A few days ago, I rewatched Miracle on 34th Street, the well-loved Christmas standard from 1947. I could talk about how my perspective of the film has changed over the course of the last several decades, but I’d rather talk about the car Kris Kringle’s lawyer drives, a 1940 Ford Standard Coupe. It shows up in one scene, when John Payne (the actor who plays the lawyer) pulls up in front of a house for sale on Long Island with Maureen O’Hara and a young Natalie Wood (who was great as a cynical kid, by the way). Of course, the Coupe is the model that all the hot rodders went ga-ga for, but it was the Tudor Sedan that everyone bought. Ford sold 171,368 examples of this DeLuxe Tudor sedan (and another 150,933 Standards), making them far and away the most popular models of 1940. This DeLuxe was spotted on Marketplace in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, by Barn Finder T.J., and the seller says that for $15,500, you’ll get a rust-free original car.
All 1940 Fords were powered by a flathead V8, the base engine being the tiny V8-60 in its final year of production. Luckily for you, potential buyer, this car has the far more popular 221-cubic-inch version of the flathead we all know and love (in 85-horsepower form). The mismatched radiator hoses tell us that the flatty might not be quite ready for primetime, but the seller says that “she’s a runner” and the “brakes are good.” The brakes, by the way, are hydraulic; Henry Ford hung on to his mechanical brakes years longer than his competitors, but he finally relented in 1939.
Being that the seller doesn’t make a big deal about it, we can question the mileage listing of 45,000 in the Marketplace ad; however, being that the interior looks very original and in surprisingly good condition, there’s certainly a whiff of authenticity about it. After all, cars didn’t regularly make it to 145,000 miles 85 years ago.
The upholstery pattern matches the factory sales brochure, so it’s either been replaced long ago, or it’s as old as the rest of the car. Amazing.
No, it’s not the much more uncommon coupe that everyone has cherished for decades, but this Tudor Sedan is actually a practical bodystyle for a usable collector car, and while cars of the 1940s are suffering from dwindling interest, Fords have the best chance of staying relevant (Model T’s and Model A’s are still surprisingly popular, after all). While the $15,500 price may be a touch high for a not-so-polished Tudor, it’s not laughably so. Maybe you can work out a deal that suits both parties, although it’s a few days late for Kris Kringle to be involved.
This is a true survivor V8 Ford car here that has survived the times and looks to be in very good shape for its age.
Looks like a nice original car! even has the radio and clock, if one could buy it for a little less than the asking price they would have a good car by the looks of it. I had a 40 Coupe, always liked these cars.
looks solid and to be original with a flat head. even wearing pie crust tires as well. get for the right price and drive it
That back seat. A great project.
If I were ten years younger I’d be on my way to New Mexico with a trailer and a cashier’s check.
I have had two 40 Ford Tudors one a Deluxe and one a Std. Both had SBC power, the Deluxe had late model, automatic and rear end. The Std was early Ford running gear with a SBC 265. I loved them both and drove them every where, and they performed great! I sold the Std for 25 K. The Deluxe had more bells and whistles but that was much earlier, NSRA in Oklahoma, city. I got 16 K for it, top dollar then. What’s my point? 40 Fords are great cars and the hold there value.
I just want to say that this is a top notch write up. Well done Mr. Toth. Also, John C mentions it has a clock. I wonder how many miles it has on it, and are they original or the other kind.
Thank you!
Aaron, what’s the deal with the V8 grill emblem? I just don’t remember seeing them on 1940 Ford grills.
They aren’t original on a ’40…for a second, I thought they were 1937 Ford grille emblems, but they aren’t quite the same. I wonder if they’re old aftermarket.
Actually think they could be that grille emblem or the truck hood emblem from 1937/38…..could be a standard emblem with out the 8…or it’s broken?
Nice !
This is a nice one and they are asking a nice price. There are more of these out there stock then prople want to keep them in.
Bought mine as a roller and it had a SBC conversion way back hooked to a 1939 floor shift. It’s in pretty good shape – one reason I bought it – the hood closes nice and so does the doors…..going back with a flathead.
Looks great,best of luck with your project .
Always loved the 40 fords, had a chance to get a great hot rod convertible around 1971 but had a new family and no money,l’ve kicked myself every since.
Nice original ’40 Ford Tudor that survived World War II
Spent a year while in college drag racing a
’40 Olds powered coupe. The only weakness was the ’39 floor shift box. Just sitting around it drinking beer and looking at it was as much fun as driving it.