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1936 Ford Model Y (My Dad’s new acquisition)

by Nige Warner

After my Dad retired he had quite often talked about getting a 'Classic Car' to enjoy throughout his retirement. This was 12 years ago and he was then thinking of getting an MGB. Quite often when I saw him the subject was bought up but nothing ever came of it probably due to their many trips abroad and a busy social schedule. Lately, however, he has been mentioning the subject of Classic Cars more often and has also been visiting more classic car shows, and even going to Classic Car Auctions. It did still come as a surprise though when he rang me up a month or so ago to tell me he had just bought a 1936 Ford Model Y from a local auction in Suffolk where my parents live.

Firstly I thought I’d give a bit of information about the Ford Model Y as both myself and quite a few people I have spoken to know very little about this very popular car of the 1930’s.

The car was designed in America and there are two basic models, the 8HP Model Y (1932 to 1937) and the 10HP Model C (1934 to 1937).

There were 2 and 4 door saloons plus a van. In 1933 they changed the styling. The panels that were changed included the radiator grille and mudguards. Before the restyle the cars are known as Shortrad's and the later one’s as Longrad's. On the early cars the Starting Handle hole is below the Radiator Grille, this where the name 'Short Rad' comes from. The later cars have the the Starting Handle hole within the Grille itself leading to the name 'Long Rad'.

In 1935 the price of the Two door was reduced to £100 so the upholstery was changed from Leather/Cloth to Rexine and the Model name Popular was created.

Back to my Dad's car, the car was totally restored a few years ago and then sold. The new owner didn’t use it much but had the engine reconditioned. When my Dad aquired it the new engine had only done about 30 miles. I got to see the car last week for the first time and the descriptions I had received of just how good a condition it was in were definitely not overrated. I would say that you could enter it in a concours competition and even if it didn’t win a prize it would be up in the top contenders.

I was also looking forward to being taken out for a ride in it so I was glad when my Dad took my wife Caroline, my mum and me out for a spin round the country lanes where they live. The engine fired first press of the starter even though it hadn’t been used for just over a week and it ran very smoothly. I was quite surprised how quiet the engine was for a side valve although there is quite a bit of exhaust noise in the car probably because it exits at the side of the car and not at the back.

The first thing I noticed was how high up you are compared to later cars. The inside is more spacious than I thought it would be. All in all it was a very comfortable and enjoyable ride although I was surprised that at 30mph you seem to be travelling faster than you actually are. The forward vision is very good but rear is not so good due to the small rear window. I should also imagine the vacuum wipers aren’t much fun in heavy rain, especially at night combined with the not very bright headlights.

When we got back I had a go at driving it round my parents field as I’m not insured in it. The first thing you notice is the floor mounted gear change has reverse where 1st normally is and 1st is where 2nd gear normally is so you have to be careful changing up from 1st to 2nd without catching reverse. The handbrake sticks up vertically out of the floor to the left of the gear lever. I found the steering seemed to wander quite a bit due to the steering box which reminded me of my first car, a 1964 Ford Anglia. I had also heard that the brakes, no hydraulics here, weren’t very good but I didn’t find them too bad unless you compare them to a modern servo assisted car.

My Dad is now talking about getting an Austin/Morris 1800, my mum’s not to keen though, so watch this space.

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