Glad to see you got the car Ron. You definitely made a great score there. I like your plans of cleaning it up, giving it a rake, and making it road worthy. That sounds like the perfect plan. Once again, congrats and I am glad to see that it is in your garage now.
Always wanted a 1940 Ford coupe since I first started lookin at the old "little" car magazines back in middle and high school in 50's. Finally got a 1939 coupe around middle of 1975 right down the cul-de-sac from where we lived. It has a 283 and powerglide with 57 rear and springs. Nicer than a 40! After I got it I always wondered why it's the 40's people want. Mine has a trunk. 39 was last for optional rumble seat. It has a Dodge interior with a small full bench in the back and high buckets up front. Everything on body is original except trunk shaved. Dash and gauges original and were working. Said I'd never sell it. But it's been sitting since end of 70's and I will never get to it. I'd take a good offer but have no idea what it's worth. Just know I'd never sell cheap. I'm writing this here because it really isn't for sale. But reality has sat in. Color now 1975 Ford red and in storage since late 70's. Last started 1994 to put on trailer to move to Florida. Just thought I'd mention here since there are many 39 Ford lovers here.
I was trying to identify the gauges in the car last night and never found a match. I poked my head up under the dash today and on the back of the four gauge cluster was stamped Stewart Warner. Did they sell a generic gauge package back in those days, or am I just missing the make they came out of? They look like a truck gauge and are kinda cheesy lookin, but if they are an aftermarket gauge from that time frame I may have to leave them.
You are probably right. They have a cheap look to them like an oem of some sort, and all the SW aftermarket gauges I ever saw had their logo on the face. Thanks Mike
I see you are running a small block in your 40. What are you running for trans and rear? I would not be opposed to a fifties style 265 or 283 and converting my banjo to open drive.
"... buff the old black lacquer, get it roadworthy, give it a slight rake, and go back with flathead power and three speed. Then just enjoy the heck out of it." Sounds like a perfect plan. Congrats on a really awesome find!
I ran across an image of an early 50s Studebaker cluster on evil bay and I think that's what they are.
You have a great opportunity to keep a period perfect time capsule in tact. That car is amazing. The gauges aren't as elegant as stck 39's, but the surround is custom and awesome. They might be truck gauges, but not 51/52 F1. Clean it and drive it! Nice find!
Here's another guage guess. I should know but removed mine for custom gauges long ago. Those sure look like 47-54 Chevy 1/2 ton truck gauges in a custom cluster. Keep dad busy workin on the 39. You'll both enjoy it.
Nice! My cousin found a '37 coupe in about the same condition back in the mid'80's, it still had the Power Pak 265 in it. Car had been built by our local front end guy, and was complete with some spares, including a coupe door to replace the pass. side sedan door he installed in the late '50's because he couldn't find a coupe door at the time. My cuz yanked it all apart, and got rid of all the cool old stuff; the 265, a nice red and white pleated interior and the dropped front axle it had. Put it back together with a Mustang II front, parallel rear leaves, 350/350, velour interior with a red paint job and yellow and orange graphics, topped off with turbine-type wheels Yuck! No amount of pleading would change his mind about leaving it as-was.
Interesting on the rumble seat ....what was the last year ford offered a rumble in their cars?? 1957....... T- bird......useless bit of trivia! Really nice find, congratulations! I drove pasta house every day for over twenty years that had a little leaning garage behind it, never thought anything was in it,one day I'm driving by I see a ramp truck out front...winched up on the back...31 Ford roadster last registered in 1956! Six houses down from me!!
BEAUTIFUL score! I kinda dig the dash treatment. Cool to see some period striping - different style than what we're seeing today.
great car, and a nice stash of parts. I agree the gauge cluster looks like early chevy truck in a custom panel.
1939 wasa big change over year for Ford, The year year for a rumble seat car and the first year for hydraulic brakes
wow fingers not working to well, should be // was a big change over year, The last year for a rumble seat, and first year for hydraulic brakes
I think the guages are from a 60's chev van, a buddy has one and that really looks like his, is the guage besel aluminum? Jim
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