1934 Ford Specifications
by James Jordan
The final year of the Model B was 1934, but cars of this era quickly became known simply as V-8 Fords. A relatively light body powered by a strong V-8 engine made this car faster than most cars on the road. The 1934 Ford is a favorite among car collectors and people who enjoy restoring older cars. It was also in this era that Ford began producing different models during a single year--car buyers had 10 different types of 1934 Fords from which to choose.
V-8 Engine
Ford may have had more models and styles to choose from in 1934, but all of them had V-8 engines. The engine was introduced in 1932 when Ford found a way to mass produce them effectively. By 1934, kinks had been worked out and the engine remained in production for 20 years. The V-8 was a V-8 L Flathead with 221 cubic inches. The engine rated at 85 horsepower, which was an increase of 10 over the previous year, due to an improved carburetor. With the car weighing under a ton, the powerful engine made it very fast. The bore and stroke ratio was 3 1/16 and 3 3/4 inches. A standard compression ratio was 6.3-to-1.
Capacities and Dimensions
The V-8 engine featured a three-speed manual transmission in all models and two-wheel, rear-wheel drive. The car had a top speed of 65 mph. The average weight was 1,825 lbs. The 1934 Ford deluxe Fordor model was 147 inches long, with smaller models being slightly shorter. The car was 57 inches wide and 63 inches tall. The car had a 16-gallon gas tank, held 5 quarts of oil, 22 quarts of water for the coolant system, 2.5 pints of transmission fluid and 2.25 pints of differential fluid. Tires were 5.5-by-17 inches with steel spokes.
Packages
The 1934 Ford used one chassis, engine and drive train for all its cars. Still, it had 10 models from which to choose and quiet a few options. Differences between the vehicles related more to style. Ford offered a coupe with three or five windows, with the five-window version having extra space behind the front seat. Sedans included the Tudor and Fordor, which were the most common. The Victoria was the most luxurious and largest. The Roadster and Phaeton were sporty models. The station wagon was essentially a utility truck, and there was a truck available.
Each model had standard and deluxe versions. The standard package included an adjustable drivers' seat and sun visors, dome light, glove box and a choice of interior trim. The deluxe package had those items and cowl lights, dual horns, dual tail lamps, arm rests, cigar lighter and ashtray. The famed rumble seat was an optional extra. A greyhound hood ornament was also an option.
References
Writer Bio
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
