This very pretty 1937 Ford Deluxe convertible sedan is probably the one to own if you like the sleek, art-deco look of the late '30s Fords. Smooth flathead V8 power, those beautiful flush-mounted headlights, and the surprisingly practical yet extremely stylish 4-door convertible body style all make this a slam-dunk for the guy who loves style as well as substance.
Ford only built a handful of these convertible sedans in 1937, but it's hard to understand why it wasn't more popular. Roll-up windows, four doors, and a top that goes down all make for a car that's great to drive no matter what the weather's doing. Finished in its original Adobe Tan, which was a popular color for Ford in the 1930s, it has a clean, sophisticated look that really shows well. The car has never had a huge frame-off restoration, but has been freshened as needed over the years, so the paint, while not perfect, has a great gloss and a soft sheen that's entirely appropriate to its age and the year in which it was built. Two versions of the convertible sedan were offered, the "slantback" and the "humpback" as in the case of this particular car. The humpback offers a larger trunk and an arguably more substantial look, and it only adds to the car's appeal for touring and trips. The chrome is a combination of restored and original parts, and it all looks pretty much the way you'd expect for a car of this age, with nothing being too deteriorated or too perfect to stand out. Overall, this car looks exactly the way you'd want your next tour car to look.
Ford didn't skimp on the interiors of the cars on the high end of the price scale, and the comfortable leather bench seats look as inviting as you favorite easy chair. A beautiful banjo-style steering wheel, big round gauges with a gorgeous period look, and a nicely woodgrained dashboard all help with the upscale feel. There's an impressive amount of stretch-out room in the back seat area, which also offers plus brown carpets for a luxurious feeling.
Ford's awesome 221 cubic inch flathead V8 made 85 horsepower in 1937, and it endows this convertible sedan with a playful, energetic personality. Plenty torquey for around town, it happily cruises at 55 MPH and makes great sounds while doing it. It's tough to photograph down there in the engine bay, but you'll note that it uses a correct carburetor, cloth-wrapped ignition wires, and a generator up top, so it's pretty authentic. It starts easily and doesn't seem to suffer from the usual "flathead fever" that plagues neglected cars. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily with light clutch action, and for safety purposes, it appears that this V8 now uses hydraulic drum brakes all around. The driver-grade undercarriage means no worries about putting it on the road, and the gorgeous artillery-style wheels carry trim rings and wonderfully detailed hubcaps, along with recent 6.5-15 wide whites.