Ford Pick-up Truck 1937 images

Ford reshaped its entire truck lineup for 1937, offering buyers a choice between an economical 136 cubic inch V8 and the more powerful 221 cubic inch flathead in the same rounded, streamlined body. It was not fast by modern standards, but the flathead-powered ’37 pickup became one of the most popular hot rod platforms of its era. These photos, courtesy of Gateway Classic Cars, show a well-preserved example of that transformation.

On the downside for 1937, the pick-up truck versions were far behind the rest of the line-up for up to date options, but on the up side all the pick-up models have a V8 engine, with the appropriate badging, This year offers a choice of the standard 136 cu in Flathead V8 for economy or its larger cousin, a 221 cubic inch Flathead for more power.

Our thanks to Gateway Classic Cars for the images displayed here

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A pickup truck built to save money still had to look like it belonged in 1937. Ford had just pulled off something unusual: two separate V8 engines sold side by side in the same truck, aimed at two very different buyers. The bigger visual change sat up front, where a completely reshaped grille replaced the sharp-cornered design from the year before. Decades later, these same budget-minded work trucks became some of the most sought-after platforms in hot rodding. What turned a low-cost farm truck into a build-sheet favorite?

Two V8s, One Truck

1937 marked the first year Ford offered a lower-cost 136 cubic inch V8 alongside the established 221 cubic inch flathead. The smaller engine made around 60 horsepower and was badged as the Model 74, while the larger 221 made about 85 horsepower under the Model 78 designation – giving buyers a genuine choice between economy and power in the same truck body.

From Farm Truck to Hot Rod Favorite

The 1937 restyle brought rounded, streamlined bodywork with a V-shaped front grille, replacing the pentagon-shaped grille that had followed the fender line on the 1936 truck. Period road tests put top speed around 60 mph – modest even by the standards of the day – but the flathead V8 platform proved so adaptable that the 1937-1940 Ford generation became, and remains, one of the most popular foundations for hot rodding. Well-restored survivors today can bring $20,000 to $50,000 or more at auction, a steep climb for a truck that started life as Ford’s cheapest way to move cargo.

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