How many 1935 Ford Cabriolet were made?
The exact production figure for the 1935 Ford Cabriolet is not publicly published or widely verified. Public records and standard references generally do not break out Cabriolet units by body style for that year.
Context: In 1935 Ford released the Model 48 lineup, which included several body styles, among them the Cabriolet (a two-door convertible). While overall production numbers for the year exist in some catalogs, precise counts for the Cabriolet variant are not consistently documented in accessible sources. This article outlines what is known, where gaps exist, and how one might pursue a definitive tally if archival access is possible.
What the records show (and don’t)
Public production totals exist for the overall model year and the Model 48 lineup, but breakdowns by bodystyle were not consistently published in Ford's public communications. Enthusiast registries and vintage-car references sometimes offer estimates, but these vary by source and are not official counts.
To illustrate the landscape, here are the kinds of sources you would consult and what they typically provide:
- Ford historical archives and production records (restricted-access resources that may contain bodystyle counts for researchers).
- The Standard Catalog of American Cars (covers yearly totals by model and bodystyle when available, but many years lack a formal Cabriolet breakdown).
- Enthusiast registries and club publications (these can contain observer estimates or survivor-based tallies, not official numbers).
- Auction house catalogs and museum records (often discuss specific cars and provenance but rarely publish official production totals by bodystyle).
- Henry Ford Museum / Ford archives access (primary sources, if accessible, may include production orders or catalog sheets).
Conclusion: Given the lack of publicly verifiable data, the exact Cabriolet production count for 1935 remains uncertain. Researchers aiming for a precise figure should seek access to Ford’s archives or consult specialized registries that publish primary-source material.
Why this matters to collectors
Rarity can influence value and desirability among collectors and museums. Cabriolet models are generally less common than some other Ford bodystyles from the same year, which can affect market interest and pricing. However, without a confirmed production tally, assessments of rarity rely on survivor counts, provenance, and documented examples in trusted registries.
What you can do to pursue a precise figure
For researchers seeking a definitive number, consider these steps:
- Request access to Ford’s archival production records through official channels or accredited researchers.
- Consult established reference works that discuss Ford’s 1935 lineup and note whether they include body-style breakdowns.
- Engage with expert registries and clubs that track Cabriolet survivors and may maintain primary-source citations.
In the end, the best available public answer is that there is no widely accepted, published exact count for the 1935 Ford Cabriolet. Access to primary archives would be required for a definitive figure.
Summary: The precise number of 1935 Ford Cabriolet units produced is not publicly documented in a reliably verifiable way. While overall 1935 Model 48 production figures exist in some references, the Cabriolet-by-body-style breakdown is not consistently recorded. For an exact tally, researchers would need to consult Ford’s archival records or specialized registries with access to primary sources.
