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Selling the Ford V-8
10 artifacts in this set
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The staff at The Henry Ford
Advertisement for the 1932 Ford V-8 Car, "Announcing the New Ford V-8 Cylinder"
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Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company revolutionized the automobile market again in 1932 with the introduction of the company's V-8 engine. By casting the engine's block as single piece, Ford kept manufacturing costs down and made the engine affordable to consumers. The venerable engine remained in production until 1953.
"The Only Car under $2395 with a V-8 Engine," Artwork for Ford Advertisement, 1933
Photographic print
Henry Ford's V-8 engine was compact and powerful. It was light enough and cheap enough to put into his inexpensive automobiles. The 1932 Ford with a V-8 engine cost between $460 and $600, depending on options. Its closest price competitor with a V-8 engine was the 1932 LaSalle, which cost about four times as much at $2395.
"Ford V-8 Engine Shows its Inner Workings," Ford Exposition, New York World's Fair, 1939
Photographic print
Henry Ford viewed national expositions as business opportunities and platforms for public education. During the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, Ford Motor Company spent more than $5 million to build and maintain an elaborate exposition space. Informative displays and manufacturing demonstrations inside Ford's massive fair building offered visitors an in-depth, entertaining, and educational look at industrial processes.
Ford V-8 Chassis on Exhibit, California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935
Photographic print
Through the 1930s, Ford Motor Company poured resources into exhibitions at regional and world's fairs. Henry Ford believed strongly in the educational value of such displays, and a corporate presence at the fairs benefitted public relations. Ford's popular exhibits and demonstrations -- pictured here in the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition Ford Building -- generated lots of publicity.
Ford V-8 Souvenir Medal from Century of Progress Exposition, 1934
Medal
Ford Motor Company produced this commemorative coin for the Ford Exposition at the Century of Progress 1934 Chicago World's Fair. This souvenir reminded visitors of their time at the fair. It also advertised Ford's newest innovation, the V-8 engine. Ford introduced the V-8, the first compact and powerful engine affordable to the general auto-buying public, in 1932.
Ford V-8 Souvenir Pocket Knife from Century of Progress Exposition, 1934
Pocket knife
Ford Motor Company produced this jackknife for the Ford Exposition at the Century of Progress 1934 Chicago World's Fair. This souvenir reminded the visitor of his time at the fair. It also advertised Ford's newest innovation, the V-8 engine. Ford introduced the V-8, the first compact and powerful engine affordable to the general auto buying public, in 1932.
V-8 Engine Exhibit, Ford Building, California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935
Photographic print
Through the 1930s, Ford Motor Company poured resources into exhibitions at regional and world's fairs. Henry Ford believed strongly in the educational value of such displays, and a corporate presence at the fairs benefitted public relations. Ford's popular exhibits and demonstrations -- pictured here in the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition Ford Building -- generated lots of publicity.
V-8 Engine Assembly Demonstration, Ford Building, California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935
Photographic print
Through the 1930s, Ford Motor Company poured resources into exhibitions at regional and world's fairs. Henry Ford believed strongly in the educational value of such displays, and a corporate presence at the fairs benefitted public relations. Ford's popular exhibits and demonstrations -- pictured here in the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition Ford Building -- generated lots of publicity.
"Take Your Choice- V-8" Ford Motor Company Advertising Proof, 1937
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Ford's affordable V-8 engine, introduced in 1932, proved so popular that the company stopped selling four-cylinder cars with the 1935 model year. For 1937, Ford introduced a smaller-displacement, 60-horsepower version of its V-8 for economy-minded customers. Ford didn't offer another four-cylinder engine in an American car until the Pinto debuted for 1971.
Advertisement for Ford V-8, "Fill the Tank Once and Drive All Day," 1937
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Ford's affordable V-8 engine, introduced in 1932, proved so popular that the company stopped selling four-cylinder cars with the 1935 model year. For 1937, Ford attracted economy-minded customers with a smaller 60-horsepower version of its V-8. The "60" engine had a displacement of 136 cubic inches, compared to the larger 85-horsepower V-8's 221 cubic inches.