1936 Ford Review: Here's Why Flathead V8 Fords Sold So Well During The Great Depression 

My Dad had a 1950 Ford with a flathead V-8 and when he sold it had 167,000 miles with no rebuild of the engine. It had pretty good power and also had overdrive. A great car.

My first car was a 1936 Ford sedan. We lived on a farm in Iowa and I bought it for $65 in 1962 when I was 14 years old. I drove to neighboring farms to work for them so I could buy things for my car. I wish I still had it. I loved your video!

My first car was the 1937 two-door fastback Ford I bought from my gather when I was 17. He'd taught me to drive but did not sell me the car until he was sure I knew everything he'd taught me about maintenance and repair. One of the first things he taught was NEVER to wrap your hand around the handle of the crank. By that, he meant keep your thumb out of the grip. The reason for that was, if the car backfired while you were cranking (not an unusual event), the back force of the crank would break your the thumb or maybe even your hand, wrapped over the crank. If you held it with an "open grip" the crank would merely throw your hand away from the crank.

In my opinion cars from the 1930s are some of the best ever built.

DIY serviceability needs to come back. Cars today are way too complicated.

I had a 1933 Plymouth rumble seat coupe. It also had access for installing a hand crank and it was a straight six cylinder. I did crank it many times just to demonstrate the technique. By the way, you only lift up on the crank … never turn it around all the way if you want to keep your arm in one piece. I now have a model T Ford that I drive around 100 miles a week as my daily driver.

I love the old gauge clusters and dashboards from the 30s and 40s cars. Less is more. These cars were true works of art, the likes of which will never again be mass produced.

The primary use of that rope on the back of the front seat was to hang a lap planket on for warmth in winter.

That rope-like "handle" in the back seat was for a lap robe that was needed in the winter since those cars didn't have a heater. Even after the introduction of very good heaters cars continued to have the lap robe hanger through the 1950's.

My first car. 36 Ford 2 door humpback. This was 1948, I was 12 and payed $50..00 for it. Drove it around the neighborhood all summer without a license or registration. When school started Mum said either the car goes or I go. Sold it for $100.00. I learned to drive with that car and had so much fun.

My first car was a flathead. It was a '49 Mercury 4 door (not a Fordor) manual that I made a lead sled custom with the usual suspension mods to eliminate the rock and roll (pitch and sideways lean). The engine was also used in the Ford trucks of the era. The transmissions were geared slightly lower to handle the extra torque for the loads up to 3 tons. I drove one slightly newer (1941) with the same engine and transmission (crash gearbox) for Hoods Ice Cream both wholesale delivery and later for Good Humor. Being able to drive a crash box was a skill in demand for an employer with old equipment. By the way, Henry Ford sold these trucks and cars to Nazi Germany during the 30's until Hitler declared war on the U.S.. When you see the Ford trucks with German markings in old WW2 movies thinking they are Hollywood movies, they aren't faking it. Those are really German army trucks.

If I remember you could get a 2 speed "Columbia" rear end (deferential) in them, which gave you more power for take off and greatly helped when off road. Kids always looked for a Columbia rear end to put in their cars for drag racing. Up until 1950 the United States had only a few roads good enough to go over 55 on. Our freeway system didn't get started until the 1950s. Before a paved two lane road was the best. We wouldn't of ever had a freeway system if we hadn't of gotten into world war 2. People agreed to pay the huge tax increase that our National Highway System cost because they were afraid of having another war and us not having the ability to respond in force. In the 1950s my take home pay from work was only 57% after deductions. Now our billionaires refuse to pay 10%.

