The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Monday started off in Visalia, California
with my friend Jim who is helping his
long time Hot Rod buddy sell off his
collection of Ford & Chevy parts
along with a few cars ….

I was taking videos of what was to be sold.

I turned a corner in the last building …
and kinda fell in Love …. ❤️


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1642647347



Jim

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Always reminds me of the movie 'Scream'

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642652290
1934 Brewster Ford

The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

So I startled doing research … 📖

Brewster & Company began operations in 1810.
They survived for nearly 130 years.

They had their own ostentatious line of
automobiles between 1915 - 1925.

Rolls Royce Limited chose them to
provide their car bodies starting in 1914
and Brewster & Company became the
principal supplier of the RRL car bodies for
automobiles sold in The United States.

With their own automobile line languishing
Brewster came to an agreement in 1925
to sell their company & debt to Rolls-Royce of America.

Then came The Great Depression …

Following The Great Depression
Of August 1929 To March Of 1933
there was a pushback from the public
against the wealthy and their large luxurious cars.

So - in 1934 - a plan was developed to
boost sales by introducing a car line
based on The Brewster Name and
built on the 1934 Ford V-8 Roadter Chassis …. 💡


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1642655771



Jim

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

There was an article about a Brewster in California in Rod and Custom magazine back in the late sixties. I still have it.

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642661214

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642661218

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642661221

1934 Brewster Ford on display at the Hemmings Museum, in Bennington, Vermont.

The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

So on Tuesday I spent 9 hours on-site
while we cleared the way for The Brewster
to see the light of day after a 20 year slumber.

Further research revealed it is a known car
that first was researched just about 20
years ago when the current owner traded
a couple of hot rods for it …. 👍


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1642663726


These cars sold for around $3500.
About 150 Ford Chassis orders were made.
But that number had been debated.

Around 50 Survivors remain …. 🤔


Jim

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Edsel Ford had one for his use in NYC, the car is now at his estate in Michigan. Couple of different things about the Brewster, It is a 1934, but does not have the Brewster swoop nose grill, but a 1934 Ford grill. Second Edsel had the engine replaced in 1939 with a 1939 Mercury engine, there exist a letter from Edsel to the Ford dealership in NY instructing this change

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642714887

1934 Brewster Ford with a 1934 Ford Grille. Is this the car that alanwoodieman mentioned in the above post?

The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1642720381



Jim

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642723114

Here is a picture of a Brewster Ford with the 1935 Ford Grille, as mentioned by trulyvintage in the previous Post.

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Jim, great research and thanks for taking the time....which took you a while to dig into the background. Not sure if I like the original grill, or the one Edsel commissioned with the 1935 grill? Also wonder how the '34 grill would have looked in its place??

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Fascinating history. I was unaware of a Brewster. Regarding the grill I wonder if the designer(s) intentions were met. Much like the Edsel grille of the '50's other connotations have been imagined, not unlike the Dagmar bumper of Cadillac fame. Brings another level of imagination in post #2. Of the many things I appreciate about cars of the era is the design. Modern cars not so much. Just my opinion. That being said, in comparison I would take the original grille.

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

There was a guy in the fifties (Oliver Hines) who built a '33 coupe hot rod and used a Brewster grille.

EDIT : Found it.

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Not a great fan, a bit ugly really and it is trying hard to be something it is not...those front fenders look a bit like Marilyn Monroe's dress blowing up over the subway grating...just my opinion. The hotrod Tubman posts is a better job.

GB

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

tubman, thanks for posting that hot rod with Brewster grille. Never saw it before.
It's really unique in a pleasing way. Wonder where it is today. Hope it survived.

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

I'm sure it's till around. I found the picture in a recent Hemming's article.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/201...e-window-coupe.

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642734830

1933 Ford Coupe with Brewster Ford Grille - Built by Oliver Hines - photo from tubman

Re: The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1642739694
Brewster Ford Grille on 1933 Ford Coupe Hot Rod.

The 1934 Brewster - Built On A Ford Chassis - Marketed By Rolls Royce
 

Having spent a full day with The Brewster
I came to appreciate the subtle nuances
that were restrained luxury appointments.

Keep in mind - this was an attempt at
a Luxury Car right after The Great Depression
when the general population loathed The Wealthy.

Check Out Who Owned Brewsters:


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1642744585


Regarding The Styling:


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1642744587


Jim