1936 Ford Deluxe

1936 Ford Model 68 Deluxe Fordor Sedan At about $550 when new, ($16,000 in today's money), the Model 68 was an affordable and practical car and as a result, quite popular. It came in a number of body styles including 3 window coupe, roadster, Tudor sedan, Fordor sedan, phaeton, 5 window, and convertible. Both DeLuxe and Standard models were offered and just in case you think we have too many choices in cars today, in '36, Americans had a substantial selection of Fords and other cars.   For consignment, a 1936 Ford Model 68 Deluxe Fordor sedan with a title verified 17,503 actual miles. This car was subject to a frame off restoration in the early 2000's and it has held up well. We see our share of prewar Fords at Classic Auto Mall, and this one is a head turner! Exterior The narrow, upright grille is rendered even more stately by the amber fog lights and the outstretched Greyhound hood ornament, and it's all uphill from there! Gleaming two stage Washington Blue paint covers the steel panels bisected by a single, cream colored pinstripe. Hood vents are lines with polished trim which complements the other polished elements including the slim grille surround, the bold bumpers, and the hubcaps and beauty rings on the 16-inch artillery wheels which are color keyed to the body. White wall tires cap off the classy look while a leather clad Varco trunk is mounted in back behind an encased spare tire. Imperfections include touched up scratches and chips on a fender and numerous other spots, and some dry rot on the rubber coating of the running board. The driver's door glass has a crack in it but the consignor includes a premium replacement with the sale. Interior Tan cloth is the perfect offset to the blue exterior and begins on the stitched door panels with front and rear facing each other as back ports are reverse hinged. Inside, light tan broadcloth covers the front bench with ample cushioning and the configuration is mirrored in back, affording the occupants ample leg and head room. Simple elegance continues to the front where a basic black steering wheel front the taupe painted dash and ivory colored gauges and art deco trim. The rear view mirror has an embedded clock which, likely an expensive endeavor for Ford as it's rarely seen. Rubber coating surrounds the floor based shifter and the stitched, cloth headliner shows a touch of age staining but is fully intact.  Drivetrain Behind the engine covers is a 221ci flathead V8, rated at 90 horsepower and fueled via a 2-barrel carburetor. It's clean and original looking and mated to a 3-speed manual transmission that sends power to the 4.11 gears in the rear axle. The car remains on a 6 volt system and authentic tools from 1936 come with the car.  Undercarriage During restoration, the frame was painted black and remains clean. A single exhaust carries a stock style muffler on its way to rear exit and mechanical drum brakes are equipped front and rear. As common for the time, transverse leaf springs are utilized front and rear. Drive-Ability Let's see if functionality matches aesthetics on this fully restored car and after a quick start, we roll this beauty onto the test loop and find a good running car with straight tracking. Of note is the horn and trip odometer, all of which are currently not working. We also note that the radio turns on but produces no sound. All other functions operate as they should and we fly the flathead back to the stable. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.   This is a fine Fordor with a beautiful blue on tan spec, and we can only imagine how special it felt to drive in 1936. Well, for a whole new set of reasons, it's special to drive today, 90 years after it first hit the roads of America. It had a tune up and new battery in December so this Deluxe is ready for delivery! Classic