This is going to sound like a wierd question, but I've noticed in the US hot rodding scene that '37, '39, and '40 Fords are really popular, but '38s are less so. The reason I bring this up is because I have a '38 Deluxe (so obviously I'm biased) so I look out for them, and there seems to be a few of them about here (in NZ). I was reading a US mag yesterday which described the '38 as the 'ugly duckling' of the fat fendered Ford era. So, did Ford build less cars in 1938, did less survive, or are people just overlooking them in favour of other models?
'38s and '39 Standards were NEVER popular with the hot rodders, early customizers liked them until the newer models came out. They were considered ugly by the masses, but my father and I have always liked them- having a very nice '38 Sedan Delivery for the last 25 years. They are picking up now because a totally new generation appreciates them after so many years of no one wanting them.
They were talking about the bull nosed car (like Ryan's). I think the DeLux was a little sleeker but don't hold me to that maybe it was only the '39 that had the 40ish front end. They were overlooked by early rodders for a lot of reasons. I think the main reason was the V-8 60. At least that's what I have been told. They just never seemed to gain popularity. I never did understand why, I've always liked 'em. But you must realize that you're listening to a guy here that doesn't like dueces or tri 5 chebbies.
I'd guess 95% of them became stock cars, that all steel roof was a big factor. They were dirt cheap in the late '40's and raced locally into the early 1980's.
No, the cowl is different. I have a 39 standard, and you cannot even put a 39 deluxe front end on it. Even the front crossmemeber is different. Standards have a high mounted fan, and deluxe's have the fan that mount on the crank pully. Because of this, the front crosmember had to be modified on the deluxe and 40 version. I always get guys telling me I should make my car a 40, but I really like the standard nose. They are different.
Josh I think they will, its my understanding that the 37-39 shared the same body tub. Ya might get ahold of KCTAChris or 8thgradegenious and ask either one of them. Chris has a '39 delux and and Mikes 39 sedan had a 40 front on it at MOKAN a couple of years ago.
I looked for about three years for a '39 Std Coupe. Found a ton of Deluxe models but Stds in decent shape are pretty rare. I ended up getting a 38 Deluxe which is pretty much the same as the '39 Std. I've always liked the looks of these cars better than the '39 Deluxe and '40 models.
Undoubtedly. They were really popular for speedway. But the '39s and '40s etc would have been too. Even here in NZ, where coupes have always been super rare, many of them ended their days in speedway racing. The '39 Coupe body I recently purchased had its floor, rain gutters, and firewall all removed back in the '60s, and was to be mounted on a stockcar chassis. Fortunately, it never made it that far, and was put in dry storage for a few decades.
Not too many 37 either. Both share the same body proportions. Funny story.. when I bought my 37, I used to have old guys in their 70's come up and tell me they wish they had a quarter for every 37 they totaled in a stock car race. Look at all the old pics..there are plenty of them in those. They considered them ugly and only good for beating up. I had another old guy this year drive into a small town show with his wife in an old model A. He got out with his wife in hand and he had hearing problems because he talked much louder than most people. I heard him say to his wife.. "Now there's one of the ugliest cars Ford made. I smiled at him and teased him about not liking my cars. We ended up being good friends. I love these years of Fords.
This one was pioneered through the 50's and into the ealry 60's and held a record in its class in Jewelsburg, CO
Hmmmm....I'm a little curious about this....as there is a '38 near my uncles place in Oregon, hit in the front, that is FS..... And a couple of 1940 Fords in the area as well....just thinkin' out loud here.... Once an ugly chick, always an ugly chick.........
I love the '37s. I considered grafting a '37 front to my '38, just so I could have the nice one-piece grill. The '37s look complete with or without the bonnet on, whereas the '38 Deluxe has the 2-piece grill, so when you take the bonnet and side panels off, it loses its clean lines. I found a pic on the web of someones answer to this. They'd cut around the rear of the vents on the side panels, where they fan out. Looks interesting. I'll try and find the pic and post it.
1938 was a recession year at the end of a long depression, so it was not a big year for auto sales. The Chevys sold better, so there weren't that many 38 Fords to begin with. After the war hotrodders considered them ugly compared to the more popular and plentiful 1940's. Now we appeciate the looks and rarity of the 38's. Alot of parts interchange between he 38 Deluxe and 39-40's. The Ray Vega 38 convertible sedan had 40 front sheet metal, arguably one of the best customs of all time.
Wow! That is amazing. What has been done to the front suspension to get it that low? I hope you don't paint it. Theres stacks of history right there!
4" dropped magnum axle. Unsplit wishbone, Reversed eye spring with 3 leaves removed. Gonna have to put them back
I been workin on this one for my Dad, I need to get the stance right and a decent wheel /tire combo going
Mine is a '38 deluxe... You can read about my feelings here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=17 Damn man... I love '38 Fords...
As Firefly mentioned, we have a '38 Standard coupe. It is a neat old car and has has a bit of history over here - was featured in the New Zealand Hot Rod mag in 1969 as a slightly modified stocker, then again in the early eighties in resto-rod guise. We have had for about a year and all I have really done is change the wheels and tyres. I have a dropped axle to go in sometime and it needs a few odd jobs done, but it is a good and solid and I really like it. (I am still not convinced about the blue colour, but it is growing on me.)
There have been a few questions about interchanges, so here is my understanding about the major sheet-metal differences ... Coupes: 37, 38 standard and 38 deluxe coupes all share the same body shell which has the step between the rear window and the deck lid. 39 standard, 39 deluxe, 40 standard and 40 delux Coupes all have the same smooth transition between rear window and deck lid, but there are differences in the cowls (see below). Sedans: There is no 38 equivalent of the 37 flat-back sedan. 37 humpback and 38 standard sedans share the same body. 38 deluxe sedans, 39 standard, 39 deluxe, 40 standard and 40 deluxe all have the smooth rounded rear, but there are differences in the cowls (see below). Front end sheetmetal and rear guards: I believe the 37 and 38 std sheet metal interchanges. I am not sure about the 38 std to 38 deluxe, or the 38 deluxe to 39 standard. There are differences in the cowl between the 39 standard and deluxe to suit the different fronts. There are differences in the cowl between the 40 standard and deluxe models to suit the different fronts. There are also differences around the windshield/wipers and front door windows between 39 and 40 bodies - the 39 has a a crank out windshield with wipers above the screen and no quarter lites in the front doors. The 40 has a fixed windshield with wipers in the cowl and quarter lights in the front doors.
I've heard all of my life, from the "old timer" Ford guys, comments on how ugly the 37, 38, and 39 standards were/are. Maybe the styling was just ahead of its time.
Ryan, I've seen a few pics of your car in mags and on the net, but didn't realise you owned it. I've collected pics off the net of cars that I love the look of, and that will influence my '38/39 quasi Deluxe coupe, and yours is right up there among them. Its a beautiful car! Can you post a few more pics, plus some details please?
Hey, beautiful car guys! Great history too. Tell me, the front drop axle you'll be fitting, is it a 4"?
I grew up in the back seat of this standard my dad bought it in 63 and it has had many face lifts over the years. I know its not a hamb type of car but it has been built in the garage by my dad and I and the only thing on the car that has not been done by us is building the drive shaft,
Here is a 38 coupe with a 39dlx ft end. I believe the front end is 'glass and I don't know what modifications were done to make it fit. I used to own this car as a stock roller. I chopped it in about 79-80 and sold it to my friend Chris Piaggi before I moved to the States. He finished it to this condition asa a race car with FE Ford power.
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