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Car of the Day:April 27, 2010; Racing Champions '37 Ford
Topic Started: Apr 26 2010, 11:27 PM (519 Views)
craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

*posted for Bob8748

The car for today is Racing Champion's '37 Ford.

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The Ford line of cars was updated in 1937 with one major change — the introduction of an entry-level 136 CID (2.2 L) V8 in addition to the popular 221 CID (3.6 L) V8 unit. The model was a refresh of its predecessor, itself based on Ford's V8-powered Model 40A and was the company's main product. It was redesigned more thoroughly in 1941.The cost was $850 in the beginning of production.

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The 1937 Ford featured a more rounded look with fine horizontal bars in the convex front and hood-side grilles. The front grille was V-shaped, rather than following the fenders into a pentagon shape, as on the 1936 model. Faired-in headlights were a major modernization found on both the Standard and DeLuxe trim versions, though much of the rest of the design was shared between Ford's two lines. 'Slantback' sedans gained a rear trunk door, though space was limited, and 'Trunkback' versions continued gaining sales.

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1937 marked the most profound changes for Ford since it changed everything by offering V-8 power for everyman back in 1932. For the first time, the sedan bodies were all steel, with the elimination of the fabric roof panel. "Not an ounce of structural wood!" shouted the ads. The hood now hinged from the back, rather than down the center, and a Vee'd windshield replaced the flat glass of 1936.

The 85hp, 221-cu.in. V-8 came in for its most significant revisions to date. Determined to cure the flathead's overheating problems once and for all, Dearborn's engineers relocated the water pumps from the heads to the block, and increased their capacity. The main bearings were no longer of babbitt, but were full inserts, with a larger bearing area. The brakes were overhauled, too, the archaic system of mechanical rods giving way to a cable-operated system--hydraulics were still out of the question, as far as Henry was concerned, even if buyers had come to expect them.

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That "little V-8 60" was Ford's other big news for the year, a new, 136-cu.in., 60hp flathead meant to square off against the more thrifty straight-sixes of Chevrolet and Plymouth. The new engine, bolted to a smaller transmission, was installed in a lighter version of the standard-size car, known as the Model 74. The 60hp Fords weighed 250 pounds less than their 85hp siblings, but the weight reduction wasn't enough to offset the decreased horsepower and torque. Ford buyers soon decided that they were better off spending the $40 it took to put the bigger car in their driveways, and the "thrifty sixty" would disappear after 1940.

When the model year ended, Ford had been eclipsed in sales by Chevrolet, losing the edge it had won just the year before. Even so, production totaled 756,933 cars, making 1937 the best year Ford would see until 1950. Among the 11 body styles was Ford's last Roadster; just 1,250 were made, as open-car buyers rejected side curtains for the roll-up windows of the Cabriolet. The styling of the '37 lasted only one year; the 1938 models were utterly different.

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bob8748
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*In Memory Of*
Thank you Crafty for putting these up for me. My photo skills need some improvement. This is a really cool way of learning about the cars we collect. 85 horse power... its great to see the "old ones" not rodded out. I'd like to see more of the old iron done without the blown engines and wild tampos. Was a great era for automobiles! :thumbup:
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

bob8748
Apr 26 2010, 11:53 PM
Thank you Crafty for putting these up for me.

Its great to see the "old ones" not rodded out. I'd like to see more of the old iron done without the blown engines and wild tampos. Was a great era for automobiles! :thumbup:
NP Bob, I'm glad to help.

I agree with your point about stock old iron. Wish more companies would sometimes just produced the original engines and parts on old iron such as this. This RC casting is really nice for the time it was produced and the tilt forward hood is the bees knees. :P
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WoloMan
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Midsize
Looks like it was in a bit of an accident, based on the driver's side bumper... ;)
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
bob8748
Apr 26 2010, 11:53 PM
Thank you Crafty for putting these up for me. My photo skills need some improvement. This is a really cool way of learning about the cars we collect. 85 horse power... its great to see the "old ones" not rodded out. I'd like to see more of the old iron done without the blown engines and wild tampos. Was a great era for automobiles! :thumbup:
My '82 Mustang (straight six powered) also comes with.....85 horsepower. What tremedous strides Ford made between 1937 and 1982!

Side note, my Grandpa's first car was a '37 Ford. His was green and I think a coupe.

Count me in for wanting stock examples of '30s cars. I wouldn't minde seeing a Graham-Paige Sharknose...
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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
That smaller V8 lasted up till 1940. The following year, Ford came out with a straight six- the first since the Model K of 1904. Because that early attempt was a disaster, Henry Ford was loath for years to come up with another six.

The 136 C/I V8 was somewhat unpopular. It had more of a life in Britain, where it powered more expensive Fords just after the war. However, it was regarded, in an era of rationing, as way too thirsty an engine, and was finally retired in 1950.

Johnny Lightning's 1937 Ford coupe was as stock as it got...it was very nice!
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