Glad there’s not much traffic. I learned “Hand Signals”, but I wonder how many others on the road , actually do. Beautiful car. 📻🙂

Back in 1961, in Australia, I'd just got my driver's licence, and I and five other mates, drove this same model Ford to Brisbane Queensland and back. Never missed a beat, good petrol mileage at around 25 mpg, (4.5 litres = 1 gallon). One of the mates had bought it off a mechanic for the princely sum of 20 Quid. That's Pounds in old money. No indicators for turning back then, so it was down to hand signals with a left turn shown as the right arm extended out the window and with the index finger extended, you made a back and forth repeated motion up over the roof to alert following traffic. I feel blessed to have lived so long and experienced the evolution of the motor vehicle in all it's variants. Thank you sincerely Elliot, for bringing back fond memories of my youth. Cheers everyone and drive safe...

I am old enough that I learned to drive in cars a bit newer then that but I remember them well. Learning to drive pick-up trucks and 1/-1/2 ton trucks on the farm before I could drive on the road. The steering was not bad as long as the car was moving! Also, all the windows opening, on really hot and humid days, the open windows just let in more hot air! The windshield window opening was good on cooler days but on hot days, the heat from the engine would come in through the open windshield! These older cars had a choke and a throttle knob that on cold days, your would pull the throttle out about half way and the choke about half a inch to start the engine. As the engine warmed, one would push in the choke and the throttle! And oh yes, when the lights were on, on had to keep the engine revved up to power the light. I never had any problem with the brakes! I drove with the shifter on the column and on the floor and never had any problem with shifting! It doesn't take long to learn to shift without racking the gears! Oh yes, they had frames, so when you needed to change a tire, you could put the jack most anywhere on the farm and jack it up, unlike today with the rails, jack pints, get crushed when you take the car to repair a tire! I really miss the cars with real frames! Uni-body sucks!

Learn to double clutch down in to first as well as you do up in to second. It will be quiet, and last much longer. Your doing great, thanks for the video.

That "backseat handle" is actually where you would hang the lap blanket that kept you warm in the backseat on cold days.

It's a single two barrel carburetor and Ford used the flat head thru 1953 in the states and until 1954 in Canada. It interesting that France used the flathead until the 90's in a military vehicle.

If the auto industry still made cars like that we'd all be slot better off.

Not many of us young whippersnappers that can drive a non-synchro tranny! I had one on my 1965 Land Rover and that shift crunch sound brought back some fond memories! Great video.

The last western bock cars that could be hand cranked that I can recall include the Citroen GS and the Renault 5. Some eastern bloc cars had hand cranks well into the 1990s. Back in the 30s if you flooded the engine you had to hand crank it 3-5 revs with wide open throttle to clear the cylinders. Those old 6 volt batteries could not spin even a low compression V8 after 10 minutes. Remember the " Ford Fracture " ? That results from a backfire. Do not try starting by pushing the crank down. Prime the engine with ignition off, and full choke. Crank it until you feel the compression build up . Then connect the ignition, retard it, and rotate the engine so that it has compression at 5 o clock then pull. OK, you have done it 50 times and it still won't start. Imagine if you stall out when going through a busy intersection and the battery does not have enough power to restart the engine by hand cranking and the traffic keeps piling up because the bitch won't start. What a relief when it finally kicks over and you have to hurry to get the throttle, mixture and ignition settings right so that you don't have to do the job again. Then just when you think that it is running properly it conks out and won't start. You might even have to remove the spark plugs to properly clear the cylinders before trying again. You check your throttle, mixture and ignition settings, then try again. And still the bitch won't start. That is when you get pissed off and crank like crazy. Sometimes it works but a backfire can break your wrist.

The "handle" on the back of the front seat is a cord to drape blankets. The blankets came in handy on cold days.

I started out in my Dad’s 1952 Willys Overland 4x4 pick up with 67 horsepower at age 13 on the farm. At age 17 I traded a hound dog for a TV and the TV was traded to my old friend, a WWI veteran of the German trenches, for his needy 1955 Chevrolet 265 V-8 four door. I rebuilt the engine and the Power-Glide transmission, tires, brakes and a couple of ball joints. Two Cherry Bombs and new exhaust made it a great, reliable, beautiful first car. There were many Happy Trails.

