The classic scene contains many niche sectors with devoted followers, and some of the most passionate become involved with vintage race cars. That is what is offered with this 1940 Ford DeLuxe Coupe. It is a solid and complete gem that provides a world of possibilities. The new owner could preserve it, although online resources may provide photos allowing the car to recapture its former glory. However, with its body largely unmodified, it could return to active duty on our streets. If you have a clear vision and the available funds, you will find this Ford listed here on eBay in Port Richey, Florida. Bidding sits below the reserve at $1,691, although there is a BIN option of $16,000. I must say a huge thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting a survivor that has struck a chord with me.
It is possible to draw parallels between vintage race cars and traditional old-school hot rods. Both were usually created by owners on a tight budget, meaning they utilized any parts that came to hand. The world has changed, and that happens less often today. This Coupe began its track life in the 1950s, competing regularly in the area around Jacksonville, Florida. It is unclear whether it has competed consistently or if it may have spent time in hibernation. As per racing regulations at the time, it retains its original split windshield. Otherwise, the remaining glass and headlamps are gone. Some functional exterior trim, like the grille and door handles, is intact. However, the builder would have removed unnecessary items to reduce weight. The panels sport bumps and bruises consistent with a racer of this type, but the lack of rust surprises me. No significant problems are visible in the supplied photos, and the complete nature of this vehicle unearths a possibility that some might consider. The Coupe’s body structure hasn’t been radically cut or modified, retaining most of its factory steel. If the new owner isn’t passionate about racing, it could be a perfect candidate for a restoration that would return it to its original spot on our roads. Although it is unlikely to happen, it isn’t an unattainable goal.
Powering this racer is a 239ci Ford flathead V8 of 1949 – 1953 vintage. In its original form, it would have produced between 100hp and 110hp. However, most racers applied upgrades to lift that figure higher. After all, find me a racer who has said, “I think my car needs less power.” Trust me, that ain’t going to happen! It is unclear whether the car received such enhancements, but it won’t surprise me if the flathead is no longer standard. This car feeds its power to the rear wheels via a three-speed Top Loader transmission, which is a bulletproof combination. The seller performed some sensible modifications to improve reliability, including upgrading the electrical system to twelve volts and fitting a new generator. It also features an electronic ignition, a new battery, plugs, new plug wires, a dual master cylinder, a new fuel cell, and a thermo-control cooling fan. They rebuilt the carburetor, ensuring this classic performs well on the show circuit.
As a person who hung up their helmet a few years ago, I looked at the safety system inside this old Ford, and it made me wonder how some of the racers in the days of old survived the cut-and-thrust of competition. I surrounded myself with yards of Chromoly tubing, strapping myself into a full-containment seat using a five-point lever latch harness. The system inside this vintage classic is far more basic. The driver and passenger receive low-back buckets with no head support, with the driver restrained by a lap belt. The passenger needs to hang on tight and hope for the best! Rollcage? Nope, not even a consideration. However, there’s a nice thick wheel and an array of new gauges to monitor this beast’s mechanical health. As with the exterior, almost anything surplus to requirements is gone. It is worth noting that the interior steel isn’t cut or significantly modified. That could make returning this classic to the road possible. Otherwise, it could be left untouched as a tribute to its creator.
It is common for owners to hit the track in their racing machinery and compete until that vehicle becomes obsolete. They may transfer useable parts to its successor, but once the car has served its purpose, it generally heads to the scrapyard if a buyer for the remains can’t be found. Sentiment usually doesn’t enter the equation. That was the fate of many vintage racers, although some beat the odds. That is the case with this 1940 Ford Coupe, and its overall condition is surprising considering the life it led. The lack of significant rust could make it an ideal candidate for restoration as a road car. However, the internet might supply period photos allowing it to be restored to its original racing glory. If I found it in my workshop, I would preserve it, allowing it to proudly carry the scrapes and bumps that are part of its racing heritage. Do you agree?
At least four references to the possibility of returning it to a “road car”. Why the obsession? The whole shtick here is, “vintage race car”. Are restorable ‘40 Fords that impossible to come by? Honest question.
Thank you for the feedback, Euromoto. I only raised the prospect of a return to the road to emphasize how solid this old Ford is. If I found it in my workshop, I would preserve it as it currently stands. It is part of our motorsport heritage and deserves nothing less.
