anyone remember the article in either Hot Rod or Car Craft in 60's ***les "Ugly Duckling"? It was a 1937 Ford coupe street rod. I fell in love with that car years ago. Can't remember year or month of magazine. I have since lost mine. Anyone got pics or a copy?
Yes, I remember that. I think the car showcased was metallic blue, was it not? Been a long time. I am sure I still have the magazine, I have thousands of them going back to 1961 but they are all put away high and dry. I still think the 37 is not as attractive as those before it, but not as ugly as a 38. But over the years, I have grown to appreciate them more. Not my favorite, but it looks better to me than it did when I was a kid.
I think the 'ugly' moniker it got was from the Club Coupe...that ugly short-back thing with the top that looked like a removable clam shell. It had a trunk lid that was short, too...kind of a near oval. The red one in post #1 has real pleasing lines, as did the flat back tudor sedan. (my Dad had one) The 4 door hump back sedan had a kind of Halloween Pumpkin look to it, but the convert with rumble seat was my favorite. A kid in high school bought one from a Harley Davidson team member, it sat in his Mom's garage until '82. Wish I'd known, some neighbor bought it for stupid chump change. What are the headlight bezels from on the blue Jacobson '37? They convert the old 'cat's eyes' to 7" sealed beams.
Never really understood the p***ion for the 32 body style. I’d take a 33-39 ford any day over a 32 coupe. 37’s for me fall into my fourth pick from the top. 33-34-39-37. And I own a 37.
I never thought they were ugly but that Club coupe, that's a different thing. If I remember correctly the 37 coupe was the first Ford without a fabric roof section and was very popular with the dirt track guys as many tracks required a full steel roof. Could explain why there aren't a lot left.
The name for the car should be the swan The article referenced it going from an ugly duckling to a swan This info came from a google search that brought up an old ford barn thread
Here is the ford barn thread. Might help your search https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=93830
I started reading Hot Rod at the age of 10 and began a life long obsession with old cars at the age of 13 when I helped my dad swap a V8, ****** and brakes from a wrecked '39 Ford coupe into a Model A sport coupe. Any thoughts, ideas or opinions have been developed over the years because of this exposure. That long introduction to get to this. I was told by my dad that not only looks but design added to the unpopularity of '37 to '39 Ford standards. The 3 piece hood design ****ed. You open the top panel for access but you still have the 2 hood sides to contend with. If you've ever owned one, you know the system. How much truth there is to that or just my dads opinion I don't know. Cars became popular thru the years for different reasons. Petejoe mentioned the '32. My opinion it wasn't the design it was the new V8 that made it the choice of hot rodders in the future. In the mid 50's, '57 in particular Ford outsold Chevrolet. Look at your next car show to see how many Fords are there? The small block was a performer and could be found in every high school parking lot 10 years later. Hot rodders seem to have a hand in saving a lot of old cars. How many prewar Fords do you see compared to other makes? Of course GM's use of wood framing for their body structure didn't help with longevity either. All automotive history, and it's all interesting. My first car was a '39 standard, still don't like them as much as the deluxe. As far as '37's I like them. Tried to trade a Jag suspended A for a '37 Tudor, but his wife nixed the deal. In my world of old cars there are no "Ugly Ducklings". Some are just "unique".
You are absolutely correct. They were not popular with the '30s/'40s go fast crowd not because of their looks but because of their wimpy drive train. They never became ugly until the originals were dead and gone and couldn't defend their reason for not liking the art deco Ford.
@Ryan ... these guys are talkin' sh*t about you. ha, get 'em ! Get them all !! https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...-us-a-history-lesson.81330/page-4#post-982860
My first car was a 1937 coupe 60hp flathead with dual exhaust sounded sweet Traded it off for a 36 5window. And In1977 it was considered by some as a ugly duckling, I never thought so
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