Solid Coupe from the Carolinas: 1937 Ford Coupe
It seems like everyone with a thirties Ford coupe has decided that it is time to sell. While the many attributes of these stylish and durable coupes have made them popular for decades, will the overwhelming number of cars entering the market drive prices down to more affordable levels? Mitchell G. has found for us yet another Ford coupe to consider. This 1937 Ford coupe for sale on Craigslist in Uncasville, Connecticut is a mostly original example and is in Henry Ford’s favorite color. Does the $22,500 asking price for this coupe make you want to head for the Northeast with a certified check, or does the seller have some market adjusting to do before this handsome coupe finds a new home?
We aren’t told much about this coupe, as is the usual in a Craigslist ad. The seller states that this is a very solid coupe and is a North Carolina car. The car is equipped with a Flathead V-8 though it is not stated whether that is a full-size Flathead or a V-8-60. The presence of a single windshield wiper suggests that this is a standard coupe, so a V-8-60 is not out of the question. Sadly, there are no pictures of the engine in the ad.
The Flathead is backed up by the usual three-speed manual transmission. This transmission is one of the seldom mentioned gems of Fords of this era. While they won’t stand up to high horsepower or abuse, they can be rebuilt on your kitchen table. Parts are still available, and pairing one with a Columbia rear end to provide more favorable gearing for cruising makes a coupe like this one much more comfortable to your ears at highway speeds.
As it sits, the seller assures us that the car starts and runs well. The picture above hints that the car was converted to hydraulic brakes instead of the much-maligned manual brake system that Henry Ford stubbornly insisted on until 1939. Some insist that the stock mechanical braking system is adequate. However, when you consider how easy it is to retrofit this car with a hydraulic braking system from a later, heavier Ford, the conversion is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to drive their car regularly. The radial tires and later steel wheels suggest that this car is no stranger to the road.
One of the selling points in the ad is that this coupe has been recently treated to a new interior. The picture above shows that new, grey interior along with a few other additions. The auxiliary gauges and aftermarket turn signal unit are welcome additions to the car that would be used as a driver. Sadly, it looks like the horn button and headlight switch are missing from the desirable banjo steering wheel. Fords of this era have a very unusual headlight switch that rides in the center of the steering wheel and extends down through the steering column to switch on the headlights. Why Ford, a company that prides itself on simplicity, used this design is one of life’s big mysteries.
While the interior may be new, the exterior has a fair amount of paint damage and some surface rust. This may be the original finish finally giving up the ghost, or a repaint years ago that was of the Earl Sheib or Fact-O-Bake variety. Interesting to note is an old-school hood lettering job suggesting some speed parts underneath. Regardless, other than a decent-sized ding on one of the rear fenders, the car appears to be quite solid throughout.
The saddest part of this ad is the statement that the seller is getting rid of the car because of illness. While it is not a perfect car by any means, this driver-level car brought a lot of joy to the seller. Coupes like this are fun to drive and can be quite reliable once you know how to work on a Flathead Ford V-8. Hopefully, it finds a new home with someone who will drive it regularly.
Do you think there is a glut of prewar Ford coupes on the market right now? What do you think is a fair price for this 1937 coupe? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
I can see Moe’s, Larry, and Curly with their dates squeezed into this.
After all these years, many signature details get removed or added. The one windshield wiper sez ‘Standard’, bur two tail lights sez ‘Deluxe’… The tail light would be an easy add-on, the wiper, not so much. Noticed the wide bolt rear wheels, but standard 5-bolt wheels up front. Grille V-8 ornament was 221 cu. in design, V8-60, no ornament. V-8 60s were hot-rod popular for lighter-weight (and truly gorgeous IMHO) tubular front axles, plus 4:44 rear gears (needed for anemic V-8 60 performance and really lousy gas mileage).
Lot of interesting questions and observations. Personally, I would have added a right taillight just to keep the night riders from running over me. I would also put a late ’40s engine in it and change out the 4:44 gears.
Really one of the most attractive front ends on any 30s car. Smooth it out, repaint, upgrade all essentials, keep the flattie and enjoy it. If you must modernize the drivetrain, keep it all Ford. Best wishes, be safe.
The emblem on the grille would identify the engine, but it’s too blurry to read
Yep – nice and priced accordingly – which would you buy – the dead in garage or a ready to run the rum ?
I never knew what a V8-60 was until reading about the 3 Fords here today. Thank you all!
It sure would be nice to see some pics of what the whole car looks like from a few feet away, instead of a collection of closeups. My advice to any person selling a car online would be to learn a little bit about taking car pics and practicing a little before posting the pics. Think about what a prospective buyer might want to see, and ask yourself if your pics fill the bill. I’m no gift to the art of photography, but for instance, I cannot seem to get an idea of what the roofline on this car looks like. There is no pic of the entire roof of the car, so I can see its condition. Probably just an oversight, but I’d have to see that in a pic before I could move forward into any purchase process.
Because of Hot Rod history I have a difficult time of seeing a 37 Ford worth this asking price. They were for many years the red head step child. Not very desirable. The price and condition of this car would make me say no.