The Ford Motor Company managed to remain steady during the post-Depression years of the 1930s. The pickup trucks that came out during those years proved to be more useful than ever.
One thing that helped them survived during those difficult years was its availability, providing people with automobiles at fair prices allowed most car owners to move more efficiently.
Surprisingly, these 1930s Ford Trucks have a higher price tag now in today's currency rates as compared to how much it costs in what used to be the currency rate before.
What You Need To Know About The 1930s Ford Pickups
The 1930s was a breakthrough for Ford trucks. People needed size and depth to carry around resources when the Great Depression hit.
Despite the crisis, the old Ford Trucks still had a sleek style. Ford still managed to offer a variety of better-performing vehicles at reasonable prices in order to help its own.
The Model A cars and the Model AA trucks were a fresh look in the 30s. It was a time where vehicles were starting to move away from the carriage-looking cars of yesteryear. It also widened Ford's appeal which set the bar for how polarizing the brand was to be.
Chief rival Chevrolet pushed Ford to step up after it's six-cylinder cars became advantageous over the four-cylinder Fords. That's when Henry Ford Fired back in a big way with the V8 engine.
These 1930s models came more than a decade before their more solid F-Series builds. Still, Ford was having its breakthroughs in its trucks from 1930-1939
A Lowdown On The 1930-1939 Ford Pickups
During the 1930s, Ford trucks relied on the human need to generate sales. It was used a lot for business and agriculture. It was the go-to vehicle to make dairy trucks, fire trucks, dump trucks, and war transports.
The original 1930 Ford pickup was one of the first to have a stainless-steel radiator and headlights. It was considered an upgrade to have such attached in older models back in the day.
Ford trucks in 1931 had an upgraded sleek style and trim. The brand was starting to gain more magnetism during this year as well. It wasn't until the following year that Ford made a huge stride.
The V8 engine came into play in 1932. The V8-powered Fords were its Model 18. It rivaled the then powerful V6 of the Chevys of that time.
The problem was this was in the midst of The Great Depression and not many wanted to buy the new V8 engine for their car. Ford was the only one to offer the bigger engines in trucks during that time which made buyers feel that an upgrade is worth it.
The improvements in style carried on in 1933 when Ford trucks started to go big for its 30th anniversary. It was the 1933 BB trucks that took the spotlight as they served as the carriers that would help the economy rise again.
Ford started to make the last of their four-cylinder models in 1934 before phasing it all out in 1935. The new Ford trucks soon got a much-needed facelift.
1935 all throughout 1936 were good years for Ford. Both the style and what was under the hood improved drastically. It looked more like a pickup truck now and rather a sturdy one. It had a larger cargo compartment and higher payload capacity.
Things became more efficient in 1937 as Ford trucks started to have more fuel economy. The problem was that the downsized V8 didn't offer as much power and it was soon dropped.
Ford also entered the transit-bus business in 1937 with the introduction of the forward-control chassis, which placed the engine off to one side so the driver could sit next to it rather than behind it. The company also began offering trucks in fancier Deluxe trim.
The 1938 Ford pickups were fitted in a new chassis. It also introduced the industry's first Cab-Over-Engine (COE) models. Some major changes happened the following year.
The 1939 Ford trucks wanted to close out the decade bug with a larger 239 cid V-8 engine capable of 95 horsepower. It was also the time that the mechanical brakes were replaced with modern hydraulic ones.
Since the Second World War was already beginning, Ford Motors was working on making their vehicles pass military-grade specifications.
How Much Does it Cost Today?
It isn't surprising that the 1930s Ford pickups are still more expensive than some later models. Its price depends on how it is restored.
If you are going to buy one which was restored to its stock, you'll be spending around $20,000 to $25,000 for one. That price can go up for around $10,000 to $15,000 more if you're getting a stock customized for industry use.
The hot rod projects are the most expensive. Such custom trucks can go from $50,000 to $100,000.
A combination of history and proven durability, as well as a customization-friendly, built makes the 1930s Ford pickups more expensive now than it ever was