That's an incredible car that you and your dad have, Elliott! Your quality videos are really amazing!

Beautiful machine!! I glad yall kept it all original. Enjoy the cruising!

Well done! I fixed up a '35 dodge flathead 6 in high school, but it was only 35 years old then. Very similar but only 60 hp. without the V8.

I have a 1936 Ford Deluxe Sedan like that. My grandfather built it ground up in 1978-1982. It was his pride and joy. He then sold it back in 1990, a few years before I was born. I had been looking for the car for years and I finally located it down in Florida. It is in nice shape, much like yours, however it has no spark and has been sitting for 3 years. It also has an epoxy patch on the side of the head or block and it lost coolant on that side of the engine, could be head gasket or a repaired head or block that finally failed. Looking for someone that could help me get it back up and running again and I'd love to drive it a good bit, maybe even cross country someday. I'm on the East Coast.

Something beautiful about simplicity and reliability. Something that has faded away in these times. Then again, people are starting to discover why stuff like this, are great. Kitchen aid mixers are a premium item than haven’t really changed, good example.

By Depression Era standards that's one heck of a 'Cadillac' of a Ford. Touring Deluxe Fordor Sedan with chrome trim rings, chrome garnish moldings, two tone paint (was the white sport stripe a factory or dealer offering?), white wall tires etc probably wasnt afforded by too many people. It's really really nice, great to see it being driven.

Nice car and interesting overview. Good job. As an owner of a late 20’s car, I did wince when I saw the hood open and resting paint on paint! I always keep a small piece of cloth for protecting the paint when I need to open the hood.

The Flathead V-8 was so popular with hotrodders that overhead valve conversion heads were sold for them.

I had a 38 Ford Pickup, as a teen in the 1970s. I pine over having another one.

I imagine it had to be a moral struggle for engineers sometime around the 70s I suspect. This car was built when the criteria for a good engineer was one that found simple and cost effective solutions to make the absolute most durable product possible. As with business in general these days they had to make a bad transition. Ford especially purposely designs flaws into their vehicles that help support their dealerships. Buy any Ford Manual and most pages pertaining to the common problems will say that due to the special tools required and complexity of this component you should take it to a dealer for repairs. I think Chevy and most other manufacturers find a good balance of making a reliable product that can and will make you pay if neglected or abused.we now live in a time where instead of starting a company because you believe in a product and want to help progress society many start a company with intentions of drawing all the bank and investors money possible with the end goal of cashing out and running it in the ground. Feeling smart because you can fool someone is basically describing what most colleges teach these days. Times I suspect will come back around soon to like when these cars were built. People are learning that what the polaticians and thier news are telling you is the exact opposite of reality and building for profit alone won't cut it much longer.

Great video. The flathead V8 sound always makes me smile. The sound of the starter makes me grin ear to ear.

The sweet sound of a classic V8. That shifting reminds me of some old schoolbuses.

Great video! My wife and I have a 36 ford 5 window couple. We love it

There are '36 Fords and '36 Fords - in the late '50s/early '60s, our family's daily driver was a '36 Ford Sedan Deluxe - Twin tail lights, two honds, and Aluminum Heads, giving about 100 HP, and capable of 100 MPH in a suitable location (Like Bonneville). It did quite well on New Hampshire's curvy hills and snow - although when we were restoring the Old Beast we discovered that 21 steel studs though Aluminum heads leads to college textbook levels of Galvanic Corrosion. ('36 Ford heads are hard to find - '36s and '39s had unique heads, with a water pump in the front of each) As far as I know it's still driving, having changed hands a couple of times after us.

Learn the art of double clutching if you want to downshift to first without grinding. Based on your shifting to second and third, I believe both those gears were synchronized. Transmissions were pretty much that way until the mid-1960's.

Love it, LOVE IT!! Awesome example and professional video. You da man!

