I share the same sentiments as you about the '41 Fords.....your example, a nice improvement over stock.
Wow Hey Ryan you just blew my socks off. As a former owner ( 1969 to 1971 ) of a '41 business coupe. I always wonder why I couldn't keep it. Always loved the '40 coupes, when this one showed up I jumped at it. But one day I couldn't tell why, It just didn't honk my horn. the lust wasn't there. You have explained my angst and shown a viable solution.
Wonder if the 41 Ford would look better if the 2 front fender side grilles were eliminated and filled in? Might effect cooling?
A good way to improve the looks of just about any car, is to just lower it. For the early 50’s, that 41 is really slammed!
I don't think Valley did the car any good, the grill sucks [tubes too big] and the bumpers should have been left off with rolled pans and small less bulbous bumpers or nerf bars. IMO.
According to Hop Up Magazine, that decision was out of Valley Custom’s hands. The client demanded the stock grille openings stay put and the bumpers be dropped. With those handcuffs in place and as I stated in the feature - I think they did a pretty damned good job.
I have never liked the whiskers on '41's on the front fenders that wrapped around to the grille nor the lines in the fenders that did the same. This customizing got rid of that and helped it immensely. I think it looks pretty good! Dave
The ’41 Ford is a mess right out of the gate. Those body lines are an absolute nightmare—ill-proportioned, bloated, and inherently ugly. Starting with a car like that is like trying to carve a masterpiece out of a lumpy block of bad clay. God... I hate talking shit about a Ford. Feels unnatural to me. But if you really dig through the history books, how many truly great ’41 Ford builds can you name? Maybe a handful if you are generous? The only one that comes to mind immediately is the Jesse Lopez car, and even that feels like an anomaly.
I always imagined that when the 41s started rolling off the line, the assembly workers all went home and told their wives "no overtime for Christmas presents this year."
I don’t know the guy who built the Lopez clone, and I’m way out of the loop on that whole scene, but calling someone’s effort a waste just because the style doesn’t jive with you? That’s bullshit, man. Building something like that takes a hell of a lot of work and passion. Dismissing it outright reads as something else entirely. I don't mean to throw shade or start any drama, but I'd never trash someone's effort.
I certainly have no love for stock '41 Fords, but I think Lopez's car is one of the benchmarks and it looks like a lot of people thought so back in the day. As far as the feature car in question I feel that Neil Emory did a damn fine job considering the restrictions. The more you look at it the more subtle modifications you see.
Strangely enough, I kinda like the 41 Ford’s awkward front end. I like this one built by Valley Custom as well as this one built by Jeff Myers. Photo credit to our own @travisfromkansas
I think Lopez got his quarter windows a little more refined than Snooky's. That's a tough area on these cars as well... and they need the chop for sure.
I also think 41's make great customs, especially the chopped Carson topped converts. The lack of quarter windows just looks right. Mick
Absolutely. This isn't just a great '41... It's a great car. Still chubby, but done in a way that accentuates the trait and sort of celebrates it.
I personally think when 41-48 Fords are chopped they quickly begin to look bubbly around the windows and the top especially when the drip rails are removed. I struggled with that when we chopped mine and ultimately hardtopped it to get rid of the bubbly look. I also agree that 41 was the best year for the convertible due to the lack or rear quarter window and looks perfect chopped with a padded top
Never thought '41's were that bad! Maybe lose the bumpers & lower. The '39 & '40 were tough acts to follow.
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