1940 Ford been sitting since 1957

1940 FORD DELUXE TUDOR SEDAN​

“OUT OF STORAGE AFTER 55 YEARS!!!!”​

This 1940 Ford was purchased by George C. Wiley on January 13, 1945 as a used car while George was stationed in Big Spring Texas as a bombing instructor and pilot on AT-11 aircraft. At the end of WWII George and his family moved to Albuquerque New Mexico in there trusted 40 Ford. George continued to drive and mildly customize the old Ford, he swapped in a Mercury 59AB engine that worked well with the still present Columbia 2speed Rearend, he added rear skirts, a Sun Tachometer, Perry Coolant Filters, a Spotlight Mirror, Front Fog Light, Chrome Instrument Cluster, Woodgrained Fan, Thermometer, and Custom Plaid Interior. During the very early 1950’s there was a fender bender and the right front fender was replaced and a “CustomMetalflake” paintjob was performed. Around the spring of 1957 the transmission developed a problem and the car was given to his 16 year old son Ray Wiley, with the intention that they would get it repaired . Days turned to years and the old Ford just sat in his dad’s shop. I still cannot believe that this 16 year old didn’t at least take the car apart. Sadly in 1999 George Wiley p***ed, and during the estate sale his son Ray refused to let the old Ford go, so he brought it to his home garage in Colorado Springs and another 10 years past. At 70 years old Ray decided that he would never get to enjoy the old Ford and asked me to be the next caretaker. I agreed and insisted that when it was done that he take the car and cruise it around! I have left the car as found except for a fresh 59AB, a lowered stance, new whitewalls and a good cleaning and a sloppy repaint of the right front fender so it didn’t look too out of place.

I am honored to be the caretaker of this piece of history and intend to preserve its history while driving the wheels off of it!!!

 

Kool!

 

Very Kool!!!

 

Great story and great car!!!

 

I wanna see it with the skirts. Great story

 

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh...refreshing. this is why I come to the HAMB. sometimes I forget.

 

What a great find I love hearing stories like this, they always make me smile

 

So friggin cool

 

Agreed, I was gonna ask about swapping an s10 ch***is or something of the like.........HAHAHA

 

Great!! This too is why I come here. That and the popcorn. LOL. Glad you ended up with the Ford. Damn nice car. Lippy

 

That thing is awesome! Cleaned up super nice!!!

 

Tell us more about how you lowered this 40.

 

I have owned several 40 sedans in the past and finding a nice old survivor is rare,,congratulations on saving the car and preserving such a nice piece. HRP

 

What a nice old survivor. Congratulations, looks like it found a good home....

 

Kool kar

 

That's Awesome!

 

Neat story. Glad its back on the road.

 

Thanks,

Thank you, it seems a great car, I have put a couple hundred miles on so far. Haven't plumbed the Columbia yet, Planning on driving it to the Lonestar Roundup in the spring. about 900 miles each way!!!!!

 

very nice!

 

I put them on, not my style but when I got it the front seemed higher than the back. Maybe taildragger look? Also had some strange accessory inner trim rings with short vertical ribs instead of the ribs going around the stock ford inner rings. They were for the Ford rims so not sure but had 8 of them. I think he was a JC Whitney junkie based on all the accessories

 

a nice looking 40 sedan

 

Nice job man. That looks perfect.

 

Car is absolutely gorgeous and the story that goes along with it just makes it that much more special.

 

Nice story. If you have the money, the car for sure deserves a nice paint job.

 

The wide whites are bangin' on that car. Just sweeet.

 

My dad would approve.

 

Great story! '40 2-doors don't always get the respect they deserve, I had one in high school with a stock '56 Pontiac, black laquer, TJ tuck and roll, ....and, for my roadster friends, a back seat...

you really cleaned this one up well, and thanks for sharing the story

 

WAY COOL! Thanks for sharing...just love these kind of stories! The old girl is in a good place! Enjoy! BTW, how did you drop her?

E

 

I had Sid drop the stock front axle. Posie spring up front and shorter shocks. Rear is stock with 3 leaves removed. Tires are 6.00 up front and 7.50 out back

 

Look forward to seeing it!