'33 vs '34 Fords

[scicala]

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

[35fordtn]

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

[rockfla]

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.

[34fordy]

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

[Karl Wescott]

Originally Posted by rockfla

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.

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!

[34fordy]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

It's a similar comparison to 35 and 36 pickups

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!

[deuce lover]

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.

[DavidG]

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.

[scicala]

Thanks to everyone for the detailed info.

Sal

[alchemy]

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.

[1935 Ford Pickup]

Not all 34 bodies have the crows foot stiffening rib in the rear wheel tub. My 34 5 window coupe I am working on has flat wheel tubs and it didn't have any metal work done to the body until I started fixing it. It was still in the original black paint and not a lot of rust.

My guess would be that this was similar to a 27-28 type of deal where early cars could have some holdover from the previous year. I would bet that my car was a very early 1934. If I didn't have pictures to prove this, nobody would believe that the sheetmetal wasn't replaced.

Originally Posted by alchemy

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.

[DavidG]

Karl,


So is David.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by scicala

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

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.

[Krylon32]

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.

[mercman from oz]

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

[rockfla]

NOTE the difference in window opening detail 33 to 34

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by rockfla

NOTE the difference in window opening detail 33 to 34

1933



1934

[itslow]

Originally Posted by Krylon32

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.

You aren't the only one.

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

[rockfla]

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

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by rockfla

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

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


1933



1934