I would leave it just the way she sits. Except maybe sand blast the wheels, or find some old rusty vintage racing wheels at a swap meet. I’d buy a 1956 F-250, even a long bed, try to find an old vintage racing trailer, load em all up and hit the Good Guys car show circuit. Just imagine some of the conversations with old time race car drivers you could have. Gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
Aw geez, here come the water works, if this doesn’t flash you ( us) old farts back to the figure 8 days of yore, well, then dig the hole. This was every American kids dream. This probably dates from the early to mid 50’s, before OHVs, and ’40 Fords were a dime a dozen. Florida beach racing in then remote areas, drew big crowds. It was the precursor to NASCAR, but at this time, just a bunch of good ol’ boys and girls( except we never heard of the girls, but there were plenty), gone racing for almost nothing. Yeah,,,there’s a word we don’t hear much,,,nothing.
Anyway, cool find, obviously no interest, and what do you do with it? Just starting it up will surely pizz someone off, so sad.
To answer Adams question about safety, one must remember, these guys were fresh off the battle field, and needed some kicks, safety, like during the war, was , “you were on your own”, mentality, heck, Dick Trickle had a cigarette lighter in his cars, THIS was racing. There were plenty of mishaps, but not many fatalities as speed hadn’t gotten to the real dangerous levels,,yet. Once while flying over some barren area, I looked down, and saw a clear outline of an abandoned figure 8 track and I wondered, how many cars like this graced that track so long ago,,,( sniff),,there you have it, what us old farts held dear. No wonder we’re so out of place today.
I can almost hear Dick Lane saying “WHOA NELLY!”
Reminds me of this ’57 Chevy that sits on the side of
Highway 220,in Oak Level,VA.
It’d be cool to see cars like these run on the dirt again.
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing run the cars at different local tracks throughout the season.
Not so sure this saw a lot of track time, stock bumpers and the steering wheel doesn’t fit the era. Door panels and metal under the hood don’t work for the time either. Biggest issue is the lack of body damage, come on got to rub the paint at least. Not that hard to piece something to look like an older racecar. Oh yeah live in Jax and did the Google. The old dirt track was quite bumpy and there were numerous cars damaged or wrecked because of the track. Speedway park was the name. Every seller is honest.
Cadmanls , I thought the same thing. It could not have been in too many races for it to be in this shape. Something smells.
Totally agree- Anyone that’s been to a racetrack can tell you its a contact sport
I think this is a made up racer slash rat rod (choke) If you look at most of the vintage racers you will see the rear windows cut out into a huge single hole. For the life of me though don’t know why this car was built this way. Seems like a nice builder for anything else but this trap.
The 57 above wasn’t raced in the 50’s. More like the 1970’s. Went to a track in 1977 and everyone was racing a Tri Five. I believe the class was hobby stock. Take note. Yes there was a time when the mighty T5 was not worth crap.
I think you may be right. Images of ’40 Ford stock cars then, look much different, with fenders cut open and no hoods. The ’57 as you mentioned, was the ubiquitous stock car well into the 80s. My ex-BIL raced a ’65 Chevy at Hales Corners( now a Menards), in the early 80s and there were still lots of ’57 Chevys and for good reason. Not sure what it was, but they always did well.
At my home track, anything from the 50’s was retired by 1973, and all the Chevy boys reskinned to Camaros.
I grew up in the 1950’s, my parents were race fans, and I was at every dirt track in Western PA and NE Ohio at one time or another in those days. I can tell you that this “Race” car wasn’t on any dirt track that was close to the ones I was at for more than one heat race. As you guys said: “Every seller is honest.”
It may have been built back in the day, but if it got near a race track it likely
didn’t race because it doesn’t have a roll bar and wouldn’t pass tech inspection. The rules were lax, but even in the mid-1950’s roll bars were required. I even got out my 1957 program from Toledo Raceway Park to verify that. It may have been legal in Florida in the early 50’s, but it couldn’t have run anywhere that I know of in the late 1950/early 1960’s.
The locals who ran 1940 Fords in the 1950’s had 2″ pipe bumpers front and rear, the stock bumpers on this one would have been bent into a pretzel by lap two of the first heat race.
It’s still a cool car and I like it, but I’m sure it’s not what the seller claims it is.
I too grew up in the 50’s and my father started out racing these jalopies around Western PA and Eastern OH. He soon advance to driving Modifieds then to Sprints.
All of these race cars used truck spindles and heavy duty wheels. And they had radiator protectors made out of anything laying around. The wheel openings were always opened up to prevent tire cuts.