I'm from the era, the strap going across the back seat was to hold a beach towel or a blanket for the rear passengers to put over their legs to keep them warm.

We drove a 1948 Ford Pickup on my families sheep and cattle ranch. It was a handful to drive. It also had a flathead V-8.

Thanks Elliott, nice video and that was a fun ride-along too. I've recently discovered you and I've found your videos to be interesting and well done. I subscribed during this video. I never realized that the trunk was designed like a well. I think that's unique to the sedan as the coupes had a more accessible truck with a bigger lid. Ford was still offering a rumble seat in '36 too. These had 85 HP or the optional 100 HP engine, and though 85 or 100 HP with a single barrel carb seems lame now a days, these cars had torque, and torque was everything back then. Understand that this was back in the day when a lot of cars couldn't climb hills very well and would slow way down, and a steep hill generally require having to downshift a couple of times and still make for a slow climb. But not so with the Ford V-8's as they'd climb hills effortlessly by comparison. The 2nd and 3rd gears are synchromesh. But you can't speed shift like in a modern car, the synchro's need a moment to do their thing. Does anybody know if the dashboard color is indicative of the original body paint?

Great video! Typically I'm not as interested in older cars but your delivery, humor and good nature really kept my interest about this classic Ford. Keep it up!

I am so impressed with you and your passion for these older cars! You are so interesting and informative. I am so thankful for a man as young as you with the interest in and care for these old cars. Keep her with the flathead too many of these been butchered and made into hot rods. Yours is soo cool as it is!

I have never seen a car that color. Nice car. Thanks for posting. Oh my goodness, I forgot all about turn signals.

I own a 1939 LaSalle, and it holds a lot of similarities to this Ford, except it's a bit bigger in every way. 125 horsepower from a V8, three-on-a-tree that can get you to approximately the same speeds and legroom for days. It shifts so smooth and any rpm has a boatload of torque. Quite an amazing car, like your own Ford.

Great video for a great automobile. I have a '28 Model A. You've convinced me the '36 is my next acquisiton.

The flathead V8 powered a 1942 WW2 Bren gun carrier a friend and I purchased surplus Pacific war here in New Zealand in the late 60's , eventually it replaced the worn engine in our 1940 Ford pickup, and they were supplied right hand drive over here. These engines were prone to overheating even with a good radiator on the high range roads, in summer heat, where as our 1951 Chevrolet master 216 cu stove pipe ohv 6 cylinder ran cooler on the same roads. We always replaced the generator with an alternator and 12 volt battery, and 12 volt bulbs etc, the starters turned real well on 12 volts and seem to last OK., but the flat head always sounded better. Great memory's, still driving a classic Australian built 1973 Ford F250 hi boy with 351 Cleveland for power plant.

that sound of an original old V8 is just like a dream. so amazing! wish I can buy such a car to enjoy it's engine sound while driving.

My old '37 would start in the coldest wet weather but within a very few years turned into a total rust bucket and the awful mechanical brakes worked on one or two wheels (or maybe three) whenever it felt like it. The mileage never exceeded 15 miles per gallon but it was the hot rod of its day and I loved to go 85 in second gear and really rev that engine--the only way to get some decent torque! The brakes made it a a life or wreck decision every time it was driven andI had some hair raising close calls!!! I put a South Wind gas heater to overcome the freezing cold air coming in through rusted holes in the floor boards and around the sagging doors That heater sucked gasoline out of the carburator and burned it from a small furnace hanging under the dash. When the rubber floor mat started to smoke, it was time to turn it off (off and on were the only settings). A spare fuel pump was a necessary to prevent being stranded somewhere. I loved that old flivver!

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

My earliest memory is riding in Dad’s 35 coupe so I appreciate seeing an original unmolested example. That flathead V-8 was the main selling point for the 36 Ford. The other amenities like mohair, built in trunks, cowl vents and roller blinds were the industry standard of the era. Thanks for sharing!

