(first posted 10/3/2017) I’m done with the French cars for a bit, so here are some of the CCs I found over the summer in weird and interesting places. First stop: the southern coast of Iceland, near the town of Selfoss. I did see a few noteworthy cars in Reykjavik too, but unfortunately my camera wasn’t as quick as they were. Never mind, let’s kick off with a lovely pair of pre-war Fords.
This 1930 Model A coupe was sitting in front of a restaurant, not far from a great geyser. Lovely little thing, this Model A – likely an older restoration, by the faded looks of the paint. Looked like it might still be in running order, though new tyres might be a good investment.
The Ford Model A, as most of you undoubtedly know, was the successor to the Model T and was made from late 1927 to 1932. It had a 3.3 litre 4-cyl. providing 40 hp, four-wheel brakes and a conventional 3-speed gearbox, so it’s less of a learning experience to drive than its illustrious predecessor. Ford made just under 5 million of these in a bewildering array of body styles.
This two-door coupe is one of the better ones, in my opinion. I like how the proportions give this little Ford a slightly aggressive air. Like donning a big overcoat and a cloth cap make one look a bit like a Chicago gangster of that era. But a more interesting Ford was just around the corner (well, a few miles away, in any case).
This superb 1936 Ford V8 was in a supermarket parking lot. It sure consoled me of the dire situation one faces in Icelandic supermarkets: not only is there nothing in there you’d want to buy, but it’s so expensive! Talk about 24-hour daylight robbery. Of course, once you realize a tomato is kind of like an exotic fruit to these folks…
But I digress…
Strangely, this ’36 Ford was right-hand drive. Perhaps it was imported from the UK, or maybe Sweden, but Icelandic traffic has never been on the left. In those days, Iceland was still an autonomous territory under the Danish crown, but Denmark’s always driven on the right too. Puzzling.
A venerable 3.6 litre flathead V8 probably still lives under the hood, proudly advertised throughout the car, hubcaps included of course. Brakes were still mechanical on these, as Henry Ford seemed allergic to hydraulic ones. Independent front suspension? What, why? Only good, solid beam axles will do for our Henry!
By 1936, the factory body variants had shrunk somewhat, but one could still order a good number of these cars in different flavours (not all of which can be seen above, of course). I’m rather partial to the phaeton, but I understand the Icelandic climate might not be the most drop-top-friendly in the world. Fordor sedan it is, then.
It’s a wonder how Ford managed to get away with equipping their cars with just one windshield wiper for as long as they did. It seems the second wiper only started appearing on some Deluxe models in 1936, and then across the range by 1938. Our CC is missing its lone wiper, but that’s beside the point. It’s always sunny in Iceland.
This post is naturally dedicated to famed Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson, whose artwork inspired the title. I was reminded of this great cartoon by CCommenter Maynard’s Dad when I did a post on Norwegian period photos a little while back. Norway’s not the only place one can find nice Fords, it seems.
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1929 Ford Model A – The Best Ford Ever – Maybe Even The Best Car Ever, by PN
Concours Classic: 1936 Ford DeLuxe Coupe – The Best Of The Classic Fords?, by PN
Car Lot Classic: 1936 Ford V8 DeLuxe – Imagine Yourself in This Car, by JP Cavanaugh
That ’36 is gorgeous, and it’s so nice to see one restored to original and not some damned resto-rod. General feeling is that it was the prettiest car of the decade, although I’ve always preferred the ’37 and ’34.
I’d have a hard time deciding between the ’34 and the ’36 in the “separate headlamps” category, myself. For the “integrated headlamps” category, I’d go for the ’39 Deluxe…
Wow, what great finds! Both of those cars are beautiful for their respective eras and I would have a hard time if someone offered me the choice of only one of them to take home with me.
My 29 Model A was a coupe like this with a restorer-added rumble seat (as most of them were, it seems). A growing family forced its sale and I would love another. But there is something to be said for being able to offer rides to more passengers (and keeping them all indoors). I think the 30 is the best looking of all of them. I prefer the gentler curve of the fenders on the 30-31 and the 30 avoids the extra large radiator of the 31 that never looked quite as nice to me. Subtle differences but after some exposure they are something you cannot un-see.
There seems to be an interest in US cars in Iceland. The dealership I worked at exported a couple interesting ones, a 64 Tbird roadster and a 301 turbo Trans am.
I’m sure, like in Scandinavia, they appreciate comfortable cars that start no matter how cold it gets outside. Plus, these folks have money.
In Reykjavik, where I was for 3-4 days, I saw a ’65 Ford sedan, a circa 1990 Cadillac Fleetwood, a ’78 and a ’62 Impala out and about. Plus a smattering of more modern American cars. Not many, but more than in your average European country (except Switzerland).
