'33 vs '34 Fords
 

How can you tell the difference between a '33 and '34 Ford besides the grill, number of hood latches on each side, and carburetor (Detroit Lubricator vs Stromberg 48) ?

Sal

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Dash, bumper bolt location, curvature of the hood louvers, hubcaps, headliner sides, dash knobs, and the obvious ones you mentioned. Personally I feel like the 33's have a more attractive style the way the louvers, front of the door and the grille have more matching angles. The differences are subtle to those not in the hobby but to me they really stand out. It's a similar comparison to 35 and 36 pickups

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

1934 front doors have the EXTRA couple of inches on the rear of the window openings for the “roll rearward” vent window feature.

Micheal, I agree with you on the 33’s, the swoop of the grill, the curved grill louvers just a smoother better flow of the lines.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

My vote goes to the 34 as I like the hood and grille more. I would love to own either but find the swoop in the 33 grille a bit "snipey." Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. Now I must admit if I get the opportunity to own a 33 I will probably need to change my mind, which I gladly will ! LOL

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

When I bought my 36 pickup I thought the larger grille and especially being chromed made it look too big. I was thinking of installing a 35 grille but with the requirement to use the smaller 35 radiator I did not do it. Now the chrome grille has become a defining factor in my love for the 36. It seems to be what a lot of folks like also. It's very easy to become "kennel" blind."

Love the one you're with!

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

33 headlights have deeper or longer buckets than the 34.Now look inside and see the remarked difference in the instrument panels of the dashboards.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Add to those lists the front cross member, outside door handles on phaetons and roadsters, closed car door latches and locks, window channels and mechanisms, fenders, front fender brackets, and running boards on early '33s, fuel pump, engine splash pans, generators, air cleaners (V8s), bumper bolts (thread size and shaped of head), front fender aprons and front fenders on all '33s, radiator pans, and grille attachment brackets on radiator.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Thanks to everyone for the detailed info.

Sal

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

34’s are easy to tell even if you have an absolutely stripped down body with nothing bolted to it. There is a divot at the top edge of the firewall for the hood side to sit in. The rear wheelwells have a crows foot stiffening rib. And the lower hood latch fits in a hole with a flat top edge and the foot of the cowl.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

I have to disagree a bit, iirc the stamping for the window opening in the doors is the same 1933-34, with a web added 1934 for the "roll rearward" feature. This leaves the 1934 window and the garnish molding about an inch shorter than 1933.


Add to the list, hood latch mount on cowl has a distinctive different stamping, the wheelwells on coupes at some point gaining "chicken tracks", and the large number of variations of the inner fenders.


Many of the differences may be more on the order of "running changes" than definitive model year changes.


I await Davids edition of the 1933-34 book!

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Karl,


So is David.:)

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

I was about to say everyone forgot the carb, but there it was, in post #1.

Just about all first year models have issues to be resolved, and many are also the most beutiful. An exception to that is the '53 Ford over the '52, the style refined and perfect. The '49 and '50 definitely over the '51 stylewise, but again, the '49 had first year issues. The '33? Lots of improvements in the '34, but I'll vote for the '33 for style also.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

No skin in the game but I've always thought Ford took a step backwards with their exterior changes of the 34? I'm a deuce guy but the 33 Vicky lights my fire.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1746438105

Note differences in Cowls - 1933 (blue) & 1934 (green)

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

NOTE the difference in window opening detail 33 to 34

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

1933
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1746446370


1934
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...2&d=1746446370

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

You aren't the only one.

Ford especially took a step back with the back-end of the '34 Victoria.

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Not to mention the differences like dash's, dash ashtrays

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Dash ashtrays???...'33 & '34 - They look the same to me...


1933
https://www.supercars.net/blog/wp-co...04/1047770.jpg


1934
https://external-content.duckduckgo....db32eef41c06b1

Re: '33 vs '34 Fords
 

Nope, they attach differently AND the 33 has a spring loaded lid that pops open when you pull the ash tray out. Just learned about those this weekend. Here is a 33 ash tray