My late father’s first car was a black 1940 Ford Coupe. Dad wasn’t a wild child or hot rodder back in the late-40’s, he was a level-headed, somewhat quiet, responsible kind-of-guy who was known for being thrifty. So, I’d bet getting a good deal played a bigger role in buying his first car over how cool it would make him look. It was his honeymoon car when he and mom tied the knot in 1949 and would be their daily driver until us kids came along and he bought a used ’52 Ford Victoria. Our family only has one photo of his ’40 Ford Coupe which is shared below. There isn’t a lot of details or history about this featured Ford other than it is a “fresh barn find” and described as being very original overall. The engine does run (the seller filled the carb and it started right up), it rolls easily, and the brakes are not locked up but the master cylinder is frozen. This Build-A-Classic-’40 Ford is currently located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and is for sale here on eBay for a Buy It Now price of $17,500.
I’d like to know the story behind this stalled restoration project and why it was put in a barn and for how long. I can understand why someone would start this project, though. The ’40 Ford DeLuxe Coupe has remained one of the most popular pre-war Ford V8’s for generations. In 1940, a lot of people liked its great combination of handsome styling, improved drivability, V8 power, and low price. The Ford DeLuxe lineup included six models and of the nearly 370,000 built, 27,919 were the DeLuxe Coupe like this one.
The seller says the next owner would be buying everything pictured and that there are many original, restored, and new parts with the car. After going through all of the parts, the seller guesses it’s about 90% complete with the passenger side rear fender being the biggest part missing.
Based on the supplied photos, the Ford appears to be straight and solid. The glass looks good as does the chrome and trim pieces currently on the car. The rear metalwork needs to be finished and the seller states that the deck lid edge and door bottoms are in nice shape, and that the running boards have been restored with new rubber. The seller also says the Ford’s original spare tire and mount are in the trunk.
Except for the bench seat, which isn’t in too bad of shape, the interior has been stripped. The ’40 Ford DeLuxes had a redesigned, attractive Maroon and Sand Rose two-toned instrument panel that put the speedometer, gauges, and headlamp beam indicator in the driver’s line of vision through a new, two-spoked steering wheel. (It even has ash trays on both ends of the dash.) It has been beautifully restored along with the original Philco radio. The instrument panel also has a new wiring harness.
Under the hood is Ford’s trusty, dependable 221-cubic inch, 85 horsepower L-head V8 (more than 6 million had been produced by 1940). It looks to be the real deal, runs, and is mated to Ford’s new “Finger-Tip Shift” 3-speed manual transmission that had been moved from the floor to the column in 1940. I’m guessing there is at least one person out there ready, willing, and able to purchase this project car and finish the restoration. Hopefully, it’ll look like my dad’s ’40 Ford DeLuxe Coupe (below) and will bring smiles, thumbs ups, and be enjoyed for many more years to come.
The ’40s are neat cars but for what’s it going to take to get this one on the road the buy in is pretty high.
Bob, I might disagree with you a little bit on this one. The 40 Ford market is definitely different than it used to be. This past weekend me and some friends looked at a 40 Coupe for sale. It is an absolutely outstanding example and CHECKS ALL the boxes. I could go on an on about, I just have to say trust me its as nice as it gets. The price ls $45,000, all of us thought a little high right now. BUT its in the company of the best of the best, what’s that worth? Allot if you’re not a flipper. I have had several 40’s and I loved them all. This coupe makes me think it was a very nice car and then it got in an accident. The missing fender, no problem. If it isn’t twerked, no problem. By the looks of the front end and the fit it is special. Anything under 20 K would make it worth it. Again not to flip, but to own a nice forty.
Well I’m ready and willing, unfortunately unable. Nothing like a 40 Ford, hope it finds a good home and a proper completion
My favorite car, so cool.
Ford had a home run there.
Nice car, shows promise but I feel the price of admission might be a tad high. I wanted one of these in high school (1965) and found one , $250.00 but my Dad didn’t want any old junk cluttering up HIS driveway. I had to wait until my life calmed down and found another (1994) but a sedan this time and bought it for $9500.00 . The sedan fit me better since I was married with 2 chillren. I loved that ’40 and wish I still had it.
40 Fords are an all time favorite. They were a gasser favorite too. Lots on the drag strips in the 60s.
17 hahaha thousand HhhhaaAa dollar HhhhaaAa… I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale HhhhaaAa… Same price lol
I have 60 acres of land east of Yuma, AZ for $17,000.00; DM me. L.O.L. and L.M.A.O. Virgil
My second hot rod (1977), but in boxes. Paid $500 for it. Needed a total resto. Not until my young brain kicked in (over my young heart) did I realize my young wallet was going to take a long time get it back on the road. Sold it and bought a $500 ’66 Chevelle Driver. Those were the days!
This beauty (?) is a couple years older’n me and I couldn’t afford it now anyway, but I am curious, where do ya find that missing fender these days? Are there businesses that make reproductions? Highly unlikely you can find one in today’s recycling center ( junk yard)….
Glass or steel, rear fenders no big deal 38-40. I like it a lot, $12k, give or take, needs an inspection, definitely hot rod material.
Bonjour Monsieur, vous avez une très belle voiture, quoi qui concerne les choses produit du passer, une affaire qui es sûr et certain c’est ils faut les conserver. Peut importe quoi que ça soit original c’est la beauté d’un artiste, ingénieur de cette époque, la valeur es plus dans le cœur que le porte à feuille. Quand ons aime où ons es passionné ons ne modifie rien de quoi étais de leur temps,
Jéspère que la voiture tombe dans des mains amoureux d’origine, C’est très triste de voir trops de voiture détruire par des gens avec toute sorte de modification et la voiture es perdu à jamais
Merci beaucoup
Translation to English (very well said)
Hello Sir, you have a very nice car, whatever concerns the things produced in the past, a matter that is certain and certain is that they must be kept. Whatever it is original is the beauty of an artist, engineer of this time, the value is more in the heart than the leaf. When we love where we are passionate, we don’t change anything that was in their time,
I hope the car falls into original loving hands, It’s very sad to see too many cars destroyed by people with any kind of modification and the car is lost forever
Thank you so much
Lots of parts needed. I’ve done this before, although not this many pieces and parts gone. Get ready for large investment.
Well to put my two cents in also. I bought a ’40 Standard coupe (back then I liked the vertical grille bars more) in mid fifties on layaway. It was sitting on the back row of a used car lot for a long time and of course was not running. I was 15 and the man ask me what I was going to do with it and I told him it was going to my fathers garage where I could work on it and get it running. He sold it to me for $50.00 on layaway. I paid him $10.00 from my each week and then he delivered it to my home for free. What a deal. I saved my money and bought a set of Offy aluminum heads and later on a aluminum 4 barrel manifold. Sad story I sold it to a fellow for $200 still not running. He installed a Cadillac OHV engine and drove it everywhere. I forgot to mention about rust, I crawled all over that car and it did have a spot on the body down low right behind the passenger door. I do miss that car.
Everybody have a good day.
Bill
I’m reading too many nay’sayers on the price being a deterrent. In actuality that’s not a bad asking price. Might reconsider what has already been done, and the condition of what’s left to do.Try imagining your sweat and time to do the same.
It was a Business Man’s coupe, no back seat but a large truck for product samples, etc.
Mike S.