Prewar cars over the past years have commanded a high price at auction. While is right on the cusp of prewar, the 1940 Ford Deluxe brings a healthy price when crossing the block. Depending on condition and variant, an initial investment up front can pay off in the end. This car can be exactly that. You can view its listing on eBay and it’s located in Calhoun, Georgia with an opening bid of $9,000.
There were many variants of the 1940 Ford Deluxe. Some of which are the coupe, convertible, sedan, and even a pickup. This one is a sedan, but the two-door variant. The four dour version has three side windows instead of two. The ’40 grill was three parts with horizontal bars. Styling cues from the back were much more stately and defined.
There is no information on how many miles are on the car. The engine is from a 46 or 48 Ford and is a flathead V8. The transmission is from a 39 Ford. The seller has no other details in the listing. Looking at the pictures, the car is complete. It has ply bumpers per the seller’s description. There is minor rust in some places as well.
While there are no pictures of the interior, 1940 had a two-toned instrument panel. It would be painted whatever two colors that complement the interior. It has a two-spoke steering wheel and two, count them, two ashtrays. One on each side of the dashboard of the car. Times have changed since the design was created and carried out from cars of this era.
I would say a wash to let the potential buyers see what the car really is would be a good start.
When I see ads like this I blow past them.
The seller can’t be bothered to even clean the car to show me what I am looking at, so I can imagine how the rest of the deal would go.
I 100% disagree. I like seeing and finding them covered in a thick layer of dust. I really appreciate it when they are as-found.
Glenn, you don’t want to see what the car really looks like to decide if you want to go see it to purchase it?
I can’t make that decision with a car looking like this.
I agree totally Miguel, it is fine and dandy to throw in a few as found pictures. But to ask $9k for a car and not clean it up a bit is just being a lazy seller. And it shows in the bidding less than two day and “0” bids. One thing the pic’s do show however is how poorly stored this car is. This one is going to need hundreds of hours of work to restore it. I might agree with the price if it were a coupe but it’s only a sedan. I remember Jay Leno’s post on one of his Dusenbergs that had sat in a leaky storage garage with water running down the side when it rained, the right rear fender and side were completely rusted out. This car is going to be like that in some way. So your going to need a big budget, or a shop full of tools and the skills to use them and still a big budget.
Yes Miguel. Wholeheartedly agree. If you want to sell it…..wash the car.
Frustrating!
Looks like a ticket to spend money .
Well, with todays smartphones and/or digital cameras it is not that difficult for sellers to provide before and after photos.
Looks like late 40s Plymouth bumpers on it.
Yes Tom. ’49 Plymouth bumpers were a popular item with 50’s and 60’s customizers.
While all of the needed parts are easily soured, the killer expense will be the paint.
A nice 40 2-door is a 25K car. If you paid 9K for this and made it a 25K car, the odds are you will have more than 25K in it. You have to ask yourself do I really want this car / project that bad.
I’m with you guys–show a couple of pics of it in the barn, then pull it outside and clean it. No pics of engine , underside and interior, then no idea of condition of engine or interior, does it turn over, mouse ruined interior , nothing?? for a starting price of 9 large, makes you wonder why the guy bothered. I try to stay upbeat here, but only the most adventurous will go look at this potential beauty.
Could still be a diamond in the rough..good luck to the new owner!!!
So we ran a similar one through here last week that lacked the nifty Plymouth bumpers, but given the scant descriptions judging by pics only that one and this are very similar examples. That one sold for $2850, didn’t pull a bid in the last two days of the listing after getting 39 (skimpy) bids the first 5 days. This one has languished for 6 days without any action. Probably a message there.
There are two other 40 sedans of note running that are near the end of the listing period. Both look to be very presentable needing nothing of significant note to have them be enjoyable from the get go. The one is offered at 12.9k obo with no buyer. The other is at 15.6k, short of reserve. If it follows the observable trend this year, that’s probably at or very near the end of the bidding. Some folks must be looking at a different market than the one before our eyes.
Definitely sparse on photos, but some interesting things point an interesting past maybe mild hot rod? Plymouth bumpers seem well done on mounts, sealed beam conversion, later flattie. The ’39 box moves the shifter from the column to the floor. Wish there was some pics of the flattie and at least one of the interior.
Of course I love this car it’s a Ford what’s not to love about it?
59 minutes left, and still no bids. Maybe seller should list it again with a starting bid of $100.00. Also pull it out and wash it off, along with pictures of motor and interior. Hope seller sees these comments.
It’s the “Field of Dreams” scenario. You mention that movie and most remember the line associated with it………”build it and they will come”. Too many believe all you have to do is “post it and it will sell”. They don’t understand even basic marketing. Couple that with an increasing number of survivors of the original purchaser/owner of these kinds of vehicles who have passed on and left these “treasures” for the disinterested (from the passionate hobbyist standpoint) person to dispose of and you have a mediocre attempt to cash in on what they have been led to believe is a valuable, rare, collector, ……use whatever term you choose, vehicle. Once they run the gauntlet, fail to “cash in”, it may turn out (sadly from my point of view) that many like these will end up going to the crusher as these unrealistic advertisers get fed up with the process and opt for the quick/easy disposal.
Ad is reposted, 2 extra pictures of engine compartment. Starting bid still $9000.00.
IMHO $10K to high for a starting bid
Yes they are 49-50 Ply. bumpers. I sold a set in 1960 for $20.00. I only paid 13 for the car. the frame was rotted and sagging in the middle. I sold and installed the transmission in a 58 ? Dodge pickup and only had to change the shift levers and emergency brake drum for $95.00, The man came back and told me the trans. worked better then the one in the truck from new.
‘On the cusp of prewar’ ? The world war started in September of 39.
I owned one of these cars back in the early 60’s. Was totaled after being hit by a snowplow. Just a old car in 1964.