The year 1937 brought significant changes to the entire Ford product line. The Ford V-8 engine featured a redesigned block, crankshaft and heads. Combined with many other improvements, the V-8 engine became more reliable and popular. Additionally, Ford introduced a smaller 60 HP V-8 designed to appeal to the economy minded driver. The V-8 60 was made available in virtually all Ford vehicles. All 1937 Ford cars and trucks came with a V-8.

The sheet metal on the 1937 Ford commercial vehicles was basically warmed over from the 1935-36 models. For the first time, all 1937 Ford vehicles sported a Vee windshield. All of the passenger cars and most light duty trucks shared a 112 inch wheelbase frame, virtually the same as 1935 and 1936.

The Ford Commercial Cars utilized the same fenders, running boards and headlights as the previous two years. The cowl was modified to fit the split windshield and the grille was restyled. The pickup truck bed was 4 inches longer than previous models.

Two levels of trim were available on 1937 trucks. The standard model had a single windshield wiper, painted windshield frame, single horn and a grille with a painted center portion. The deluxe version had two windshield wipers, two chrome horns, chrome windshield frame, stainless steel trim around the hood louvers and a chrome center portion of the grille.

For those persons looking to restore a 1937 Ford pickup or similar ’37 Ford commercial car, 1937 proves to be a very unique year. Although Ford had one of it’s best sales years since 1930, the 1937 model trucks were pretty much a one of a kind. 1938 saw a complete redesign of the truck sheet metal including the first one piece, top opening hood on a Ford truck. As a result, 1937 was the last year for a side opening hood and the last year for a radiator grille shell. Also, 1938 Pickup truck beds changed completely once again, remaining the same for several years afterward.


Collecting 1937 Ford truck parts can be especially frustrating. Many of the sheet metal items are not reproduced. This is true of the grille and stainless steel trim pieces. It is not unusual for a cherry grille and stainless trim to bring over $1500 at swap meets. Decent grille shells are very hard to find. Most grille shells suffered some kind of fatal damage during the life of the vehicle. The lower portion of the grille was vulnerable to damage when the truck was driven on unimproved roads. This also resulted in the loss or damage of the lower stainless steel trim pieces, especially the piece that goes around the crank hole. None of these items are reproduced and the law of supply and demand has taken over, forcing the prices up.



The cabs were subject to rust and body-rot on the lower edges, most notably the area behind the seat and the forward portion of the rocker panels. Abandoned trucks, parked for years with no windows, collected water and moisture in the floor and other lower areas. The result is rust holes. There are patch panels available for some of these areas. The doors are the same as the 35-36 models. Fiberglass fenders are available as are fiberglass running boards. Reproduction beds can be obtained from an authorized Ford reproduction company in Missouri. The cab itself sits on oak blocks, located just inside the rocker panels. These items are also reproduced.

Many people wonder why these old trucks are usually found in rather poor condition. The fact is that they were purchased for work and spent the majority of their lives on unimproved, rough roads hauling anything from fertilizer to newspapers. There was no such thing as pickup truck being used for a recreational vehicle back in the ‘30’s. If you bought a truck, it was because you intended to use it for work. Many trucks, that survived over the years, received parts cannibalized from other trucks. Such is the example above, sporting the bed, doors and headlights from a '35-36 Ford truck. Note the shorter bed and old style tailgate hinge.

Identification numbers were stamped into the frame. The number assigned to the engine/transmission package was simply transferred to the topside of the left frame rail, near the steering box, as the vehicle moved down the assembly line. This same number was also applied to the top rail of the frame, at the hump over the rear axle. Since passenger cars and commercial cars came down the same production line, identification numbers were mixed together during the production run. This leaves no real way to tell the different types of vehicles apart by examining just the identification number. These serial number ultimately became the VIN, identifying the frame, and vehicle, as a 1930's vintage Ford.