The “’40 Ford” holds a special place in hot rod history, attracting rodders for decades with its iconic front styling and factory V8 power. This 1940 Ford Standard coupe in Kearney, Nebraska stayed in one family since 1965 and retains much of its original equipment. MacsMotorCity illustrates how (among other differences) this Standard model came with the headlight trim and most of its grilled painted black where these parts were polished metal on the fancier Deluxe. Check out more pictures of our feature car here on Facebook Marketplace where $33,500 transfers ownership to a new clan for the first time since the Johnson era. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this flathead Ford.
A “standard” flathead makes “about 100 HP” after a rebuild by California specialists H&H Flatheads, and the seller claims this Midwest classic “cruises flawlessly.” A modernized 12-volt conversion updated the electrical system, and the listing claims all interior and exterior lights work, along with the gauges, heater, parking brake, and more.
The art deco instruments deliver key telemetry more readily than most modern cars, and ivory colored knobs stand out against the dark dash even at night. These two-bar steering wheels pop up in earlier and later Fords and other cars as a simple, elegant swap.
The claimed original paint “is aging,” according to the seller, but it shows plenty of shine at this car show. The ’40 Ford’s iconic chevron tail lights have found their way onto a host of other cars over the years. Blackwall tires and black steel wheels without hubcaps mimic what any would-be hot-rodder accomplished 10 minutes after buying Mom and Pops’ old Ford for $60.
A bench seat with all the styling of your living room sofa keeps with the mostly-original look, and newer upholstery keeps springs from auguring into your gluteus maximus. Aftermarket seat belts underline the seller’s claims of driving this rig “around town anytime.” My folks had a ’40 Plymouth when I was in high school, and I’ve got a soft spot for that era. With all due respect to Plymouth, this Ford is way cooler to my eye, and I’d enjoy it as-is before contemplating any changes. Would you daily drive this mostly-original flathead coupe?
I thoroughly like this car, and if the owner can produce every piece of paper that pertains to the work done on this car, and if my money tree somehow comes back to life, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. I’ve seen rusty MoPars (here’s to you BF) going for more green (or at least asking).
This reminds me of the episode of Roadkill where they road trip a 39 Ford if memory serves. Cool car.
Haggle on the price, clean up the grill, put a right taillight on, and put hub caps on it and hit the road. Nice old car.
Very nice car. I have a 1940 Deluxe and I really like this one.
Is this one light original car grandfathered into modern highway law? When I was young they didn’t require any upgrade provided the original equipment was all there. Not sure I would even try to drive it in daylight as I don’t think it has brake lights, but my memory is not reliable. Remember when this was new “juice brakes” were a fairly new addition. To Fords anyway.
They have brake lights but no turn signals.
At least in Washington State, such things are Grandfathered. A late friend of mine had a relic of car trailer that had been patched and welded over the years. One night he got pulled over by a WSP Trooper. The trooper informed him that he only had one working tail light. He replied, “One’s working?” Yeah. “Great! We’re good then.” No, one’s out. That’s a violation. He handed him the registration for the trailer- titled as a ‘38 Homebuilt. “Have a pleasant evening…”
Looks like a ’39 grille to me
40 standards had a grille similar to a 39 deluxe, but the 40 standard has the solid center piece about 3 inches wide. The 40 standard and 39 deluxe also shared the same hood design.
Personally, I always liked the 40 standard fronts and their painted headlight doors better than either the 39 or 40 deluxe. My brother had a 40 standard Tudor sedan that I had my first driving experiences in at about 12 years old. They will always have a special place in my heart!
I just came across a photo of my father sitting on the fender of his grandfather’s ’40 Ford coupe circa about 1942! Definitely have a sort spot for this beautiful car!
Ready to haul some shine!!
This is a very nice 40 coupe,at the price listed it is a very good buy! The fact that it is std. is a plus. Recently we have seen nice deluxes turned into stds. In the past the deluxe was the most desirable. All the things you guys are questioning is because it is a std. One taillight, plain two spoke steering wheel, plain dash,one sun visor and of course the grill and hood. I am sure I am forgetting a few things mostly minor. I have had my 34 Coupe since 1964 and I will never sell it maybe this 40 is the same. The heirs are selling it not the original owner and I am OK with that!
One taillight because it’s a standard not a deluxe. So I think it’s a smart idea that turn signals have been added. The small bumper mounted lights aren’t factory. One thing that I am confused about is the grill. I certainly am not a forties Ford expert but the grill seems like a 1939 to me. A 1940 front has three parts with two horizontal louvered pieces on each side of the vertical bars. Of course I could be wrong; a not unusual occurrence where I’m concerned. I would like to know however if I am correct about this or not. This is a really nice car and I have always wanted one of these Fords. GLWTS.
The ’40 Std grill is simalar to but not the same as a ’39 Deluxe. As the ’39 std grill is to a ’38 Deluxe, same for ’38 to ’37.
If you search for images of ’40 and ’39 grills, note that on the outer edges of the ’39 the bars are shorter. They don’t go to the bottom. On a ’40 Standard all the bars run from top to bottom. Every in person encounter, as well as every pic of a pure stock ’40 Std I’ve seen the center of the grill is chrome, and the sides are painted. Most of the street rods,(including mine), have a grill that is all chrome. My belief is that they are aftermarket.
All of the late 30’s and 40’s the grill of the current year was new and the stds had last year’s grill. 1938, 1939 and 1940. Some exceptions like commercials,
It’s not an exact science you just kind a have to know. It helps if you are over eighty and have loved these old Fords since you were a pre-teen. Oh that’s me!
Love it!! Add dual exhaust and drive the wheels off of it! Love the sound of a flathead with dual exhaust!
This is a beautiful car.
I’d drive it just the way it is I wouldn’t change a thing.
Love it. Awesome Ford.
I prefer the standard over the deluxe any day. Who needs hubcaps? Just a plain simple automobile. As noted by others, I too would drive it just the way it sits.
While it’s probably priced well it is way out of my reach.
What a splendid example of history.
You can mebee get the car to50mph,but not for long.loud at speed.sound like they are gonna blow at speed.cant keep up to today’s traffic.really.nice to look at those.
Maybe 50? My ‘40 standard is completely stock, right done to the 6-volt sparks. I regularly drive at 60mph+ in LA traffic and the juice brakes work just fine. Maybe someone needs a semester or three of “Car Maintenance 101”?
Rod, When you make a statement like you just did, you might consider saying ” I don’t know but I have heard “. At least that way people might not pass on rumors and half truths like you just did. This car has a rebuilt H&H Flathead and even with low gears it would reach 70 with ease anytime.
Rod, When you make a statement like you just did, you might consider saying ” I don’t know but I have heard “. At least that way people might not pass on rumors and half truths like you just did. This car has a rebuilt H&H Flathead and even with low gears it would reach 70 with ease anytime.
Just saw the fb ad & I like it even more. Side view with no hubcaps. Nice.
Top speed in a ’40 Ford was around 80, but pretty scary anywhere over 65. My deluxe has a ’53 Merc engine and Columbia overdrive, but I won’t push it past 70. These things have to be herded around curves.
But, I wouldn’t want it any other way.