1937 Ford "Fordor" Standard Sedan

1937 Ford Standard Fordor 

This is a car that had the benefit of winter storage and a ground-up restoration. It was sold new into a two car household in Boscawen, NH. This was a rarity in 1937 as the Great Depression was still churning. It was not driven in winter and was removed from service in 1950. In the 1970's it was purchased by a resident of a neighboring town who upgraded the mechanics enough to make the car roadworthy. Upon his death in the 1980's it sat once again until the 1990's when it was purchased by a resident of Andover, NH. He had the drivetrain rebuilt by a firm in Northhampton, MA and then shipped it to a very talented restorer in Tilton, NH who did a really fine job on the body, paint and woodgraining. When it left the Tilton shop it was 75% complete and quite roadworthy.  The interior, however, was untouched, dirty and threadbare.  The car changed hands briefly in 1997 to a Fitchburg MA resident who was not comfortable driving it. We found the car in 1998 in the car corral at the Bay State Antique Auto Show in Dedham, MA.                                                                                                                              

Ford Offerings in 1937    

There were two models of most body styles, the top-of-the-line DeLuxe and this less expensive Standard. The DeLuxe was equipped with an 85HP V-8 and the Standard with a 60HP V-8. With extra cost the Standard could be ordered with an 85 HP engine as was this car. Where the DeLuxe had two windshield wipers and two taillights, the Standard had only one of each. This car has two taillights because the original buyer ordered a second or because New Hampshire was one of six states requiring a second.

The Early Ford V-8 Club of America  

Though restoration was completed by a genuine craftsman, much was not exactly as built and had to be corrected for concourse judging. In 2001 in Westbrook, CT the car scored 911 points out of a possible 1000 for a First Place Award. We left the meet with along list of items to be corrected. In Vernon, NY in 2002 it was judged again and scored 950 points. This qualified the car for its' first Dearborn Award. The Dearborn is the highest Club award possible for a restored vehicle. In 2003 it was shipped to Dearborn, MI for the Club's Grand National Meet and in 2004 to Frederick, MD for the Club's Eastern Meet. At each of these meets it was again judged a Dearborn Award winner. Once a car has received three Dearborn Awards it is classified an Emeritus vehicle and is no longer judged. It has been awarded Emeritus status in 2005 at the Eastern Meet in Hiawassee, GA, in 2006 at the Eastern Meet in Batavia, NY and in 2008 at the Grand Nationals in Dearborn, MI.

With mechanical brakes, it is an adventure to drive and a great example of automotive technology from the 1930's.