Vehicle Description
The distinctively styled 1934-36 Brewster-Ford was the inspired
brainchild of well-respected luxury-car dealer and coachbuilder
J.S. Inskip. Having served as president of Rolls-Royce of America
and of the renowned Brewster & Co., coachbuilding firm, Inskip
strove resolutely to save the latter as many of the greatest names
in American coachbuilding were falling victim to the ever-widening
effects of the Great Depression. As sales of Rolls-Royces and
custom Brewster coachwork waned during the early 1930s, Inskip
envisaged a completely new car to offer straight from the showroom
floor, one that retained the considerable prestige and styling
prowess associated with the Brewster name in a more affordable and
somewhat less ostentatious package.
Inskip based the design on Ford's ubiquitous V-8 chassis, stretched
to a generous, yet manageable 127-inch wheelbase, ideal for busy
city streets. Several body styles were available, ranging from a
sporty Roadster to a versatile Convertible Sedan and of course, the
formal Town Car. Visually distinguished by their flowing fenders
and distinctive heart-shaped radiator grille, directly attributable
to J.S. Inskip and inspired by the tip of a fountain pen, the
captivating Brewster models offered luxurious appointments and
exceptional quality with robust, readily available, and easily
serviced Ford mechanicals. However, a handful of Brewster bodies
also graced Buick, Packard, and Rolls-Royce chassis when new or
subsequently upon customer request. Priced from a
still-considerable $3,500, yet far less than most competing luxury
cars of the era, the Brewster-Ford entered production in 1934
through late 1935. While some sources have claimed that as many as
300 were produced, chassis records reveal that the true number that
left Brewster's New York factory was closer to 113.
Predictably, most Brewster-Fords were purchased new by Inskip's
loyal and discerning clientele in New York City and the Eastern
Seaboard, including members of the Astor, du Pont, Guggenheim,
Harriman, and Rockefeller families. Fittingly, Ford Motor Company
president Edsel B. Ford, well-known for his fine design sense,
appears to have been the first Brewster-Ford buyer. These
distinctive and rational luxury motorcars were also favored by the
era's top entertainers, including Al Jolson, who was perhaps
enticed to acquire his car by legendary songwriter and early
Brewster-Ford owner Cole Porter, who penned the smash hit song
"You're the Top," which included a lyrical homage to the excellence
of Brewster's handiwork. A healthy secondary market for these
desirable and uniquely styled motorcars continued through the late
1930s and well into the 1940s. Significantly, the Brewster-Fords of
the mid-1930s are the only Ford Motor Company products afforded
Full Classic�status by the CCCA (Classic Car Club of America).
Bearing Chassis Number 18-1559-350, this exceedingly rare 1936
Brewster-Ford Town Car is offered in well-preserved condition with
an older, well-maintained restoration. A CCCA National First Prize
winner that was featured in Automobile Quarterly (volume 7, #3), it
is attractively finished in black, with distinctive white canework
applied to the rear, a rear-mounted spare and folding luggage rack,
this Town Car is a charming example that is well-suited to touring
enjoyment. Paintwork is attractive overall, with a few minor
imperfections consistent with the restoration's age. The
chauffeur's compartment roof is removable making the car adaptable
both to formal use in town and, when fully enclosed, touring in
all-weather condition. Black-finished steel wire wheels and wide
whitewall tires heighten the Brewster's curb appeal.
Interior appointments include a black leather-trimmed driver's
compartment and excellent tan broadcloth passenger area, with a
sliding division window adding formality. In addition to a
sumptuous rear bench seat with generous armrests at each side, the
rear compartment is fully appointed with jump seats, a sliding
division window, intercom, mirrors, smokers' kits, a center
armrest, Jaeger clock, and rear window shade. Powered by a robust
and correctly finished Ford "Flathead" V-8 engine, the engine was
fully rebuilt in recent years.
Luxurious and finely crafted yet with sturdy and readily serviced
Ford V-8 chassis and running gear, this Brewster-Ford is, as it was
in 1936, a uniquely stylish bargain among classic coachbuilt
motorcars.
Offers welcome and trades considered
