1934 Brewster Ford

New York dealer J.S. Inskip attempted to combat the Great Depression by offering a smaller yet luxurious model wearing Brewster coachwork with a distinctive 'fountain pen' radiator shell, flared fenders, and 'cow-catcher' bumpers. It used the readily available Ford V-8 chassis and was powered by a 221 cubic-inch L-head V8 engine offering 85 horsepower and paired to a three-speed manual transmission. The wheelbase measured 127 inches, braking was by mechanical brakes, and the suspension use transverse leaf springs with solid axles.

Brewster & Company's history in the automobile business dates back to 1905, and they specialized in building formal coachwork on many different chassis (the company's coach-building business dates back to 1810). The company was acquired by Rolls-Royce of America in 1925 and became the primary coachbuilder for Rolls-Royce in the United States. After Rolls-Royce of America closed in 1934, Brewster, under the guidance of J.S. Inskip, purchased and bodied approximately 135 Ford V8 chassis. The heart-shaped grille became a trademark for the new Brewster automobile, and four different body styles were offered, including the formal Town Car with an open chauffeur compartment.

by Dan Vaughan

Town Cabriolet DeVille by Brewster
Chassis number: 18-802233
Engine number: 49493

This 1934 'one off' custom Ford Brewster was built for Edsel Ford. It is completely original (66,000 plus actual miles) and is unrestored. It is the only Brewster built that did not use the normal Brewster front end. A 1934 Ford grill was installed at Edsel's request. The car was recently discovered after being in storage for the last 55 years. This is a historically significant original automobile; it runs and drives like a new car, and is one of only a few in existence that actually belonged to Edsel Ford.

This is the third Brewster Ford built but it is the very first one shipped to a customer and was done at Edsel's request. It was the first one shipped to a customer and was done at Edsel's request. It was the first one seen by the general public.

The car is on a stretched 127-inch wheelbase. The hood has no louvers. This is the only Brewster with a Brewster dash; the standard dash was Ford. The steering wheel is a 'Banjo' wheel unlike the other Brewsters. The car also has 16-inch wheels; the standard wheels were 17-inch. Edsel had the engine changed to a new and more powerful Mercury engine in March 1939.

Edsel had the car kept in New York at the Ford Dealer, where he and his family could use it while in New York.

Town Cabriolet DeVille by Brewster
Chassis number: 18-802233
Engine number: 49493

This 1934 Brester Ford Town Car is a unique coach-built vehicle constructed to Edsel Ford's specifications. The coachwork was handled by Brewster and fitted on a Ford V8 chassis. The Brewster Company had a strong reputation with many prominent automakers, such as Rolls-Royce, who bodied many of the American-built Rolls-Royce cars that left the Springfield, Massachusetts plant.

The Brewster Ford was intended to be a line of custom-built Brewster cars built atop a Ford chassis. The front of the Brewster Ford features flying fenders, a split Art Deco bumper with a heart-shaped grille, and many other prominent features. The design was handled by John S. Inskip, the president of Brewster at the time.

Edsel's car was the third one built and featured slightly different styling than the others. It had a Model 40 grille and a hood that lacked louvers. There are 16-inch wheels and a 1938-type banjo steering wheel. The car was sent to Edsel in Michigan via railcar. On its journey, it was still being assembled. Edsel took delivery on June 1st of 1934 and was the first car to reach the public. In 1939, it was fitted with a Mercury L-Head V8 engine that displaced 239 cubic inches and produced nearly 100 horsepower.

Another twelve Brewster Fords were ordered by Edsel, all with 1935 Model 48 Ford grilles. Only two were built before Brewster & Co was sold at auction in August of 1937. It is uncertain how many Brewster Fords were built.

This car was brought to the 2008 Automobiles of Amelia presented by RM Auctions where it was one of the highlights of the event. It was sold for $198,000, including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Town Car by Brewster

After opening its doors in 1905, Brewster & Company specialized in building formal coachwork for many different manufacturers. In 1925, the company was bought by Rolls-Royce of America and became the primary body builder for Rolls-Royce in the United States. When Rolls-Royce of America closed in 1934, Brewster, under the guiding hands of J.S. Inskip, purchased and bodied about 135 Ford V8 chassis. The heart-shaped grille was the trademark of the new Brewster automobile, and four different body styles were built, including this formal Town Car with its open chauffeur compartment. Its third and current owner has maintained the car's originality, and it has won many Preservation awards.

Town Car by Brewster

Brewster & Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce of North America. To avoid the stigma of bankruptcy, it evolved into the Springfield Manufacturing Corp. President John Inskip's idea was to offer four custom-built bodies – town car, limousine, convertible coupe, convertible sedan - on a Ford V-8 chassis, each carrying a $3,500 price tag The plebian Ford chassis appealed to those who had survived the crash financially yet considered it inappropriate to flash their good fortune in an era of soup kitchens, breadlines, and 25 percent unemployment. To the unsuspecting they could say, 'I'm driving a Ford.' The Ford V-8 chassis was lengthened 15 inches and Brewsters featured a unique heart-shaped grille and cow catcher-style front bumpers on 1934 models. Production of cars began in 1934 and ended in 1936. 135 Ford chassis were purchased of which 83 received Town Car bodies.