Early Ford fans can name plenty of favorites – the revolutionary v8-equipped ’32, a hot rod icon even today; the ’37 with its dramatic grille restyle; the refined ’39 – the first year of hydraulic brakes; and the modernized ’40. For ’39 fans, here’s a Deluxe coupe, waiting for a saviour. It’s advertised on eBay as a parts or project car, with a price of $10,250. Decide whether to continue its hot rod journey, or bring it back to stock, then pick it up from McCool Junction, Nebraska. Thanks to T.J. for the great tip!
The ’39 Ford Deluxe was a new design harkening to the upscale Lincoln-Zephyr. Its sharp-nosed styling was penned by Bob Gregorie and inspired by Edsel Ford’s fondness for yachting. While both the Standard and the Deluxe employed a new alligator hood opening, the teardrop headlamps, bright trim around the windshields, and a new grille were reserved for Deluxe buyers. The ’39 represented the beginnings of Ford’s “upsell” strategy, aiming to draw new customers who might not be ready for a Lincoln. This car comes with a Chevy small block still wearing its hoist chain, backed by a Turbo-Hydramatic 350 transmission and a Mopar rear end. No word whether the engine runs, but I’m going to guess it doesn’t.
The interior is left up to the buyer’s imagination. The ’39 coupe originally seated three across on a single bench seat. The seller notes that he has the hood and cowl trim. This was the last year of the crank-out windshield; in 1940, Ford substituted vent windows to facilitate airflow. The Deluxe came with that banjo-style steering wheel that’s still present, a locking glove box, and sun visors. It was the last year (for a while, anyway) of a floor-mounted shifter; in 1940, all of Ford’s cars came equipped with a column-shift gear lever to maximize interior space.
The 1939 coupe body style is one of the most attractive ever produced. The trunk was capacious, but its best feature was its long, gentle curve, drawing the rear fenders back to that neat tail. Deluxe buyers received two tail lamps as a matter of course; Standard buyers could order one more to augment the single lamp on the driver’s side. A few dents can be found around this example’s body, but rust is minimal. What say you – bring it back to stock, or hunt up its hot rod history and steer that direction?
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