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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Clocks

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Clocks -- page: 1 2     Chris.NZ 04-19-2023 @ 12:20 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 49 Joined: Oct 2009 I wonder why Ford did not offer a 39 std clock as an accessory. I have a 38 std example. Chris.NZ. This message was edited by Chris.NZ on 4-19-23 @ 12:21 AM wmsteed 04-19-2023 @ 9:29 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 Most likely the extent of the Great Depression, which actually lasted through 1939 is the reason for limited accessories and production. Fords sales slipped quite a bit after their big hit with the '36 Ford. which put them in first place ahead of Chevrolet for the first time since 1929. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe ford38v8 04-19-2023 @ 11:09 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 2788 Joined: Oct 2009 Anomalies like that are not always the result of considered decisions. Supply issues can confound decisions to the contrary. The ramping up of war production may have played a part. Alan wmsteed 04-21-2023 @ 10:51 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 "Anomalies" could be a good terminology to describe the '37-38 Ford automobiles. It is pretty well a fact that the '37-38 Fords were some of the least popular cars that Ford ever built. Fords refusal to use hydraulic brakes, which all of the other manufactures had gone to in '36 or earlier, and the introduction of the V8 60 engine was not well accepted by the buying public. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe juergen 04-21-2023 @ 1:52 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 259 Joined: Jan 2010 Ah, the degrading of 1937 Ford styling continues. According to the clubs "The V-8 Album", total sales for 1936 Ford passenger cars was 748,000 versus Chevrolet sales of 930,000. The 1937 Fords had "streamlined bodies" which "seemed in perfect vogue for 1937, but many later Ford enthusiasts have come to consider it the ugly duckling of Ford design history". Well now a lot of enthusiasts say the ugly duckling has returned to being considered a beautiful swan. No other total sales were published so I used the beginning and end of VIN to get the following, 1936 had a difference of 1,124,745, 1937 had 854,589, 1938 had 474,553 and 1939 had 548,999. In 1938 the recession returned with a return to unemployment. Henry Ford's acceptance of hydraulic brakes in 1939 did not cause Ford sales to greatly rise even though the economy picked up with the start of war production and increased purchasing power. Brakes were not the only factor. Ford still held to buggy springs instead of an independent front suspension and the lack of union representation was also there. But the lack of a standard clock is questionable. carcrazy 04-21-2023 @ 5:17 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1691 Joined: Oct 2009 Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder! To some of us, the 1937 Ford is one of the most attractive Fords offered during the 1930's. It was the first Ford to offer a full steel roof, two piece windshield, two piece split rear window, slant back styling with opening trunk lid, first use of headlights molded into the sheet metal rather than free standing, alligator type hood, battery mounted under the hood, improved cooling system where the water pumps pushed colder (denser) water through the engine rather than pulling hot water out, an improved steering system and countless other improvements. Aside from retaining the mechanical brakes, the car was becoming truly modern. Chris.NZ 04-22-2023 @ 12:40 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 49 Joined: Oct 2009 The 37 coupe is a great looking car. Now the 37 flat back sedan - that's something else IMHO. Should have been a foot longer. JayChicago 04-22-2023 @ 7:16 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 493 Joined: Jan 2016 I beg to differ. The '37 slant back was always my favorite. I like the short shoe box proportions. A sedan with a Vicky look to it. Larry Lange 04-22-2023 @ 5:28 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 93 Joined: Jun 2011 To Chris' observation that the 37's should have been longer....evidently they came close to it. In Paul Woudenberg's book, "Ford in the Thirties," Mr. Woudenberg writes that the '37's were shorter than the '36's. "On direct orders from Mr. Ford, the car was shortened -- from its prototype. All of the roundness and roof heightening, along with the 3 to 4 fewer inches, combined to produce a distinctly stubby appearance." I don't fully agree. Even if the '37's are shorter, they're still beautiful cars. It's not clear from the book whether Henry or his son Edsel ordered the shortening, but it would have been cool to see the cars had they been produced based on the prototype. Larry Lange Puget Sound Regional Group This message was edited by Larry Lange on 4-22-23 @ 7:05 PM trjford8 04-23-2023 @ 7:59 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4237 Joined: Oct 2009 In response to the original question, it's possible a 39 standard clock was not offered as an accessory due to poor sales of the 38 standard clock. It's a matter of economics for the company.

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