Like many of you, I have long had the habit of glancing sideways when I drive past a used car lot. One damp evening last fall, I was running an errand and happened to see quite a sight – a 1936 Ford DeLuxe sedan, displayed prominently in front. I had seen these at shows, and remembered that Paul Niedermeyer captured one such show car for us here. But one of these in the wild was quite another thing. I had a few minutes, so I decided to stop in. The lot was closed, so I could look the car over in peace and quiet. Then, my over-active imagination took over.
“Hello, friend. Name’s Ned – Glad to know ya!.” I looked up to see a middle-aged fellow in a windowpane-plaid suit with a fedora cocked back on his head. With a smile that seemed a mile wide, he said “You’re mighty lucky, friend. I was just closing up the agency when I saw you walk in. For you, I’ll make the time.”
Before I could reply, he started in again. “I can see that you are a man of good taste. This new Ford is the most beautiful car on the market, never mind the price. Looks almost like a Lincoln, wouldn’t you say? This baby is STREAMLINED!” I started to say something again, but he kept going before I could get a word out. “This is the car of the future. Modern beauty, modern get-up-and-go. Come on into my office. We can do a little paperwork and you can drive this honey home tonight!”
Finally given a chance to say something, I stammered “Well, I was just looking.”
“Ah, you are one fellow on the ball. Only a fool would buy without a good look inside, and I can see that you are no fool, no sirree. The Ford DeLuxe is mighty fancy. Lookit those seats – that’s genuine broadcloth, friend. Let’s take ‘er for a spin. I think I have the key right here . . . ”
“No”, I finally said, “I really am just looking. I had not planned on stopping in, but I just saw the car and decided to on a lark.”
“Of course you did, friend. Only a car as beautiful as this would pull a careful shopper like you in off the street. But let me ask you, if not a new Ford tonight, then what? Let me do you a favor and save you some time. You can shop around all you want, but then you will just come right back here. Sure, you’ve got your Chevrolet, but who wants an underpowered 6 nowadays? You know, we outsold them last year with the ’35, and that car wasn’t nearly the looker that this one is. There was only one reason to ever settle for a Chevy, and that was looks. Now that one advantage is gone, and Ford has them runnin’ scared, yessir.”
“What about a Plymouth?” I finally asked.
“Plymouth is not a bad little car, not a bad car at all, if you like that sort of thing. But your Plymouth is still a 6 and, between you and me, it’s a little homely. Still, they have been coming on over the last few years. In fact, the way it looks to me – and I’m in the business – Plymouth will soon outsell Chevrolet, just you watch. Of course, the Ford will stay on top. Mostly, because the Plymouth is mighty expensive for what you get. A Plymouth equipped like this DeLuxe Touring Sedan is $680. I can sell you this Ford DeLuxe for $650. Now mind you, that is the Touring Sedan with the trunk. You can probably feed a family for a month on that 30 smackeroos I’m going to save you. We can go cheaper yet if you want one without the trunk, or if you could settle for a Standard model. Hell, if you’re on a really tight budget, I can put you in a Standard coupe for $510, or just $10 more for a Standard Tudor with a back seat.”
Ned was really on a roll. “Prices like this is one of the reasons that Henry Ford made his three millionth V8 engine this year. This is the same kind of engine that’s in a $2,600 Cadillac, you know. Truth is, Chevrolet will never have a V8 because it would put Cadillac out of business. With a V8 for under $700, Henry Ford may put ’em out of business anyway, and I ain’t just whistling Dixie! ”
I was not ready to just let old Ned steamroll me, and decided to push back a bit. “Even though the Chevy and the Plymouth are sixes, don’t they put out pretty much the same power as this Ford?”
“Ahhh, friend. You are a smart one. I can tell a man of intelligence when I see him, and I see him right here in front of me. Now here’s the straight dope. The Chevy advertises 79 horsepower, and the Plymouth advertises 82. Now that seems pretty close to the Ford’s 85 horses, don’t it? But it’s not, and here’s the difference – the Ford’s 85 horsepower is HONEST, V8 horsepower. Six cylinder horsepower just isn’t the same thing, even it the advertised figure on that six wasn’t puffed up. But Henry Ford signs his name on this car, and he wouldn’t advertise a genuine 85 horsepower – V8 horsepower, at that – if it wasn’t true. Besides, you don’t read about gangsters stealing Chevrolet’s or Plymouths as getaway cars in bank robberies, now, do ya? They steal Fords because they really depend on the power and speed that you can only get from a Ford V8. Yessir, with a Ford, there is no compromise – you get the most beauty, you get the most value, and you get the most power. And that’s a FACT!”
“But what about the brakes?”, I asked. Chevy and Plymouth both have hydraulic brakes, and everyone says that they are a lot better. Ned was ready for me. “A lot of folks get caught up in all this talk about liquid brakes, but it’s all horsefeathers. Listen, friend – we all know that cars leak. They leak oil, they leak water, and even a little gas, sometimes. Just a fact of life. These liquids aren’t even under any real pressure. Do you really want to risk your safety to a newfangled system full of high-pressured juice? Chevy and Plymouth are gonna have a lot of trouble with them brakes, just you watch. Henry Ford says ‘No-sir’ – in a Ford you get the safety of steel from pedal to wheel. Every Ford’s brakes are time tested, my friend.”
