On 31 March 1932, Henry Ford announced that his new V-8 automobile was ready. At once, months of public speculation, building since Model A production had halted the previous August, ended, and people thronged to see the new car. In the beginning, Ford had not wanted a V-8. His dream was an eight in an “X” configuration, but experiments were discouraging – the lower cylinders fouled easily, and power output was disappointing. Chevrolet had moved from a four to a six in 1929, then surpassed Ford in production during 1931. The principle of one-upmanship demanded that Henry do them one better – or two, in this case. The X-8 laid to rest, and a low-cost V-8 was the next project.

Rumors about the V-8 had been rampant since Model A assembly had been interrupted, the result of overstocks of unsold cars. On-again, off-again Model A production only fueled the rumors, and announcement of a new four-cylinder car, the Model B, did nothing to quell them. All the while the V-8 development was going on, an updated body was prepared, overseen by Edsel Ford and “Sheet Metal Joe” Galamb. The actual stylist for the “Deuce” is not known, but most feel the design originated at body supplier Briggs Manufacturing Company, whose staff included a number of “name” designers, among them Ralph Roberts and John Tjaarda. A smoother, more sophisticated Model A, the Deuce quickly won hearts and minds. Its subtly rounded grille shell has become an icon for 1932, an influential but difficult year for the motor industry as a whole.

Ford’s 1933 line was dramatically redesigned, using scaled-up drawings from the attractive British Model Y. In keeping with the more flowing lines, the windshield was given a more gracefully angled profile. There were two different coupe styles, three-window and five-window, each available as either Standard or DeLuxe. Both had crank-down rear windows; DeLuxe cars had upscale upholstery and additional appointments like cowl lamps and dual horns.

This 1933 DeLuxe three-window coupe was acquired by noted Ford restorer Jim Lowrey Sr., in 1979. Someone had started some mild modifications, so he and his son, Jim Jr., set out to restore it to correct original condition. It required some panel work, and a new interior was created by well-known suppliers LeBaron Bonney & Co. In fact, the car served as the development prototype for the 1933 coupe upholstery kit the firm later marketed. The car was painted in Coach Maroon with black fenders. The body molding stripe is done in the correct Vermilion hue, and the wheels in Aurora Red. The restoration was completed in 1983.

The current owner, a stickler for authenticity in his small Ford collection, purchased it circa 2000, and has carefully conserved it in museum-quality storage ever since. The car presents extremely well, even before considering that the restoration is 35 years old. The instrument panel has Ford’s attractive damascened instrument binnacle; the engine compartment and chassis are correctly detailed in all respects.

An excellent example of this very desirable model, this car will be a welcome addition to any discerning Ford enthusiast’s collection.