Ford sold some 978,000 Model 68's in 1936. An impressive number even today; amazing for the time.

I enjoyed the ride and such eloquent description ❤

Love that paint job. I also enjoy your videos. You seem totally at ease and the kind of guy that makes people feel comfortable. I like Tyler Hoover's videos, but he makes me nervous watching all the hysteria.

Offenhauser, Edelbrock, and Stromberg had intake manifolds allowing for dual or even triple carburetors at the time.

You sound like a fan. That is appreciated too. Thanks for a quality video!

A really beautiful Depression Era Ford. Impressive to see one that still has the original interior.

That's a beautiful car. My grandfather bought a car like that in the 40s and sold it in the 50s, he regretted that for the rest of his life.

Hi Elliot 👋 thank you for sharing this beautiful car. I love it! Very interesting about the trunk. I’ve never heard the term “Dropping it in the well” 👍

A very small V/8 is my very favorite kind of engine ! I love pickup trucks , panel wagons , station wagons , hardtops and roadsters with a rumble 💺 seat the most with the original antique engines ! Some people would take these vehicles , cut the top of the roof , put in the very loud engine , very loud muffler , drag race them and make RAT RODS out of them . To me , that ruins the value of the vehicle .😡. There are still some people who would still buy vehicles just like that ! I would keep its original antique look but add the very best of the old along with the very best of the new !! Some people say that V/8 engines will be.extinct . I hate that very much !!

great video - i thought i would just watch a minute or two cause i get bored easily, but i ended up watching the whole thing if you can keep MY attention, then you're doing something right

Clyde Barrow (Bonnie and Clyde) sent a letter to Henry Ford commending him on such a great job on the Ford V8. Clyde said "I drive a Ford V8 every time I can get my hands on one" hahaha- Great Video!

I owned a 1936 4dr with a slant back and the tire in the back . Very nice car

My first car was a 1936 2 door Ford sedan in New Zealand when I was 18 years old. The passengers seat fell apart so I replaced it with an old kapok single mattress folded up. If I got lucky at a party I rolled out the mattress and as there was so room between the back seat and the dash it worked great. I loved it and it is the only V8 I've ever owned.

Love the old Fords! So how about a video on the Model A you have hidden under the cover in the back there?

Awesome video thanks for sharing this with us I love the older cars thay were so unique and I could never get my hands on one so I collected newer ones but for being 85 years old it's butiful and I'm so glad someone saved one for me too deruel over thanks for sharing this with us really sweet

Our neighbour had a car like this during the war. It was a black Tudor with cream colored wire wheels. It was always polished, spotless & was the best looking car in the district. Remember no new cars were available during the war.

Outstanding Sir✊

I recall driving one of these. You had to be careful braking as it did not have hydraulic brakes. I think of this car everytime I see a Navistar truck that has the same style front end.

The engine was accessible but those fenders made any work a back breaking job at ground level. We used to jack them up so we could rest our elbows on the fenders even for a carb replacement or plug change.

Beautiful car! To think you could get 4 of these for the price of a contempoary model Y. The 36 Ford is a much more technicaly advanced product for it's time, used more raw materials and employed far more labor. What value for money!! Great video

I had a 38 ford PU truck, back in the early70s. Drove it through high school. Still pine over not having it.

What a beautiful engine sound!

My '36 went 60 in second gear, you can run wide open all day long in this V8, cannot hurt it. My brakes worked great, the '36 had full syncro' mesh 2nd & Hi (if not ruined) Mohair was only in DeLux cars, bedford cord in others. Chrome windshield frame and grille denote the DeLux car.