Ned was really warming up, but I decided I had better get home. “C’mon, now, friend” he pleaded, “I can make you a steal of a deal on this new Ford. You know, you can buy this car for $25 a month through Ford’s Universal Credit Company. I know that times have been tough, but Mr. Roosevelt got things mostly fixed up over the last four years, and he’ll finish the job real soon. You mark my words, next year is going to be like 1924 all over again and everything’ll be back to normalcy. That $25 monthly payment will go down smoother than good legal scotch whiskey, my friend. You know – ” he said, as he lowered his voice, “I’m not supposed to do this, but I have a bottle of scotch in my desk drawer right now. If you care for a little nip, I will join you while we write up this deal. Whaddya say – shake on it?”
I decided that I had better wrestle my imagination into submission, and told Ned that I really had to get home, that the Mrs. was probably wondering where I was. “Oh, the little lady! Well, why didn’t you just say so. Say, she probably wouldn’t like this black job anyway. But you know what, we just got the prettiest car delivered this afternoon. Just like this one, but in Washington Blue, and with whitewall tires and a RADIO! When ya bring ‘er back, just see me. Name’s Ned.”
He had to kind of yell that last part. You see, that imaginary salesman almost had me talked into a swig of whiskey and a new ’36 Ford for $25 a month, so I figured I had better get out of there before the topic of a trade-in came up. There was no way I was going to try to get Ned’s head around the concept of a 2007 Honda Fit. Really, a four cylinder car more powerful than his Ford V8, with an automatic transmission, power windows and air conditioning. Hydraulic brakes, too. I ran back to my car and didn’t look back as I got back onto the main road. I have never seen this black ’36 Ford sedan since. I shouldn’t be surprised. That Ned seemed like a real closer.
Hope the hot rod crew don’t get their mitts on this one!What a find
+1000
You don’t think it would look better with red rims with baby moon hubcaps and big-and-little tires to give it a subtle rake? 🙂
No,there’s plenty hot rods let’s see an original for once
Well, somebody added those blue-dot taillamp lenses, which I don’t think were original (correct me if I’m wrong on this).
At some point, we are sure to see a comment calling me to task for this car being a Standard and not a DeLuxe. The biggest clue is usually the grille – black on Standard, bright on DeLuxe.
However, it is not easy to distinguish the two otherwise. Other DeLuxe features are the bright windshield frame, bright fender welting under the headlights, bright horn grilles and twin taillights, all of which are on this car. This one also has lots of accessories, such as the banjo spoke steering wheel, rear view mirror and wheel trim rings.
My copy of Illustrated History of Ford by George Dammann has a picture of a car just like this one, that the author identifies as “pre-production.” So, is it a very early DeLuxe? A restored Standard with mostly DeLuxe bits? Or a restored DeLuxe where the owner of the black car liked the minimalistic aesthetic of the black grille? No easy answer here, so I invoked my editorial license and called it a DeLuxe. So there.
Nicely done, Jim!
It wonderful to see a Ford that actually came through the Rouge plant. And I’d say its a good chance that the car will stay original – there’s enough “Ford” parts out there for a hot-rodder to build his own without having to touch a real Ford.
Awesome car and write-up!
Ned is right, these were amazing cars.
Great story, really gets you in the moment. When I see a ’36 the first thing I always think of is Ryan and Tatum ONeil’s 4-door convertible from “Paper Moon”
Good one, Jim! Ned’s voice comes through loud and clear.
“Safety of steel from pedal to wheel.” Ha! I can imagine the same guy trying to talk up solid motor mounts, versus the Plymouth’s “Floating Power.” “No sir, you don’t want yer engine shuckin’ and jivin’ all over creation, you want ‘er locked down like Mr. Ford’s millions!”
I cannot claim credit for the brake slogan, I remembered it from some period Ford advertising I once read long ago. As for the motor mount angle, I wish I had thought of it. 🙂
+1
Fun story Keep ’em coming!
Oh, how I wish it was 1936. I wonder what a clean 1930-32 Cadillac V-16 would sell for “previously owned.”
I know what you mean, my grandpa has mentioned buying several clean 10 year old cadillacs for a few hundred dollars in the 60s: give me a time machine.
There was a Hemmings Article about a guy that bought a V16 $300 in 1954 or so and he owned it until the late 60’s, when he sold it for $5000.
I would so love to drive one of these to see what’s it like.
One question…is that an original hood ornament?
I believe that the greyhound hood ornament was a Ford accessory. I found it interesting how they managed to combine it with the “V8” hood ornament that came standard. The greyhound had been Lincoln’s hood ornament through the classic era, and a similar design became a Ford accessory during the Model A years, IIRC.
Yes, that was a fairly popular vintage accessory. This one might be a reproduction, of course, but they did sell the greyhound at the time. It wasn’t standard fit, but in those days hood ornaments very rarely were; you paid extra for the mascot even on a Packard.
