1940 Ford Deluxe

1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe The clean styling of Ford's 1940 offerings was one factor that drove sales to more than five hundred thousand units, a jump of more than fifty percent over the previous year. Part of this popularity could no doubt have been attributed to Eugene Bob Gregorie's influence on the stylists who penned this design while he was chief of Ford's design department, a post that he held from 1935 to 1943. It was a freshening up of a styling concept first introduced in 1939 by the addition of a new front end design. Sealed beam headlights were offered for the first time by the automaker on the 1940 model. Aside from being a major safety improvement, their design contributed considerably to the new look. For consignment, a custom Ford business coupe. Slightly modded and upgraded, refreshed with new materials and designs, and a built flathead V8 to make it loud and proud. An all-steel car, all buttoned up and retaining all of its Art-Deco styling for the aero look. A phat fat Ford if you will. Exterior Bathed in Jade Green Metallic paint, we see straight slab steel panels, rounded front quarters, and a small running board connecting to a smaller rear fender. Rounded is the key word for the design of this car. From the front bumper to the rear bumper, we note nothing else but curvaceous curves. The backs of said bumpers have been darkened and now make an interesting reflection on the grille and front and rear fenders. It took me a while but 'tis the reflection of the back of the bumper in those grilles. A tall beaked hood floats above the vertical ribbed V curved grille, and dual side grilles flanking it. Headlights are embedded into the front fenders with large bezels that also house the high mounted signal markers. On the rear are shiny sergeant stripe bezels and lenses. A rounded trunk which is very spacious is very cleanly refinished with a rubber mat between the tail lighting. Rounded corner side windows and a rear oval window are noted to be cut onto the body and accentuate the rounded body lines. 14 and 15-inch Torque Thrust wheels with chipped black paint are on the front and rear respectively. These are wrapped by 205/70R14's in front, and larger N50-15's on back. Interior A swing of the large doors and we can shake hands with smooth black vinyl with a nice tuck and roll insert which is defined by white piping. Chrome actuators are on as well as rocker switches for the power windors. The sills are painted in gloss black. Looking towards the front seat, in low back split bench styling with smooth bolsters, tuck and roll inserts, and more white piping are all covered in black vinyl showing nicely. Black carpeting covers the floors neatly and in the center is an undulating piston topped shift lever. A white rimmed 3 spoke steering wheel is fronting a black painted dash with a ribbed brushed aluminum cluster holding white face VDO gauges. This all metal dash is sprinkled with knobs and pulls as well as auxiliary gauges hanging below and has an aftermarket AM/FM/Cassette player in front of the passenger seat. The back of the compartment is now seatless and just covered with black carpeting. A wrinkled black vinyl headliner is floating above. Drivetrain A lift of the big bulbous hood, and we have engine bling bling blinding us. It's now a stout 255ci flathead V8 courtesy of a 1953 Mercury. This has beautifully cast ribbed Offenhauser aluminum cylinder heads and an Edelbrock dual 2bbl intake manifold up top. Gray wiring snakes its way to each cylinder and we note a 12 volt conversion has been performed along with having a chrome alternator installed. On the back is a 3-speed manual transmission borrowed from a 1936 Lincoln Zephyr. A Ford 8-inch rear axle has been put on to handle the tire turning. Undercarriage All very clean and rust free with a solid drilled X frame supporting the car with ease. Floor pans and rockers are excellent as are toe kicks and inner fen