number indicates a date of March 1935 and probable is not original to the vehicle. The transmission number indicates Aug of 1936 and was definitely added later.

The hood sides are from a 36 truck/commercial vehicle and from what I can see of the grille shell, it is 36 also.

You have a very nice early 1935 vehicle and good luck with the restoration. I have recently completed a complete restoration of a early 1935 panel delivery and would be happy to answer any further questions that you might have. Here are some photos of my early 1935 panel delivery.

Regards,
Don Rogers
convV8@aol.com
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Don, many thanks for your input, your Panel Delivery is a credit to you!

As far as I can tell from the sign painting it must’ve been sold initially to someone in Brainerd, MN. The plan is to restore it as faithfully as possible using whatever parts I can get hold of here. Appreciate the contact details, will try not to inundate you!

Dudley


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Dudley, When you start to look for chassis parts and engine parts, keep in mind that this panel sits on a 112" wheelbase chassis and most of the chassis and running gear parts are identical with the 1935 passenger car. This makes parts hunting a little easier. The front end body parts are identical to the 35 pickup and many of the rear body parts are similar for 1935,36 and 37 panels.
 
good one, marge was a hero too! now back to the ford, it looks like the font on the engine numbers is not the correct ford/kr wilson stamps. note the little dot on the end of the 5...never seen that before
 
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