I think the hood ornament is original. Probably an option. A greyhound?
Ah, the indefagitable Joe Brown. A natural born salesman if I ever saw one! You can watch him in action here:
http://archive.org/details/earthworm_tractors
I have actually never seen that movie. I had been looking for some random picture of the 1930s car salesman in my mind’s eye when I came across a picture of Joe E. Brown. I had already written the piece before I found the picture, but suddenly I heard Ned talking to me as soon as I saw the photo. A perfect fit.
I think you mean “well, nobody’s perfect” 🙂
Truly great writeup!!! Every car has a story, indeed!!!
Surprising to find this in a generic used car lot. Great write-up! I could imagine that conversation really happening back in the day.
I can’t think of a Ford flathead V8 without thinking of Bonnie and Clyde. I can’t think of Bonnie and Clyde without thinking of Travis Tritt and “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMg3X8I3HxU
Although in the “modern” version the Ford V8 has been replaced by a Firebird.
I think he would have hooked me with the shot of whiskey.
I’m sold. To what address do I send my first $25.00?
The ’36 and ’37 were the last good-looking Fords for quite a while; always loved them.
Did you ever see or read about the 6 ’36 Ford’s that had bodies built by Allegheny Ludlum Steel completely out of stainless steel (at least the parts that you can see). They did the same thing to a ’60 Thunderbird and a ’66 Lincoln.
Supposedly the Western Reserve Historical Society has one of each. The’ve got photos on their web-site: http://www.wrhs.org/
My Dad told us this story,the moulds would be wrecked after 3 or 4 pressings,I’ve never seen a stainless T bird or any other Ford til now.thanks Bill.How cool is that stainless T bird?I would like a look around this museum
When I worked in an office out in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood, I used to see a 1936 Ford that was almost identical to this one parked at the tavern just down the street. I don’t recall if it was a Standard or a Deluxe, but it was a four-door painted the same color. I think it belonged to the owner of the tavern, who also sometimes drove a late-70s Ranchero. It was really something to see a car that old being used as a semi-regular driver. I used to take my lunch breaks on a park bench, and it was always fun when that car would go by; there’s nothing quite like that old flathead sound. I worked at that particular place until late 2006. Imagine using a 70-year-old car as a regular driver! This guy actually did.
When I was a young guy (1973), there was a guy that worked in a different department who drove an old Model A to work everyday. I never met the guy, but he was in his 60’s, and it was reputed that it was the only car he ever owned. The car was a black coupe, over 40 years old, and I’d see the car spewing out blue oil fumes, while the old guy wore a fedora and overcoat.
Never knew what happened to the guy or the car, since I was transferred to a different plant.
Speaking of used car salesman, I bought my first car off a fast talking, cigar smoking, plaid jacket wearing fat salesman in 1973. A 65 Galaxie, bought in 1973 for $ 225. Two weeks later, a fellow ran into it parked in front of my mother’s house. I ended up getting $ 375 for it from the guy’s insurance. Only car I’ve made money from.
I saw a 38 Chev on a lot here recently and its gone some cretin bought it before I could get to it, the cheek!
I have decided to wait a year and bought a 1937 Plymouth Deluxe touring sedan instead…
and those hydraulic brake still work after 76 years !
The fact, i did not buy it new.
Not just Henry Ford was allergic to hydraulic brakes. So was the estimable Ettore Bugatti.
The Duesenberg Bros. had the very 1st hydraulic brakes on a passenger car, their [very expensive] Model A tourer ca. 1921. What’s maddening is, they never patented the system, or they need never have sold out to Cord later.
First thing that came to my mind was Ned Ryerson from the movie “Groundhog Day”.
Phil? Phil Connors!
Wow this is great. My Grandfather sold Chevrolets and Studebakers during this same time period. I can hear him now.
This is a wonderful piece, Jim. I love the way you turned its factual content into a really appealing bit of dialog.
My Dad went back home to Kansas after the war and got an old ’36 Ford. I showed him this article and here’s what he said, “That was a pretty good car. When I got it I could smoke out a quart of oil in a block. Accordingly, I put new rings and inserts in it. Pretty good after that. Joyce (Mom) and I spent many an hour parked at night in it. Joyce liked it because I had put a new South Wind heater in it. Nice and cozy.”
Thanks, Mike – I appreciate the kind words. I need to print this one off and send to my mother (no internet, you know). Her family bought a new 35 Standard sedan and kept it until it was replaced with a new 51 Kaiser when Mom was a high school senior. Even then the 35 was passed on to Mom’s older sister and her husband who had been driving a Model A. The Ford finally left the family when it was traded on a new 52 Victoria hardop (another flathead) that served my aunt and uncle into the early 60s. The old ’35 lived its life on a farm and was the only vehicle (other than a tractor) that the family owned for its entire 16 years of service. Because they owned no pickup truck, the Ford earned its keep pulling farm trailers. I am sure she would enjoy seeing this one too, as she remembers the old ’35 fondly.
Nice article Jim. You reminded me, I need to do a Car Show Classic on the Dahls’s ’38 Tudor. I thought it was pretty sharp too, though I know others will disagree.