You just went and did it again, you post a picture of a near perfect forty coupe. The you re-post, with a even better picture. I dont know if I like you even more now, or I envey you so much you bug me. Is there an interior shot too, just to rub it in deeper?
Well, that car is way too nice to have anything "embarr***ing" about it. I think it looks great. You're a lucky man. I always wondered what the rest of it looked like.....the profile picture doesn't quite do it as much justice......that thing is beautiful. I love it.
It's really just an old hot-rod. I've owned it for 25 yrs. and it was a hot-rod long before that. The pictures make it look better than it truly is, but I appreciate the kind words.
Nothing wrong with a "dated" interior. Mine just needs a disco ball to match the burgandy velour fabric from the 70s. Still good, comfortable and she-who-rules loves the comfort factor. Old hot rods are like your favorite pair of shoes, well broken in and comfortable for the long haul.
I've been a 40 Ford nut since I was a kid growing up across the street from an "old guy" who had one. I always loved his 40 and would go over and check it out as much as I could. When I finally got a decent job I offered to buy it, but, he said he would never sell it as one of his boys would get it one day. So I went out and found my own. That was back in 1978. I've been driving the wheels off of it ever since. "It has been driven, dinged and used, one could say that this coupe has the feel of your favorite baseball mitt — scuffs, tears and all." That phrase kind of sums it up for me.
30+ years ago, living on a printers salary in Yerington Nevada, married for 2 years, we spotted a worn out 40 pickup sitting in a gas statation in Smith Nevada with a for sale sign. We would see it going to and from Carson City. Finally we stopped for a closer look and price check. It had been rebuilt in the 70's: big wide white spoked trucker rims and tires, lots of bondo, clipped rear fenders, Thunder Bird Bucket seats, but with a 49-53 flathead that ran. $3,500.00. Talked the seller to $3,200.00 but now had to find the money. Got a loan and the next weekend drove it home. Steering was like tacking in a sale boat, one side of the road to the other, a overheating issue was solved with thermostats. A set of personalized plates, then two weeks after buying we drove it to So Cal for that years Father Day LA Roadster show. And on the way back, we did a side trip to Lake Tahoe for an air show. We still own that ratty old truck, it has been everywhere, we would never git rid of it, once turned down $35,000.00. I bought it because I couldn't afford a coupe or sedan, still can't. And the biggest thing, it saved my life, when going through cancer treatment, all I thought about, besides not dieing, was to finish the rebuild and drive it again.
I too have had a love affair with 40 coupes since I first laid eyes on the AMT 3in1 kits ,which I probably built 10 of. I found myself in the right place at the right time and was finally able to get my dream car. I look at it in the garage and still can't believe it's mine. As for the stocker, I like my cars with stock bodies but I would lower it some , mild hop- up and drive,drive and drive it some more.
@lothiandon1940 It aint that bad, except for the tilt collum, I like what I see! There is a story in every dent and Part, and this car has something to tell us! I Like it alot.
I like the red wheels. If I changed anything (outside) it would be the wheels themselves. A 52 PUP wheel has the nubs on the inside...lets you use a smaller center-cap.
I bought my first 40 in 1962, a sedan because it was all I could find in my price range, $90.00. I wanted a coupe but had to wait 10 years before finding one. Never finished it and had to sell due to a divorce. In 75 I bought another sedan then found a sweet little black coupe with 283 and original ****** and rear so I sold the sedan. I loved the coupe but a move required selling it, so I was without a 40 for three years then bought a red coupe with 57 Chevy drivetrain. Completely updated the ch***is with dropped axle and new rear suspension and drove the wheels off it. Drove a few years with a rear seat from a Nissan for our two boys until they no longer fit. Ended up trading the coupe body for a Tudor body and built a really nice 40, best so far. Boys grew older and no longer went anywhere with us so I sold the sedan, been kicking myself ever since. Sold it to build another coupe, the one I have now. Now I am beginning another Tudor sedan build. It will be an axle car utilizing all the spare 40 parts that I have ac***ulated, a basic hotrod. Do I love 40's, oh man do I.
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from ****'s daughter Vicky. Vicky told me that her dad sold the coupe in 1957. On his older days he regret that he sold the custom, and he is now trying to relocate it. If anyone knows what happened to the coupe, please let us know! Vicky also scanned some neat old color photos from ****'s personal album that she shared with us. The quality of these photos aren't the best, but they still are great!! More info on the coupe, and the rest of ****'s photos can be found here: http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?***le=****_Colarossi's_1940_Ford Thanks!
I just found this thread...Man, I feel the same way as i.rant, Don and all of you...Luv the 40 coupes. Waited many years to get one...had plenty of AMT models of the coupe and sedan...still do, as well as the 1:18 diecast cars...can't get enough of them......LOL Murph
Acknowledging that '40s don't need any help, this is what I did with mine (originally a ratty Standard coupe):
Tony, that is such a cool car. Nice job! And I think that Valley Custom '40 coupe is probably my favorite of all time. Subtle changes really improved that one.
To all you 1940 Ford lovers - We are searching for **** Colarossi's Monk Wagon featured in the Fine Forties article. My 81 year old father has not seen his beloved car since 1966 at a car show in the San Fernando Valley. If you have seen the car or know its whereabouts, please email me at vcarabini@cox.net.
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