Projects Garage find 1940 ford opera coupe

Looks good!

 

.........That would be a very nice thing to do and sets a good goal to keep you motivated and moving forward on the project.

 

Great score!
What are your plans for it?.....hoping you say get it running and stopping and preserve the rest as is. VERY nice find!

 

5 window coupe, no jump seats, bench seat
business coupe (opera coupe), jump seats, split back seat

 

Persistence pays off! Great find. Any pictures of the jump seats?

 

nice find! to me the only thing cooler than a custom is a vintage one, it would be a great start for a period correct car. it was a good thing he told you about the glove compartment, imagine the surprise that would be!

 

When I found my 40 they had lost the keys also. As I was pulling the the dash out, I looked in the ash trays and low and behold, the keys. You might look there.

From the pictures that car is in very restorable condition with lots to work with. I would say you will save bunches of dough by not having to replace a bunch of sheet metal,etc. I am going back with a flatty against every ones advice, but you get to make that choice.
I think that you did well in finding this car and will have a great time getting it back on the road.

 

some more pictures of the car getting cleaned up. Been buffing and polishing yesterday and today, and it is coming out better than i thought. The top is almost perfect. The original paint looks like it did the day it rolled off of the assembly line! Hoping to get it all cleaned up, seeing if the old flathead is any good, and if it is, putting it back in it and see if it will run. Might just make it safe and road worthy and just drive it the way it is for now. Like people have said, it is too nice and period correct to start changing alot of it. Thanks for all the comments.

 

Nice Car....

 

What an awesome score!!! Can't wait to see your progress!! Congrats

 

Great car! I find a 283 to go under that manifold and finish what the old guy started.

 

wow.. awesome find! watching this for sure!

 

Thats a clean car!

 

Wow man!!!
Great car and great story.
You're a lucky man.
It polished up beautiful!

 

we he said!!!

 

Oh man, what an absolutely drop dead gorgeous car. I can't believe how amazing she looks all cleaned up. Killer score!

 

i agree, get a fender to replace the one that got lost, have it sprayed to match, get that sweetheart running, stopping and -DONE! Nice find! Congrats!

 

Great find!! Time capsule car. The paint looks better than mine! Looks like it's got Mercury bumpers on it too.

 

Great car--and good job saving it.. Taking the guy for a drive next year will light a smile on the guys face that will be priceless.. And, i'll agree with what others have said--that interior is awesome!

 

I agree,
The clock stopped___ and then it started ticking again...
Continue on, where the last owner left off.
.
Where those Moon hubcaps on the front seat in the first set of pictures?
If so, it's gotta' be Moon caps and WWWs.
.

 

Wow what a great ol car. That interior is SOOOOO bitchin! Love the pull handle for the trunk, too!!

 

I love it.

I just resurrected a 33 by concentrating only on what was stopping it from driving. If that were my 40 I'd be doing the same again.

Mart.

 

gorgeous

 

OMG!!! Do the 327 thing, Nothing sweeter that a 40 with a 327. You won't be sorry..

 

That's amazing the paint cleaned up that well! Hope you can match the paint on the missing fender.
Please keep the interior! Even if you have to take it off to rebuild the seat and put it back on.
I can't wait to get my 47 home.......

 

I hate you! not really, but WAAAAY jealous! Awesome find!

 

Man put that thing together with a stock as a rock small block coupled to that adapter plate & have lots of patience when shifting gears or for sure youll blow something up then leave everything alone XCEPT make it safe & ENJOY THE HELL OUT OF IT

 

Hey good for you~! that is one sweet find!

 

Any updates? Its been over a year. Looking foward to reading more.

Ryan

 

Ford never called the 39-40 coupes with jump or "opera" seats by the name opera coupe.