1937 Ford Model 78 5 Window Coupe
On January 18, 1937, the twenty-five millionth Ford automobile rolled off the Rouge Plant assembly line. Ford used the car in a number of ads to promote the quality and value of its automobiles. The 1937 Ford featured a more rounded look with fine horizontal bars in the convex front and hood-side grilles. The front grille was V-shaped, rather than following the fenders into a pentagon shape, as on the 1936 model. Faired-in headlights installed in the front fenders were a major modernization found on both the Standard and DeLuxe trim versions, and the introduction of an all steel top for the passenger compartment. The Standard could be distinguished from the DeLuxe by the body color radiator grilles and windshield frames while the DeLuxe had walnut woodgrain window mouldings and exterior trim brightwork, and a woodgrain finish applied to the interior window trim. A larger water pump was used to help aid in cooling. 'Slantback' sedans gained a rear trunk door, though space was limited, and 'Trunkback' versions continued gaining sales. The station wagon had seating for eight passengers. A 4-door "convertible sedan" with roll up windows was offered in small numbers in the DeLuxe series. Also, new seats were used.
For consignment, a 1937 Model 78 5 window coupe hot rod if you will, and in tastefully done form. A design so wildly popular among hot rodders, that about the only thing topping this body style is the 1939/1940 Ford coupe. This numerous best of show winning car is all metal, retains its beautiful bulbous design, running boards, and nice chrome abounding. Tinted glass and 255 cubes of worked over flathead iron, a custom interior and some snappy wheels all work to bring a breath of fresh air here in our Hallowed Halls of Classic Auto Mall.
Exterior
All of the steel for this coupe, bathed in very nice and very deep Garnet Red Metallic 2 stage paint, adorned with near perfection for the chrome and brite-work. This all presents to us as a rolling work of art. Very little was left unturned on this restoration, as the lines are straight, gaps are really nice, and steel is straight save for a few chips and cracks on the body lowers. The factory hood has been retained and the cowl sides are included with the car, but leaving them off for the world to view the mechanical jewelry within adds to the aggressive look. The large teardrop shaped sealed beam headlamp bezels flank a horizontal ribbed curved V grille that zooms rearward emulating a heart shape. An embossed body bump out spear works its way back on either side along the beltline of the slightly curved sides. At the gracefully curved rear of this car, we see 2 tinted and chrome bezel teardrop style tail lights, almost getting lost in the deep field of Garnet Red paint but managing to hold their own. From the front and rear split and lightly smoked glass to the undulating French curve fender and connecting running boards and the sparse but effectively installed chrome we are smack dab in the middle of the Art Deco era and we are looking good! Gleaming chromed and spit polished 15-inch US Mag wheels are dressing up the all 4 corners and come to us wrapped in like new staggered width blackwall rubber.
Interior
A swing of the door, and we shake hands with custom embossed and smooth tweed gray panels playing together with the chrome upper sills to make up the door panels. Shiny door handles and window cranks are within this field of gray tweed, all very nice, but with some notable scuffing on them. Slipping inside, just beautiful tight tuck and roll stitched and piped edged leather low back bucket seats provide the perfect posterior position for you and your passenger. These seats are nice and wide with neatly curved backs so they offer up plenty of room and are flanking a custom console with a large storage bin, twin cupholders and a long armed shifter just in front. A thick rimmed rally style steering wheel sits atop and adjustable column that fronts the dash. This is now all custom covered in a full metal black steel jacket and highlighted across its width by antique white face Dolphin gauges, a few knobs, toggles and pulls, a SunPro Super Tach II, and a Sony AM/FM/CD player in front of the passenger. A 12 volt power port resides at the bottom dead center under the dash and very nice charcoal black carpeting floods the floor. Wonderfully comfy and ergonomically laid out for the most discriminating hot rod driver! A shout out to the trunk which is also dressed up to the nines in more charcoal black carpeting within its confines.
Drivetrain
Peering into the open sides beneath the V-shaped hood, and we are met with a consignor-stated 255ci flathead V8 power plant in red and aluminum splendor. On top of this blinged out masterpiece is a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, Offenhauser intake manifold, and chromed air cleaner assembly. Capping off the block are aluminum Edelbrock cylinder heads and on the back is a 3-speed automatic C4 transmission and this pushes power rearward to a Ford 9" rear axle. Ultra clean and highly polished, just the way I like it.
Undercarriage
Fairly clean and totally restored, no rust here with a black painted frame, red suspension, red rear axle, and near flawless black painted sheet metal for the flooring. Power disc brakes are on all 4 corners to provide the whoa factor and a like new stainless steel exhaust system complete with headers and glasspack style mufflers snakes its way rearward through the structurally sound framework, and very nice undercarriage of floor pans, toe kicks and rockers...all rust free. The suspension is Mustang II style in the front and leaf spring in the rear.
Drive-Ability
She fired right up with a low rumble for an idle, and off to the test track where we made plenty of noise, experienced wonderful acceleration, smooth shifting transmission, and good solid handling. All functions were working fab at the time of my test drive.
Take the very popular for the time design, spice it up with 2 stage Garnet Red paint job and pepper on some chrome on the exterior, stitch a bunch of black and gray leather and tweed to create a great comfy interior, a full on custom dash, and we have a real winner. And do not forget the rod mods like the tinted glass, teardrop tail lights, an exposed engine bay and of course the flathead 255ci engine all blinged out to the heavens. 1937 never looked so good!
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
