1937 Ford Model 79

The 1937 model year was a pivotal year in the development of Ford styling, with sleek and streamlined designs, a new V-shaped chrome grille with horizontal bars, and the former bullet headlamps now incorporated into the fenders and complemented with horizontal louvers that ran along the sides of the hood. Like previous years, all Ford models were offered in Standard and Deluxe trim levels. Pickup trucks were a staple of the wide Ford Motor Company product range and styling closely matched that of the passenger-car lines. They had a new, rounder grille design, fender-mounted headlights, and design cues heavily influenced by the streamlined Lincoln-Zephyr. The cargo bed was steel-floored for durability with supporting wood planks for added strength. The Model 79 designation meant that it was a truck, and the 79B classification meant it was fitted with the Deluxe Accessory Group package, which added whitewall tires, side-view mirrors, fog lamps, dual windshield wipers, a banjo spoke steering wheel, and the Deluxe dashboard.

Ford's competition offered four and six-cylinder models, but Ford pickups were equipped with the 'Flathead' V8 engine and buyers had a choice of the 221 cubic-inch V8 with 85 horsepower or the economical 136 cubic-inch V8 with 60 horsepower. The larger engine was more popular and the smaller engine was soon discontinued. The Standard had the 60 horsepower V-8 and the Deluxe trim came equipped with the 85 horsepower V-8.

Both the 221 CID and 136 CID V8s had a 90-degree V-angle, a cast-iron block, a Stromberg two-barrel downdraft carburetor, three main bearings, and mechanical valve lifters. The engines were backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission with a single dry plate, molded asbestos lining clutch with floor shift controls. Stopping power was provided by mechanical, internal expanding brakes on all four wheels.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021