I just brought home my new project; a '39 DeLuxe Tudor. I've wanted one my whole life, and I can barely beleive it's mine! It has sat in a barn for 30 odd years. Last time it was registered was '82. It's still in the original black lacquer with some "character". Word is the orange and white t-n-r was done in TJ back in '63. I'm not crazy about the orange and white, but it will stay for the time being (the wheels have already been painted black, btw). It has a '46 Merc flatty tied to the stock drivetrain, and I just bolted in a completely rebuilt radiator, getting ready to try and fire it up soon! Dropped front axle with big and littles, nice '50's rake to it. There is a lot of work to do, but I'm shooting to have it on the road come spring, even if it means I have to run the radial blackwalls currently on (hell, they're new). Here are some pics:
BIG congrats, Jake! Looks real solid. Seems as though you and Ryan share in being new owners of '39 2-door sedans! We're waitin' to see his though! Again...happy for ya. Good luck.
I beat the bushes for this one. Found it through a buddy up in Bellingham. Everything just seemed to fall in place for me on this one. The guy I bought it from knew this car since the early Sixties, when his high school buddy owned it. I'm planning on going through the brakes, which so far look near new, and wiring, make it safe and drive it as a survivor for awhile. It's my keeper. Damn straight.
I see your signiture looking for a 39 trunk handle...I have a couple spares from my coupe, PM me if interested.
Cool. Will do, and thanks. One more pic. You can't see it here, but the stock rear shocks are gone, with NOTHING in their place. Is there a simple tube shock setup I should do? You can tell this car had the drivetrain all gone through, then barely pinned together, and parked long ago. The spring u-bolts with barely turned castle nuts were my first tip-off, loading it on the trailer.
Cool and congratulations! I've had a '39 Tudor (Standard) for almost 2 years. It's been a real 'love/hate' relationship at times but I'm currently back at the 'love' state. These are great cars that you can easily do about anything to. I think you'd be hard-pressed to modify one of these in some way that hadn't already been tried at least once. That's kind of nice in that someone out there can probably give you some advice as to whatever it is you might want to do. I'm liking that orange and white interior but I can see you wanting to give it a change sometime down the road. Have fun with it. Jay
What a great find! and YES...we are all jealous. Hope you got those 22 grille bar trim pieces, don't think any one reproduces them yet. The lightning bolts/whiskers above the hood lip trim are available new. The car has a 40 decklid I think and has had a 40 deck handle and license lamp housing. All available as new reproductions for many years. Have fun!
Yes, that's a '40 trunk lid on it. I have the original '39 'lid, as well. It was tapped right at the trunk handle, and needs straightening. No, I don't have any of the grille stainless. But, it is all available new from Bob Drake. Looks like around $425 or so for all the pieces, including the center bar. Thanks for all the suggestions, and congrats, fellas. This is the perfect car for me, wife+2 boys to hit the car shows with. Eventually, I want it to be my daily driver, which isn't much of a stretch, if I do things right.
Very nice. - I just got the same car, but it's much further from roadworthy than this one (I hope it was much cheaper too...)
You're right. Bob Drake does have the stainless grille trim bars. Here's a tip; Drake has the whole set including the chrome center bar on sale now for $262. If you'd like, PM me your email addy and I'll forward the sale to ya. Lots of other stuff on sale too. I have a louvered deck lid for a sedan for sale also. Any interest in it? Looks like a nice ride. Congrats on getting it. Mike
great score! i picked up a 39 std 2 yrs ago, and its an old hotrod. its been a love hate thing also, but will have it on the road this spring, wanted a deluxe ,but you cant order these things any more.
Thanks, everyone. My wife finally stopped asking me what I want for Christmas. I told her, "I have it, just buy our boys (3 and 6 years-old) some toolboxes, and I'll get them some basic tools so they can wrench with me." I'm really torn about the wiring. The guy I bought it from included a brand new, in the box, Kwikwire harness with an 8 circuit panel. I would need to do a 12V conversion to use it. But I'm really tempted to keep it 6V for now. The wiring is a patched-up mess, and I can tell I'll need to string new stuff before I rely on it at all. Any ideas? Suggestiions?
Nah, I'm not about to go changing a bunch of stuff, for the sake of "updating". Blech, I hate to even use that word... My philosophy is "fix only what's broken, and get the old tin back in the wind". Or something to that effect. This car was last running when I was in 3rd grade. I'm 37 next month, I don't want the poor old Ford to sit around, waiting, any longer. Just popped the rear wheel bearings out and repacked 'em a few minutes ago. It's damn cold out, but I've got the fever, now.
39 Tudor Deluxe owner here. Redo the wiring for safety sake. Dont want to have them boys in there and something happen..Good luck and cool interior!! John
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