Those were also the days that these cars were towed to the track with the family vehicle of truck. No one had trailers. I remember many of times that as these cars were leaving the track that someone would have to get out and straighten the front wheels.
I’m 70 now, and I can remember these stock car races like it was yesterday!
Debo was on the Ohio River between Steubenville and Wheeling. Ran through 1965.
That houseboat would have been about a Half-mile south of where Debo was located.
Assume one of those tracks was Debo Speedway?
Never heard of it. Where was it?
Got it. I don’t remember my father racing there. He did race in Morgantown, WV a few times. But, they were big races (100 laps).
I know the area Debo was in well. During the Wheeling flood some years ago, there was a houseboat left in the middle of the golf course in Rayland.
If you want an interesting read about old tracks, look up “board tracks”. They were big in the 20’s. But during the depression era 30’s, they were torn up for firewood.
This is not a 40, look at the windshield wipers they are above the windshield, 40 was below windshield, this would have a crank out windshield
You are correct Gary, that’s a 39 Ford body. with apparently a 1940 front fenders and hood.
I have a 40 deluxe coupe, this also has had a 40 dash put in it
That looks like Dereks car from VGG. He did an episode on it.
Looking at this, I can almost hear Dick Lane saying “WHOA NELLY!” (Boy, am I dating myself.)
Is this the Price is right? choose window 1,2 or 3. I haven’t seen a car on here lately that priced low enough for the average wrench twister. As an owner I like to see the values go high, as a buyer I want to see them bottom out. They say we are heading into a great recession so I expect prices for these obsolete heaps to drop dramatically in the near future. If I were to buy a car like this (which won’t happen) it would be for nostalgia purposes only, it would sit parked where only I could view it as I reminisce about times gone by. I couldn’t care less if it’s period correct or not, I might even use it for a chicken coop if I had any, which I don’t. 40 Ford coupe though that really does do something for me.
God Bless America
Bloviator stories.
Who said you had to read them!
Neat tribute to a long-gone era of racing. But certainly not a veteran of those wars. I’ve owned a real car from that era, and the modifications made to cars of that period have already been covered by others. This car has none of those features. All that said it would make a neat car for the annual gathering at the North Turn in Daytona Beach. But not a anywhere near the BIN price.
I don’t think this car ever raced in the era it is resenting. To realize that you need to be approaching 70 and more likely in your 80’s and had exposure to stock car racing by the time you were 10 years old. I was lucky, I had family, Dad and Uncles and others who loved the dirt track racing. In Denver where I grew up there was, a dirt track that was built in the 1940’s. It started with Midgets and then Modified’s, mostly Model T Roadsters with Flat Heads. They were my favorites. Then came what we called the Jalopy’s ,which were like this 39 Ford, stripped down mid 30,s and early 40,s cars. Then came figure 8’s , stock cars , mostly early 30’s cars and they got pretty fast, also late models started showing up. A few Sprint cars and midgets races. The dirt track in Denver was now in a residential neighborhood and that started the beginning of the end. But, I did get a great exposure to early racing beginning when I was less than 8 years old and I loved ,still do!
Hi Joe H., I grew up in the Denver area in the late 60s, 70s and beyond. I’ve been to Englewood Speedway many times. I think that’s the track you’re talking about. The good ol dirt track Rocky Mountain Speedway has been leveled for a long time now. Lakeside Speedway is still standing but in very bad shape. Colorado National has racing every weekend in the summer. I still try to see a race at least once a year. Nice talking to ya!
Never raced,….fenders,runnin boards,bumpers,…all wrong,…this car was never a race car,…it would be out first lap, some real race car and driver would fold the bumper and fender in, just to remove them from track, and teach them a few things about what not to have on A TRACK car!TOO CLEAN N STRAIGHT!!!
Woofer, you are exactly right about Engelwood Speedway and Lakeside too. Both are long gone ,but a big part of my youth and my love affair with cars began at these Race Tracks. In the early years at Englecwood, there was no fence or guard rails. The back stretch was elevated, and we would drive to the track and park on the street and watch for free. Between turn 2 and and turn 3 any confrontation ended up with the cars rolling off the elevated portion of the track and landing in front of the spectators in the free zone. Most of the time ,they would just keep going and dive to the front stretch and get back on the track. A few years ago the local Elks Club held a tribute Car Show and party dedicated to the race track. I was invited with my car and it was a great time, lots of memories.
Bidding ended at just below $6,300 which is about right on the money for a car like this. A little history to go along with the car would bump it a bit, but without it I would have taken that bid and sold the car.