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 more motorists. The venerable engine remained in production until 1953.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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'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.

Ford's affordable V-8 engine, introduced in 1932, proved so popular that the company stopped selling four-cylinder cars beginning 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 with the larger 85-horsepower V-8's 221 cubic inches.