I never had any problems with manual steering and the large steering wheel made it easier, unless I was trying to turn the wheel when stopped. Then it's a bit tougher, but not bad with that big steering wheel. Never had mechanical brakes but did have manual hydraulic brakes with 4 drums for years and always managed to stop just fine. Another perk to driving those older vehicles is you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel and don't have time to get distracted by technology :) I've never yet had a vehicle with a short throw for the gearshift, lol. Had old trucks and they all shifted like our old 59 ford bus we converted into a camper...even my old '78 jeep cj-5 had a long throw. I thought I had a short throw with my current truck, a '98 ranger, but I've seen videos of people complaining about its "long throw" as well, LOL! Guess I'll never have a short throw, or if I ever think I do again I'm sure someone will come along and complain about how long it is.

I learned to drive in a Welsh field on a car with no battery but had a hand crank for starting (A Standard Motors Ten). Encouraged me to learn to not stall it rather quickly!

I would love a flathead. Worked and running triples, etc, they sound GREAT.

Great video. Awesome car.

Great presentation. I really enjoyed it.

Love the shirt! What a great example! Who's car is this? Loved the video start to finish, solid review and history lesson!

A very interesting video. What a great old car too. I find myself wondering if I would be able to drive such a vehicle. My dad (born in 1926) took his test on a 1937 Austin 10. He taught me the hand signals and how to double de clutch. Now I drive a modern SUV with all the bells and whistles and feel I wouldn’t be able to handle manual everything! 😂

Any car just about that was built back in those days are better than what we have nowadays.

Nice! I can't stand the dashboard but your coverage of the car is very thorough. It also puts things into perspective

I was just a kid in the 1950's, but many of these cars were still on the road! And even in the 1960's, I got to drive some of these grand of Classics from the 30's and 40's!

150 lb-ft torque makes the 85 hp feel strong enough for low speed driving. Enjoyed the video.

Nice car, nice video, brought back a nice memory - riding with my Grammy - not the music award, ( I STILL haven't been given one of those!), - my Grandmother, in their 34 Ford with the windshield open. And a not quite so nice one of my Dad rolling down the window for hand signals, in the w-w-winter, in our 40 Pontiac. Brrr!

I am a simple man. I see an excellent video, I subscribe

Helped my best friend restore a 36 coup. Many hours of fun! Adjusted the brakes often! We offered the Homecoming Queen a ride home from school. She agreed, but was let down it wasn't my GTO! Her mother came out of her house and said, " Wow, a 36 coup!". My other buddy thought she was hotter than her daughter. Fun times!

My father had a similar type when I was a kid, however ours had a "dicky boot" (British) - rumble seat in the back. I am sure it was a '36 as well. Regards from South Africa

My grandfather told me, they were easy to hot rod, reliable and the preferred gangster ride.

Recently found one of these Fords -- the only thing left was the skeleton lying on its side and rusting to the ground. It had been left behind during the creation of the Great Smokys Mtn National Park on the NC Side (Hazel Creek - Town of Proctor).

I really enjoyed your video!

My folks brought me to California from Texas in a 35. Almost identical. Remember the throttle cable served in place of a cruise control on the highway.

great car, great video. great delivery, humorous, knowledgeable. What a good looking car, i can see why people would hot rod these, those hood wings are just begging to be thrown away!

Very cool video!!!

I had a 48 flat head. Loved that motor. Nothing sounds as good as those flat heads.

Hi Elliott, loved this 1936 Ford video. I kept hearing references to Kansas, which is great because I live in Kansas and there is hope of find such a great old car! Those old cars need a double-clutch technique to shift. I forget what year Ford did have synchros in their transmissions, but they too where not constant mesh, so you had to wait a few seconds the the next gear to sync. Sort of a pause in the shift. I can see me driving that car down my local farm roads...proper Kansas driving and scenery...lol. Thanks for sharing.

These were _the_ budget priced used car of the 1950s here in Australia...along with Plymouths of the same era (my grandad was even more budget minded...his first car was a 1926 Dodge Phaeton that he bought with savings in 1950.)

A fellow Kansan, and only 40 miles away. Very cool, beautiful car.