While some people don’t consider the 1941 Ford front end as stylish as the previous year, this car is still really cool! Finding an original project like this one is very rare and the bidding is fairly strong. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid over $7,000. Located in Sacramento, California, the ad doesn’t say if it has been a California car most of its life but based on the condition, it may have been. Have a good look at this one. There are over 100 photos in the ad!
As you can see, the interior is not 100% original, but any restoration work seems to have been done quite a while ago. Perhaps this was someone’s project and it was never fully finished? Either way, the interior looks complete and could be driven as-is or re-done as the new owner sees fit.
The original Flathead V8 has been rebuilt, which is great. It also has been upgraded with an aluminum radiator and a rebuilt generator. The electrical system is still 6-volt, which could be converted to 12v if the new owner wants to. The car also features the factory 3-speed manual transmission, so it won’t win any races but will get you where you want to go. The seller says it “runs, drives, and stops” but no information on how well it does them.
The ad says there has been some bodywork started. Overall, this looks like a pretty cool project that would be a fun restoration or hot rod project. If it was yours, which way would you take the build?
Like so many others I always regarded the ’41 Ford as the ‘Red-Headed Stepchild.’ It just didn’t have what preceded it and it lacked the appeal of what came afterward. The ’41 was a good car, no doubt about it but I honestly think the designers were drinking their own bathwater. Must have been the same ones who concocted the ’38 Deluxe. Still, this car looks great, and has a lot of potential. I sure wouldn’t kick it off my driveway…
Not just in comparison with the ’40 and ’42/46-8 Fords but with the ’41 Chevy.
Be nice to the 38s. That front end styling was spot on, love the look of the deluxe.
The Brits would use the word “frumpy” to describe this car. I’d be tempted to build a mild street rod out of this car. Good repaint, modified flathead, ’39 floor shifter, wider steel wheels and a mild California rake lowering job.
I will probably be burned at the stake for this comment, but I would keep it very original, with a couple exceptions. The interior and the exterior would be fairly original to the naked eye, but I would possibly upgrade the steering and brakes. I would upgrade the driveline. Maybe a 302 with a T5 or an AOD out of a Mustang. I used to feel like I was quite the deal when I would mess with carburetors and get a car to run better, but now I am pretty over it and get annoyed pretty quickly. Doing a drivetrain upgrade would make it reliable but with original brakes, steering and ride would leave a bit of the original thrill.
maybe a better explanation is what my brother said to a friend who put a corvette suspension under a task force chevy truck: “why didn’t you just buy a corvette?”
Would be sad to replace the original powertrain–the flathead V8’s are so much a part of Ford history. Maybe destroy a Camry instead.
What’s up with the seat? Looks like a reupholstered worn out futon.
Mike,
I had a ’41 business coupe, and the seat looked the same. I was told it was because the front seat assembly was different from all the other Ford front seats, as the seat back raises up to gain access to the storage area. This was done because the seat travel was not long enough to allow suitcases to be put in the rear area. I always wondered why Ford didn’t simply use the same folding seat back seat as used in the 2-door sedans.
When you open the door and see the plastic hinge cover it’s a real turn off to me!! These cars were steel and most things that are plastic now were bake o lite then!! A period correct fiftys hot rod would be the way I would do this pre war ford!! It’s the only way to go and being so close to the forth of July would honor the men that came back and did the same thing!!
I expect to see Jr. Johnson come out of the background and demonstrate the moonshine tank drains. I like it but haven’t room for it.
Love the 41. Had the 41 Woodie Wagon. Leave it stock. And as mentioned, if you want air and power everything go buy a camry or honda. They each are a 41 Ford fender.
I have hi powered, air, power this and that, but leave this to experience hi performance from when we entered WWII.
I am weird. I love Daytona’s, 68 Charger RT’s with round tail lites. Charger RT/SE with Sunroofs. 69 Charger RT.
Love the Mint Green sedan!
Oh well, gotta get ready to do a tv show tomorrow on Daytona’s
This is a l941 “Special”, business coupe. Not “Deluxe” or “Super Deluxe”. Cheapest car in the ’41 lineup; a true salesman’s special. The roof line on the business coupe has a softer slope than the now more common “club coupe” with a rear seat. These look great as just a mild custom; nosed, decked, lowered, skirts, pipes. You’re done!
It’s a nice car, I certainly wouldn’t turn it away from my garage. I do like the 40 better but so do all the money people so that leaves me out. I would prefer a 47 only because that’s the year I was born.
I hope it’s kept stock.
God bless America
My Dad had a 1941 Ford 2 Door Sedan, Black. Remembered the engine catching on fire one time. A city policeman happened to drive past us, he stopped and put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Had it towed home, my Dad rewired the entire system as that was the main problem for the fire. Not much else hurt under the hood. This was in the late 50s
and at that time, wiring harnesses were not available, so each wire was individually cut, spliced and wired. Drove the car for several additional years.
I know these are rare. Perhaps it is an acquired taste, but they are just ugly to me.