Art & Inspiration 1940 Ford's - Deluxe or Standard?

I have owned two Deluxe Coupes and one Standard Coupe. If you put a Deluxe and a Standard Coupe in front of me now, I would have to flip a coin! I like them both!

 

'40 Deluxe is very nice, but my preference is the Standard, ideally with a few mods.....chrome headlight rims, second taillight and '39 side trim. Years ago I had a '40 Standard 2 Door.

Ray

 

So Don, am I to assume that the 1940 Standards came with one tail light...AND one driving light?

 

Our 40' "Standard Coupe with Chrome ( aftermarket ) and painted headlight rings. "Standard" because that's what she wanted ( its Her Car ) and she likes the painted headlight rings. I've seen enough Standard's with Chrome headlight rings that I almost think that "Henry" may have produced some of these himself.? Owner preference.? I'am OK with this, I like both.! What's correct on an original Standard Grille. Painted sides, Black or the Car Color.? You see both.! Question.? "What do you do to a 40' Ford.? Answer, Nothing.!!

 

Yes, you've got a purrty merc, but damn it man, this is a FORD thread.... No mercs, NO dodges!

 

My sedan which I've owned almost 40 years had an old amateur repaint of black over the original green. The Standard grille sides had green paint under the black.

 

Since this post ask's the question, what is your preference, "Standard or Deluxe " have you heard about "Henry's" take on this.? They say that he did not like the word "Standard" used in any of his products, and would not use it. Not sure who get's credit for attaching the word "Standard" to the "Ford" line, but he sure didn't, and did not like it used. !! I think that it started with the 1938 Model and lasted until 1941 when the "Super Deluxe" showed up. If you have seen the video of the New 1940 Ford it shows two nicely dressed ladies driving up in the "New 1940 Ford Deluxe" and then shows the new features that were introduced to make the car more enjoyable and safe to drive. They drive away, and two more ladies drive up in the "New 1940 Ford V-8" !! Not a "Standard" that we all refer too when we see a non "Deluxe" version. I thought that they were all "V-8"s. Interesting, and just wanted to share this info on the Vehicle that we have all come to enjoy which ever version you choose to Drive.!!

 

..............I think they were using the "Standard" moniker as far back as 1928. It may not have been seen on the car, but then neither was "DeLuxe" as far as I know.

 

I've had a 40 standard, and now a 39 Deluxe, so I'm more of a standard guy, but a 40 Deluxe is pretty awesome, and I'd gladly add one to the stable if given the opportunity.

 

I like 'em both, but in my pea brain, a Standard seems more of hot rod/booze runner, and a Deluxe is a little more refined, take your wife to dinner-in-class kind of ride.

 

In The V-8 Album book produced by The Early Ford V-8 Club of America,when introducing the 40 model year the first line is “The Ford V-8 for 1940,lower priced than the De Luxe Ford.”
In the ensuing descriptions of production numbers the cars are described as Standard & De Luxe.
A fun fact rarely brought up is the “Standard” models were available in only 3 colors
Black,Lyon Blue and Cloud Mist Grey,all with black painted wheels.

 

'39's are indeed delicious.

 

Either one will do for me,I am not picky.

 

Prob to buy a 39” De Luxe

 

Mark, I have owned two extremely nice 40 Ford Deluxe sedans, perfect paint and not a speck of rust, I have owned 6 coupes, again two DeLuxe, 2 standard, A 39 standard & a 39 convertible, oh yeah and a 40 pickup, why would you sell them, there is always someone out there that has deeper pockets than mine, the 40's were ideal when we were traveling around with our twin daughters, but as I got older that itch for another 32 ford turned into a full fledged rash and only a Deuce would cure the itch, 10 Deuces later I'm happy, I still own my long term sedan. HRP

 

who says your vote dont count !! special deluxe , standard , deluxe ! i might be bias or at least a ass !

 

Said it before, I'll say it again.... '40 was a good style year for just about all manufacturers! Wait... is that a '41 you slipped in here?

 

didnt mean to do a highjacking . oh wait ! guess i did . im just bored . real life is unless i win the lottery or get lucky in some other way .ill never probably get to own a 40 ford . they have been one of my favorites since i was a young kid . and i have yet to see one in my price range . i dont remember over 1 or 2 ever even being for sell . fukn horders !!!

 

Ok, nobody else said it so I will. The 40 is a pure Early V8 version of when you have the one you want or like the other. When I had a 70 Chevelle SS I wanted a 68 really bad. If I had the 68 I'd want the 70. If I had a 40 Std I'd lust over every Deluxe, and vice versa. Now my 39 Std? Sorry, I almost don't like the 39 Deluxe. Almost, not a full blown don't, but it's like the 2 above. I like a 38 Deluxe too. I like the 39 dash better, subtle diffs. And to think for a almost 2 decades I thought the 38 Deluxe/39 Std were the most butt ugly cars ever to leave FoMoCo. Then 1 day a 39 std "winked" at me. Would I prefer a 40 over my 39 std? No. Almost the same body (cowl's different), same sizes, I get a floor shift, my W/S opens, I love the grille stainless strips, I dig the headlights more than a 39 Dlx (yes they're quite different).

"But if there was a chance at a 40 would you...?" Oh hell yes. Std or Dlx, don't care, I'll give my 39 a kid sister. Feet to the fire, I guess I like the std more but not enough to pass on a dlx.

 

I'd take either one without question. Do favor the standard grill just a little bit.

 

Standard or deluxe? I like both. Henry got this one right. Just a few modifications and your ready to roll. I have been driving mine for 50 years now and I still smile every time I get behind the wheel. Over 400'000 miles and twice as many smiles. Here's my rag top and my brothers ( rest in peace) sedan delivery. Love them 40s.

 

THE CHROME ONE for the win!

 

in really life , and showing my ignorance . at one time i believed a standard was a 40 and a deluxe was a 41 . i didnt realize there were 2 different grill designs . did any other brand have separate front grills on the same yr. ??

 

I actually prefer the deluxe cuz I get tired of answering "is it a 39 or 40??" so often. but I bought a standard cuz it was priced right, had a good title matching vin on frame,& had the equipment I wanted. Nebraska is terrible on bringing in cars from out-of-state. plus I had a 40 std in 1972 I wanted to re-create. yellow car is my std from 1972, grey one is my car when I bought it, blk w/flames is how it looks now. its been driven in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, & Oklahoma. if I ever get rid of it I would like to have a deluxe coupe.

 

I just really like 1940 Fords. Like @19Fordy said ...a standard front seems sleeker and a deluxe front seems more formal.

 

@911 steve
I really like your avata........oops, '40 Standard!

 

If the right one came down the road today it would be a keeper, like to old song goes you don't know what you got till it's gone! HRP

 

Love '40 Fords..personal preference is '39 Deluxe, then '40 Standard, and finally '40 Deluxe.
Ford got it right in those years.