Although the Phil Wright design for the 1935 Fords was well received by the public, to the extent that Ford outsold Chevrolet for the model year, it is the 1936 update that has become more sought after by collectors. It was the work of Holden “Bob” Koto, of Briggs Manufacturing Company, whose career spanned nearly 40 years. Koto gave the car a new grille that had simple, thin, vertical bars, which was much less fussy than the ’35 item. The horns were relocated out of sight, behind small grilles in the fender “catwalks.”

The tidy 1936 Ford DeLuxe Roadster presented here benefits from some subtle performance upgrades. The engine has been fitted with desirable Eddie Meyer aluminum heads and a high-rise manifold with dual Stromberg 81 two-barrel carburetors. It also has exhaust headers and a Mallory ignition. A 6-12 volt combination electrical system has been installed to aid in starting the high-compression engine.

The car is tastefully accessorized with rear fender skirts, an under-dash radio with a dashboard control, wind wings, door-hinge mirrors, and flipper wheel covers. The tan paint is in very good condition, as is the brown interior. The tan canvas top has brown piping and shows some age, but it is completely free of stains and complements the paint well.

The 1936 Ford Roadster is a favorite of collectors. With its own unique character touches that add to the car’s overall performance and cosmetic appearance, this one has great appeal.