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 1940 Deluxe coupe hot rod if you will, and in tasteful form. The design was so wildly popular among hot rodders, Ford actually sold the rights to the design in later years so they could be reproduced in fiberglass. This car is all metal, retains its beautiful bulbous design, running boards, and nice chrome abounding. Purchased by our consignor in 1958 and with the help of the Abington high school shop teacher made road worthy, this Deluxe has been driven, raced and enjoyed in many iterations before finally becoming the rod seen before you. Heat & AC, electronic fuel injection, and a 354ci Chrysler Hemi....a breath of fresh air here in our Hallowed Halls of Classic Auto Mall.

Exterior
All steel, bathed in very nice dark maroon metallic paint, adorned with near perfection chrome bumpers, and brite-work, we have a rolling work of Art Deco art. Very little was left unturned on this restoration, as lines are straight, gaps are really nice, and steel is straight. The original lines have been retained throughout the car and it looks just fab. The large teardrop shaped, visored sealed beam headlamp bezels flank a horizontal ribbed curved V grille and tall louvered hood center. A nice chromed spear works its way back on either side along the beltline of the slightly curved sides. At the gracefully curved rear of this car, we see 2 V shapes Sergeant Stripe like taillights almost getting lost in the deep field of dark maroon paint but managing to hold their own. Gleaming Cragar wheels are polished up and on all 4 corners.

Interior
A swing of the door, and we shake hands with custom leather stitched tuck and roll and smooth panels playing together to make up the door panels. Shiny door handles and window cranks are within this field of beige leather and not a mark on them. Slipping inside, late model wide tuck and roll stitched and heavily bolstered leather buckets are in the door panel beige. These chairs are nice and wide with neatly curved backs, so they offer up plenty of room. A wood rimmed banjo style steering wheel fronts the dash, which is now covered in body matching maroon metallic and highlighted in front of the driver by Classic Industries gauges, and LED indicator lights. In the center of the dash is a chrome speaker grille with the heat/AC control just below. Various toggles grace the dash and in front of the passenger is the factory clock mounted within the glovebox. Very nice brown carpeting floods the floor, and a long-armed shifter with a leather boot, and a black topper reaches for the driver's right hand. Wonderfully comfy and ergonomically laid out for the most discriminating hot rod driver! A shout out to the trunk which is also dressed up to the nines in brown carpeting and has the donut spare tire and battery within its confines.

Drivetrain
A flip of the bulbous louvered hood, and we are met with an equally massive 354ci V8 Chrysler Hemi power plant in chromed and polished splendor. Feeding this early Elephant is electronic fuel injection and on the back is a 700R4 4-speed automatic Toploader transmission. This pushes power rearward to a Positraction equipped Ford 9" rear axle. A consignor stated big block Chevrolet water pump on and all this bling is kept cool by an aluminum radiator.

Undercarriage
Very clean and totally restored, no rust here with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes providing the whoa factor. A newer Flowmaster dual exhaust system snakes its way rearward through the structurally sound framework, and very nice undercarriage of floor pans, toe kicks and rockers…all rust free. The suspension consists of an independent front suspension with coilovers and works with leaf springs in the rear to provide the ride.

Drive-Ability
She fires right up with a low rumble for an idle, and off to the test track where we made plenty of noise, experienced wonderful acceleration, smooth shifting transmission, and good solid handling. All functions were working fab at the time of my test drive, but we did note some slight binding of the power steering when turning.

Take the very popular for the time design, spice it up with dark maroon metallic paint job and pepper on some chrome on the exterior, stitch a bunch of beige leather to create a great comfy interior, updated gauges for the dash, and we have a real winner. And do not forget the fuel injected 354ci engine and modern-day heat and air conditioning. Add in a wonderful history from 64 years of ownership and we have a real winner in our Hallowed Halls!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.