The last year roadster

Contrary to what the Southern California Roadster community wants to believe, 1936 was not the last year for the roadster built by Ford in the USA. The 1937 Ford offerings included a roadster, side curtains instead of windows, but it does not have a separate windshield frame. Here is a link to a 1937 USA Ford brochure showing the roadster offering: https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Ford/1937_Ford/1937-Ford-Full-Line-Brochure/slides/1937_Ford_Full_Line-12.html
Phaetons were made through 1938, also without a separate windshield frame in 1937 and 1938.

Roadsters were offered down under, in a club roadster type, through 1940. Here is a link to a 1940 Australian Ford brochure showing the roadster offering: https://oldcarbrochures.org/Austral...ochure/slides/1940_Ford_Full_Line_Aus-03.html

I don't know what was the last production roadster build in all the other Ford plants outside of the USA.
 
Last edited:
I remember this same discussion occuring in Hot Rod Magazine in the early sixties.

Everything old is new again.;)
 
558994


Australian 1940 Ford Deluxe Roadster
Notice no Vent Windows in Doors, and Studs on doors to fasten side curtains.
Australian 1939 and 1940 Ford Convertibles and Roadsters used the carry over 1938 Open Car Bodies.
 
Looking at the yellow hot rod, it appeared to me that there was only a front seat and I was unaware of this body style. From the driver's position it looked like there was no full back seat, maybe a jump seat.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

559072
 
couple years ago stopped local bbq joint for some bbq. in parking lot as i left spied a 1936 Ford Roadster!... went back in. saw a group that looked like a car club gathering eating bbq together. introduced myself... and said i had come to meet 'the luckiest guy in the world!' 'owner of the '36 roadster... 'smiles and chuckles... then slowly a hand went up...:)

the '36 Ford car is still near and dear to me! really fine lines...
 
559113


559114


1936 Ford Roadsters compared.
Check out these two 1936 Ford Roadsters, the Red one has the USA body while the Tan one has an Australian body.
Notice the roof on the Tan car is closer to the rumble Seat than on the Red car.
That is because there is extra room inside the cabin on Australian 1935 and 1936 Ford Roadsters.
As you can see, Ford Australia did things differently during the thirties with their offerings.
 
559113


559114


1936 Ford Roadsters compared.
Check out these two 1936 Ford Roadsters, the Red one has the USA body while the Tan one has an Australian body.
Notice the roof on the Tan car is closer to the rumble Seat than on the Red car.
That is because there is extra room inside the cabin on Australian 1935 and 1936 Ford Roadsters.
As you can see, Ford Australia did things differently during the thirties with their offerings.

How is it that they are both rght hand drive?
 
The Red 1936 Ford Roadster was sold new in New Zealand, and imported to Australia. That is why it is RHD. All of the early Ford V8's sold in New Zealand had the American bodies, where as the ones sold in Australia had Australian bodies that differed from the USA bodies in many respects. Since these photos, the Red 36 Ford Roadster has been returned to New Zealand.
 
The Red 1936 Ford Roadster was sold new in New Zealand, and imported to Australia. That is why it is RHD. All of the early Ford V8's sold in New Zealand had the American bodies, where as the ones sold in Australia had Australian bodies that differed from the USA bodies in many respects. Since these photos, the Red 36 Ford Roadster has been returned to New Zealand.

That makes sense. I believe I can elaborate on that: NZ assembled Fords shipped from Canada.
 
Back
Top