This rare 1936 Ford Phaeton (pronounced "fay-ton") is powered by the popular 221 cubic inch Ford flat-head V-8 engine that produces 85 horsepower. As the depression eased in 1936, Ford introduced this stunningly good-looking phaeton at the incredibly reasonable price of $590, even offering monthly payments of $25 at an interest rate of ½%. Of the 792,000 Fords made in 1936, only 5,555 were Phaetons. There are only several hundred left in the world today.

At one time, open touring cars dominated the world market. In 1915, about 85% of Model T's produced were open touring cars, partly because the closed cars of the day were more expensive and partly because open cars were versatile and could haul both possessions and people. As closed car prices came down, touring car popularity steadily declined and by 1927, the end of the Model T era, only 20% of Ford production was open touring cars. With the introduction of the very attractive Ford Model A in 1928, closed cars significantly outsold the once ubiquitous touring car. The open cars were renamed "Phaetons" borrowed from the ancient Greeks, but by 1932 when the Ford V-8 was introduced, less than 1% of Ford's production were phaetons.

As the depression eased in 1936, Ford's 1936 models are considered among the most attractive of the era, courtesy of a front-end restyle by Holden "Bob" Koto, of Briggs Manufacturing Company. Koto, whose career spanned nearly 40 years, later helped Dick Caleal model the 1949 Ford and worked for Raymond Loewy on the 1953 Studebaker. Although the car was in most respects a continuation of the best-selling 1935 models, a number of appearance changes made it seem almost completely new.

By 1936 Chevrolet had already begun to phase out open bodied cars in its top-of-the-line Master Deluxe Series, foreshadowing a move toward closed, all-steel bodywork. While Ford likewise was beginning to supplant its distinctive open body styles, Phaeton and Convertible Sedan variants were still available on the Standard and DeLuxe series, albeit in much smaller quantities. Even though phaetons were becoming increasingly appealing to the eye, they were cold and drafty in the winter and Ford ended production in 1938. Phaetons represent desirable collector cars today because of their low production numbers.

This car spent many years in a collection in SE Pennsylvania where it participated in dozens of local shows, winning numerous awards. The car was completely restored in the early 2000's. When the owner passed away, his estate sold it to Ralph Sanchez of Brooklyn, NY. It joined the Lillie Collection in April 2017.

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Awards

• 2022 Ledyard Rotary Car Show - Best in Show
• 2017 Rhinebeck Award - 2nd Place in Class

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