1937 Ford Pickup

Description

Anyone that's been around these cars will tell you there is truly something special about owning a well-built street rod that can comfortably carry you across the country if the need arises. This 1937 Ford pickup is just that – a completely functional vehicle wrapped up in an awesome shell. With a strong reliable small block, automatic transmission, air ride and air conditioning, this pickup was built with driver in mind – right down to the cup holders. Tired of impractical rods? Take a closer look as this Ford!

The main attraction on this '37 is the awesome Downs Industries fiberglass body that takes those classic Ford lines in a whole new direction. The most notable change is the chopped top which sits roughly three inches lower than the stock roofline. Shaved doors are part of the package as is the aggressively raked front end that modernizes the original design drastically. A set of full fenders finishes off the body and helps the truck retain some of its original look. Given the panel fitment and arrow straight panels found across this Ford, it's safe to say the builder invested countless hours in making that Downs body even better. A glossy coat of bright red paint covers the body and shows well from all angles. A thin black stripe begins at the front end and dips down at the front of each door, unfolding into a green and blue accent stripe that adds some much needed contrast to the bright red body.

Accenting the professional paintwork is a host of interesting details carefully concealed as to not destroy the vehicles clean lines. At the front, the grille has been painted body color, setting it apart from the countless polished-grilled street rods. The halogen headlights fit nicely into the fenders and complement the bumper-less look nicely. Above, the hood tilts forward and remains in place thanks to a nice set of polished hinges that look great against the chrome bay. At the sides, hinged mirrors hang on doors that open the correct direction when the remote controlled poppers are triggered. There is an impressively small gap between the bed and cab and the bed itself features a steel roll pan with flush-mounted LED strips that look great on the smoothed back end. All glass is showroom nice and the split rear window is a great touch by Downs. The overall look is clean, show-worthy and more than capable of turning heads without resorting to over-the-top graphics or any other modern hot-rodding faux pas.

Under the forward tilting hood, a reliable GM 350 small block provides plenty of motivation for this pickup. The block has been painted black and dressed with a long list of chrome and polished pieces. Up top, a polished Hilborn-style single carb scoop feeds air into a Holley four-barrel carburetor. Below, a polished Edelbrock intake appropriates fuel to the cast iron heads which have been dressed with finned chrome valve covers. At the front, the pulley system keeps busy turning a polished alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump and a fan. There's also a custom aluminum radiator with a trick overflow tank that fills the pointed nose nicely. The mill is ignited by a Mallory ignition system that sends spark through Taylor wires. The great exhaust note comes courtesy of a set of block-hugging Sanderson cast iron manifolds that breathe into a true dual exhaust with glasspack-style mufflers. The 350 starts immediately, idles well and stays cool in traffic, making this '37 a more practical cruiser than you might expect.

Look underneath this fiberglass Ford and you'll find a clean Downs Industries chassis connecting that slick body to the road. In the middle, a GM 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission handles gear selection before channeling those ponies down a custom driveshaft into an unbreakable Ford 9-inch differential packed with highway-friendly 3.00 gears. Around the drivetrain, a familiar suspension consisting of a Mustang II front clip and triangulated four-link out back, absorb the bumps for you. Adding to both the comfortable ride and ground-scraping stance is an EasyStreet air ride system which utilizes a five gallon tank, 450C compressor and analog air management. The system lifts quickly, dumps slowly and remains leak free. When it comes time to carve corners, both the rack and pinion power steering setup and power brakes with front disc and rear drums make the process simple. At the corners, a staggered set of Billet Specialties wheels in sizes 16"x7" and 17"x8"add some vintage cool and fit the overall theme perfectly.

Between the doors, a fully custom interior provides tons of modern comfort to this pickup. At the ground level, stainless rocker trims hides the edges of fresh black carpet that is well-protected thanks to custom black floor mats. Above the carpet, two power bucket seats are wrapped in black and red leather for a look typically found in modern sports cars. The custom dash features the same bright red paint as the exterior, while housing a set of attractive white-face VDO gauges that keep tabs on speed, revs, temperature, oil pressure, fuel and water temperature. In front of the passenger, a billet plate holds controls for the Vintage Air air conditioning system which blows cool air through one of two vents at either side of the dash. Made for extended drives, entertainment is handled by a Blaupunkt head unit that sends signals to speakers throughout the cabin. A chrome tilt steering column connects the driver to the road thanks to a Billet Specialties steering wheel that complements the wheels nicely. Behind the cabin, a fully carpet bed is hidden under and electrically operated tonneau cover. That's also where you'll find the battery, six-disc CD changer and the tank and compressor for the air ride system.

Clearly built to be functional, the list of pros on this car is lengthy. Rarely do we see wild looking customs come through that offer such a great driving experience. If you're ready to cruise in both comfort and style, don't hesitate. This 1937 Ford is ready to fill that empty space in your garage.