Up until the 50s, most cars in Iceland were sourced from the U.S., and there has always been a loyal crowd here buying anything American. The funny thing is, the big American barges co-existed with Trabants, Moskwitches, Volvos, Austins, Datsuns, and whatnot back in the 70s and 80s. And, like the Swedes, a lot of us these days buy classis cars from the US if we can afford to…
Love them both, but the ’36 is really something special. I fell for it when I first became aware of it as a kid. I had a real thing about ’30s cars back then, and the ’36 Ford and Zephyr were right at the top (along with the Tatra, of course).
Which is why I love the ’37. The Junior Zephyr.
Didn’t realize I was pining for the Fords today, thanks for that.
The 36 is just full of great little details. I love the way the bumper ends are rolled, that’s pretty unique.
Both are lovely, and they nicely illustrate Paul’s previous point about how quickly styling evolved in the ’30s.
There’s a great story about an infamous Ford Model A that was used by several old timers with the U.S. Geological Survey for years. Most notable was Levi Nobel, who drove the Ford all over the Mojave desert. I believe the actual car today resides at the USGS office in Reston, VA. Check out this publication, and skip to p. 21 for pictures and and details of the car!
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-422/OFR-02-422-508.pdf
CC Effect – I was passed numerous times on Saturday by two Model A’s, over a 30 mile stretch. I was on my bicycle. In California however, not Iceland. I’m honestly surprised how cheap Model A’s are here; there have been a couple on our local Craigslist recently that look nicely restored/maintained, for less than the typical 60’s/70’s GM A-body or tri5 Chevy, most of which are tasteless restomods, with more mod than resto.
And I actually saw a Model A in traffic this evening! The CC Effect is real.
“Strangely, this ’36 Ford was right-hand drive. Perhaps it was imported from the UK, or maybe Sweden, but Icelandic traffic has never been on the left.”
This is incorrect. Iceland used left hand traffic up until H-Dagurinn, on 26 May 1968. Though it was a part of Denmark for over 100 years, the situation for Icelandic Traffic under Danish Rule is most analogous to the U.S Virgin Islands, another former Danish Territory that still drives on the left despite being part of a RHT country.
Ah HA! Quick Google search, which I should have done when writing this post, says you’re right! Iceland was driving on the left until 1968. Well I’ll be damned.
So it’s the Model A that has the steering wheel on the wrong side. And so did a great many vehicles in Iceland at the time, as I will prove in an upcoming post. Perhaps the law didn’t require RHD back then.
In 1964 my parents bought a Volvo on European Delivery in the U.K. We then took the car on a ferry to Sweden. If I recall correctly (I was only 7) Sweden still drove on the left, like the U.K. but all cars, like ours, were left hand drive. I guess after 6 months in England my Mom (the driver in our family) was pretty comfortable with the situation. 20 years later, I took a rental Opel from Switzerland to England and spent a few weeks there; I did OK but certainly didn’t like it.
What a beauty ! .
As you mentioned, the brakes on these beautiful Fords flat sucked as did the transverse buggy springs .
I’d love me a ’36 Coupe with trunk but will never be able to afford one =8-( .
-Nate
In 1968 I spent a holiday in Iceland staying with Icelandic friends.
The country had changed from driving on the left to driving on the right six weeks earlier and occasionally you would encounter someone driving on the left who had forgotten about the change. Most cars had been left hand drive for some time despite driving on the left. All the buses had to be renewed as the doors were now on the wrong side.
Sweden changed sides in1967. Newfoundland and Labrador changed in 1947, the last to do so in Canada.
The cars came from all sorts of countries including communist ones. I had a run in a 407 Moskvitch, basic but sturdy transport. Friends of our friends arrived in their everyday car which was a 1949/50 Lincoln. Fords from the USA, Germany and Britain were common. Japanese cars had been imported for a few years with Toyota Corolla and Corona gaining sales fast.
Very interesting country.
I will gladly take a 1936 Fjord Fjordor. If I were a farmer, could I get a Fjordson there, too? Was Iceland a stop after Greenland for Fjord Tri-Motors?
I had to smile when I saw that lovely ’36. I got the colour almost right, but I’m sure a roadster would never do in Iceland.
Interesting about body styles in different countries: Australia was slower to adopt closed cars, with locally-bodied phaetons being available here until just before the war.
Really enjoy seeing your models.
Yes Australia didnt get two door sedans and coupes, but after a few visits to NZ some made their way there,
Model A Fords were still on sale new here in 34 Ford seriously overestimated how well they would sell right in the guts of a depression, still plenty left too, early V8s that were locally assembled are rare and always were, mid 30s Fords like that 36 are about in reasonable numbers, Two very nice examples