1937 Fords

[mercman from oz]

Yes Alan, All Deluxe models got the Banjo Steering Wheel. You can just see it in this illustration. The Standard Models got the regular 3 spoke steering wheel.
You will notice in this illustration that they show the American Style Taillamp, which was never fitted to any 37 Fords made and assembled in Australia.

 

[mercman from oz]

Continuing on from where I left off, here are some more Early and Late 1937 Fords as depicted in the Australian 1937 Ford Brochures, both the Original Issue & the Revised Issue. The Revised Brochure shows that the Deluxe Fords got a Body Painted Grille with Three added Stainless Steel Trim Strips added per side. Originally, the Deluxe 1937 Ford received a Chrome or Silver painted Grille. I am not an expert with 1937 Fords so have asked a few people who I thought may be familiar with this model, but to date, I have not received a definite answer as to what the original finish was for the Grilles on new Australian assembled 1937 Ford Deluxe. These extra Strips were not an option, nor were they an Aftermarket Item, but were Standard Original Equipment on these updated 1937 Fords. It does seem very strange that the American 1937 Fords were never offered with these Strips? They really do enhance the looks of the 1937 Fords. I think that a lot of American Readers would like a Set of these Strips to dd to their car. It seems that Ford Designers in Australia had a "Better Idea".

 

[mercman from oz]

Found another photo of a 1937 Ford Deluxe with the later version Grille. I think that this later style Grille really enhances the looks of these 1937 Fords? It seems incredible that Ford in USA never offered a 1937 Ford with painted grille with these additional Chrome Accent Strips. This was not an option, but a standard feature on all deliveries of 1937 Ford Deluxes sold towards the end of the model year.

 

[BLACKNRED]

I was always under the impression the extra stainless trims was an option for a 37 Deluxe with painted grille.

 

[mercman from oz]

Hi BlacknRed, I hear what you are saying, but if you look at the 2 pictures on Page 1, you will see that Ford Australia printed 2 distinct Brochures for 1937, something that is really unusual? They also printed 2 for the 1956 Ford Customline. The revised one was issued when the Fordomatic was introduced part way through the model year. Getting back to the 1937 Fords, it is my opinion that the Painted Grille with added Chrome Strips was a late production change. The revised Brochure shows all Deluxe models with this painted Grille & added Chrome Strips. On this basis, I don't believe that it was an option, but standard equipment on late production models. I am trying to get Body Numbers from Australian 1937 Fords. By doing this, we can tell if all Low Numbers have the Chrome or Silver Grilles (still need to know which finish Ford Australia did on the Deluxe Grilles) and High Numbers have the body coloured Grille with added Chrome Strips. Until we get good information, the jury is still out. Any help that you can provide would be appreciated.

 

[Snouts out]

The Ford designers,down under, had a a better idea! Maybe Ford USA,picked it up for the 38 standard?

 

[Mart]

A clever styling device to de-emphasise the vertical and emphasise the horizontal.

Mart.

 

[mercman from oz]

I had the same thought as Snouts Out, regarding the 38 Standard Update model getting similar Chrome Strips on the Grille. In Australia, all new cars from USA were typically released around June or July the actual year, whereas, in the USA they were traditionally released around October the previous year. That means that the 1937 Ford in Australia with the updated Grille may have been released around January or February 1938, around the same time as the 1938 Ford Standard in the USA got the additional Chrome Strips on the Grille and along the Body. All 1938 Ford Standards sold in Australia got these added Chrome Strips. No plain (early production) models were sold here.

 

[mercman from oz]

Check out this beauty, a 1937 Ford Deluxe Fordor Touring Sedan with the "late" Grille. The Ford Designers got it right by painting the Grille the body colour and adding these three Chrome Accent Strips each side. It is just amazing that this was an Australian design feature.

 

[fortyfords]

I thought the Lincoln Zephers had the chrome strips?

 

[mercman from oz]

fortyfords is correct when he said that the Lincoln Zephyr had chrome strips on their Grilles. The 1937 Lincoln Zephyr did indeed have them, but while the 1937 Ford got 4 Sets of Single Strips each side, the Lincoln Zephyr got 5 Sets of Double Strips on each side. They also had a body coloured Grille. So maybe, the Australian Designers got the idea from the 1937 Lincoln Zephyr. and adapted it to the 1937 Australian Fords in an effort to boost sales. See attached closeup of a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Grille.

 

[Jack E/NJ]

mm>>>I had the same thought as Snouts Out, regarding the 38 Standard Update model getting similar Chrome Strips on the Grille. >>>

Yep. My early 38 std has the stainless strips.

Jack E/NJ

 

[mercman from oz]

For the benefit of Ford Barners, I am attaching photos of early and late 1938 Ford Standard models. The early models just had a painted Grille and full length Pin Stripe as per this Coupe, while the updated models received Chrome Strips on the Grille as well as full length Stainless Trim as per this Tudor Sedan. It sure lifted the looks of these Standard Models and made them much more appealing.

 

[Snouts out]

What are the origins of this design? Mercman this is your mission,if you accept it! We hillbillys in the states,don't have a clue! I'd like to know! Scouts out,Mercman,Scouts out!

 

[mercman from oz]

Here is an old photo showing a 1937 Ford with the updated Stainless Steel Trim on the Grille in trouble. I think that the driver will need some help to get out of this predicament. The car driving past in the distance appears to be a 1937 or 1938 Chevrolet Sloper.

 

[Snouts out]

Mercman,I wonder if Lewis Brandt ( Ford Ute inventor ) had anything to do with that grille design?

 

[mercman from oz]

Regarding the 1937 Fords, I am trying to find out what finish the Grilles were on the early Deluxe models when they left the Ford Factory in Australia. Were they Chrome Plated, or were they painted Silver? I know that the Standard models for 1937 had Body Coloured Grilles. Then, when Ford Australia made a change nearing the end of production, all 1937 Ford received Body Coloured Grilles, but with the 3 added Chrome Strips each side. Can anyone advise me on the finish of the early Australian 1937 Ford Deluxe Grilles?