1940 Ford been sitting since 1957

plumfat40

plumfat40

Junior Member
1940 FORD DELUXE TUDOR SEDAN​



“OUT OF STORAGE AFTER 55 YEARS!!!!”​



This 1940 Ford was purchased by George C. Wiley on January 13, 1945 as a used car while George was stationed in Big Spring Texas as a bombing instructor and pilot on AT-11 aircraft. At the end of WWII George and his family moved to Albuquerque New Mexico in there trusted 40 Ford. George continued to drive and mildly customize the old Ford, he swapped in a Mercury 59AB engine that worked well with the still present Columbia 2speed Rearend, he added rear skirts, a Sun Tachometer, Perry Coolant Filters, a Spotlight Mirror, Front Fog Light, Chrome Instrument Cluster, Woodgrained Fan, Thermometer, and Custom Plaid Interior. During the very early 1950’s there was a fender bender and the right front fender was replaced and a “CustomMetalflake” paintjob was performed. Around the spring of 1957 the transmission developed a problem and the car was given to his 16 year old son Ray Wiley, with the intention that they would get it repaired . Days turned to years and the old Ford just sat in his dad’s shop. I still cannot believe that this 16 year old didn’t at least take the car apart. Sadly in 1999 George Wiley passed, and during the estate sale his son Ray refused to let the old Ford go, so he brought it to his home garage in Colorado Springs and another 10 years past. At 70 years old Ray decided that he would never get to enjoy the old Ford and asked me to be the next caretaker. I agreed and insisted that when it was done that he take the car and cruise it around! I have left the car as found except for a fresh 59AB, a lowered stance, new whitewalls and a good cleaning and a sloppy repaint of the right front fender so it didn’t look too out of place.

I am honored to be the caretaker of this piece of history and intend to preserve its history while driving the wheels off of it!!!
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I love the stance of your car!!! How did you modify the suspension and what wheel/tire combo are you running?
 
cool story....and it's looking great....why go with later heads on the 59??.....thanks for sharing.....hope the previous owner enjoys what you've done...Mike
 
That is one beautiful 40 ford. Glad to see that you respected Georges vision. Any input from son Ray now that shes back on the road after a 54 year slumber?
 
nice looking original car ,,the old gal deserved to find the open road again....i like everything about it!....thanks for the story....
 
Snowman said:
I love the stance of your car!!! How did you modify the suspension and what wheel/tire combo are you running?
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I had the stco front axle dropped, and added a posie spring and shorter front shocks, rear just removed a few leaves, tires are 6.00x16 fronts and 7.50x16 rears on stock 40 wheels with Mercury caps
 
Mac VP said:
What about the ****** issue? Did you refresh that?
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The engine and trans I installed were from a 48 merc convertible that a gentleman here was making a streetrod. So it was a restored car so I just took a chance cleaned it up and installed it. runs very good, wasnt too sure on the late heads but runs well. I will be rebuilding the other engine and the bad trans to install in my wifes 40 pickup.
 
TJ said:
Has the son driven it yet?
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I have been able to put a few hundred miles on it. I called him to take it over however he and his wife are traveling the country in there motorhome and will get a chance to take it out when they return....
 
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