1932 Ford
| 1932 Ford Model B | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1932–1934 |
| Assembly | see list below |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size Ford |
| Body style | 2-door roadster 2-door coupe 2-door sedan 4-door sedan 2-door cabriolet 2-door phaeton Pickup |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related |
Ford Model Y Ford Köln Ford Rheinland GAZ-M1 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 201 cu in (3.3 L) L-head-4 I4 (Model B) 221 cu in (3.6 l) "Flathead" V8 (Models 18 and 40) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1932: 2,692 mm (106.0 in) 1933: 2,845 mm (112.0 in) 1934: 2,845 mm (112.0 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Model A |
| Successor | Ford Model 48 |
Ford produced three cars between 1932 and 1934: the Model B, Model 18 & Model 40. These succeeded the Model A. The Model B continued to offer Ford's proven four cylinder and was available from 1932 to 1934. The V8 (Model 18 in 1932, Model 40 in 1933 & 1934) was succeeded by the Model 48. It was the first Ford fitted with the flathead V‑8. In Europe, it was built slightly longer. The same bodies were available on both 4 cylinder Model Bs and V8 Model 18/40s. The company also replaced the Model AA truck with the Model BB, available with either the four- or eight-cylinder engine.
Rather than just a much updated version of the Model A, Ford launched a completely new model for 1932. The V-8 was marketed as the Model 18 in its initial year, and commonly simply called the Ford V‑8. It had the new flathead V‑8 engine. The Model 18 was the first low-priced, mass-marketed car to have a V8 engine, an important milestone in Automotive industry in the United States. The 221 cu in (3.6 l) V8 was rated at 65 hp (48 kW) when introduced, but power increased significantly with improvements to the carburetor and ignition in later years. This engine choice was more popular than the four-cylinder, which was essentially a variant of the Model A engine with improvements to balancing and lubrication.
Model B was derived with as few technical changes as possible to keep cost low. Other than the engine, and badging on headlamp support bar (later: grille) and hub caps, it was virtually indistinguishable from the V-8. Its intention was to be a price leader, and as it offered more than the popular Model A, this should have been a winning formula. In fact, the new and only slightly more expensive V-8 stole the show, and finally made it obsolete.
Although there is a certain optical relationship with the predecessor Model A, the car was new. While the Model A has a simple frame with two straight longitudinal members, the new car got a longer wheelbase, and an outward curved, double dropped chassis. In both models the fuel tank was relocated from the cowl as in Model A and late Model T, where its back had formed the dash, to the lower rear of the car, as is typical in modern cars; thus requiring Ford to include an engine-driven fuel pump rather than rely on gravity feed. While the V-8 was developed from scratch, the B just had an improved four-cylinder Model A engine of 201 cu in (3.29 L) displacement producing 50 horsepower (37 kW; 51 PS).
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Wikipedia