Ford came to market with a longer, wider, and better V8 product line for 1935, and car buyers responded.
From some angles, the 1935 Ford is much the same car as the original Ford V8 introduced in 1932 and updated in 1933-34. We find the same 221 cubic-inch V8 with 85 hp, same torque-tube drive, same transverse-spring suspension front and rear, same familiar Ford styling. But in fact, the ’35 Ford was a remarkably improved car, offering a smoother ride and greater interior room and comfort. To better compete with rivals Chevrolet, Plymouth, and the rest, the Ford V8 was growing up.
This new Ford (Model 48, officially) was a clever exercise in packaging. While the wheelbase remained unchanged at 112 inches, the body was now almost seven inches longer. The transverse front spring was moved ahead of the axle, improving the ride and allowing the engine and radiator to be relocated eight inches forward. This, in turn, allowed the passenger compartment to be lengthened and shifted ahead on the chassis. Now the rear seat was away from the rear axle, reducing pitch motion to give the passengers a flatter, smoother ride.
The new body was wider as well, enabling a front seat that was four inches wider and nearly two inches wider in the rear. An optional factory-supplied, dealer-installed radio ($44.50) featured controls built right into the center of the art deco-styled instrument panel. The previous ’33-’34 radio took over the entire glove box and compartment door.
Interior insulation, upholstery, and fabrics were upgraded as well, and there were seven exterior colors available, with five more special paint options offered in Ford’s Easter Colors program in the spring. Henry Ford displayed little interest in such modern selling features, but his son Edsel insisted on them, and he usually won the arguments over matters of style and marketing.
Two trim levels were offered, Ford and Ford De Luxe—the De Luxe included twin horns and tail lamps and a fancier interior. Along with the traditional Ford body styles, including Coupe, Cabriolet, and Roadster, here were two new ones: Tudor and Fordor Touring Sedans that featured integral trunks in the bodies (above right). Conventional, trunkless sedans (today known as “slantbacks”) were offered, too. A De Luxe Station Wagon was also available, the hardwood bodies constructed at Ford’s own Iron Mountain plant in Northern Michigan timber country.
With all these improvements, the 1935 Ford was nearly 200 lbs heavier in most body styles than the previous model. Still, the Dearborn carmaker held the line on pricing: At $495, the base model Coupe was actually priced at 10 bucks less than in ’34. The most expensive model, the ritzy Convertible Sedan, listed at $750. The solid combination of price and features definitely did the trick, as Ford sales rose 45 percent in 1935 to more than 820,000 cars, beating Chevrolet for the second year in a row.
I think the ’35 and ’36 Fords were some of the nicest looking cars of the mid-thirties, regardless of ptice.
I presume that was the work of Edsel Fords’ favorite stylist, Bob Gregorie, to push the radiator shell well ahead of the front wheels and still make it look good.
Thank you John, I couldn’t put my finger on why the front end on the ’35 looked so different from the ’34. (slaps forehead)
Ford definitely didn’t take a back seat in the styling department. It was right on top…
In 1935 I went with my dad to pick up his new 1935 Ford Sedan Delivery from Stark Hickey Ford on Grand River and Maplewood(?). Stark Hickey stored their new cars on the roof of the dealership and my dad drove the car down the ramp to street level. This was a base model and, because of the depression, my dad could’t afford a heater or front passenger seat. When we pulled in our driveway, he let me honk the horn to let mom know we were home. He was a house painter and this vehicle served as his work truck and family car until 1940. I was three years old and this is the first memory I can still recall. He sold it to a neighbor, also a painter, and replaced it with a competitor’s Sedan Delivery in 1951.
Far from the 1933 styling . . . and somewhat ’34 styling. The couple/few/four extra interior inches certainly is nothing to brag about.
Upgraded interior? How upgraded? sounds as a salesman’s broad statement that says nothing. Interior insulation, upholstery, and fabrics were upgraded as well. More windbag broad sales language.
Two trim levels were offered, Ford and Ford De Luxe—the De Luxe included twin horns and tail lamps as in 1933 and ’34 with chrome windshield surround and cowl lights, and which the three-window coupe was available in De Luxe only. Cowl lights’ last year for ’34 but by no means a disparagment.
The 1935 practically-flat grille = a serious degradation to the 1933 V’d, thirty-six-bar dished grille hiding the radiator from typical passers-by and the new-car inspecting curious public. The 1934 V’d thirty-three-bar grill, cheapening what the 1933 strived for, but still more accomplished than the disappointing blahzay pushed-forward 1935 simpleton.
My opinion: a recessed front has more class.
And the 1935 prefers to save money continuing with the exterior roof center ‘vinyl’ padded top. This to be made known because the customer should know.
1935 two-hundred pounds heavier, so you’ve got your brother-in-law or sister-in-law riding with you every time you pull that humongous door open. An ad could boast, why, it’s as pulling on a barn door! A cow could climb in!
Transverse leaf springs! Then your ride should be as comfortable whether you’re sitting in the new improved seat, right over the axel, before it, or behind it.
Ford for 1935 never impressed me; continually going backwards particularly from the 1933 . . . and the ’34 as well.
You are right, though, the 1935 radio is quite the improvement; @ $44.50 great depression money, they ain’t givin’ it to you. The “art-deco dash” with its ‘ash tray’ is but a continuation; nothing more. Instrument gauges have changed, but nothing spectacular; they’re all there because they are needed.
I could go on, but it’s late. Thank You!
Truly,
Patrick ‘Pat’ Malone –
Tell us how you really feel…
You must love, or hate, ALL of the new cars then, since they all look alike, and you have a distaste for all things that differ from your taste.
Hello from Australia. Love seeing pics of the 35 Fords as they bring back many happy childhood memories. My dad bought a four door in 1952, it was our first family car so would like to share some of my experiences. One time in Sydney the brakes failed & he nearly ran over a police officer on point duty. Another time we were crossing a flooded river, my sister & I was told to stand on the back seat to save our shoes & socks from getting wet. One night my cousin said, “Uncle Clem, I think our wheel went past us”. BANG, the old Fords back axle hit the bitumen. We broke down on a busy bridge that only had one lane in each direction. Mum out directing traffic whilst dad fixed the car.