1940 Rear Bumper: Ford Script ?

FRITZ47

FRITZ47

Senior Member
I have a rear bumper with "Ford" in script in the center. Bumper isn't bad, but needs plated. I can buy a new bumper, but without the "Ford" in script.

Which is original - with "Ford" in script, or without? If the "Ford" belongs, I will have my bumper plated.

Hoping to keep it as original as possible.

Fritz

Attached pictures taken at previous owner's garage prior to my purchase, showing the "Ford" in script.
 

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NO Ford script on a 40 passenger car. The "new" bumpers are not correct. The curvature is wrong, there are no ribs on the back and the quality, well, being made of soft steel, they are not what Ol' Henry put out... I would suggest you scour ebay or other sites and find an authentic bumper to plate.
By the way, I know you are trying to get this car back to "authentic"... the rear license plate bracket should be body color.
 
Thanks Kube for the bumper info. I will check my options, but it looks as if "no Ford Script", unlike the pictures taken (and posted) before I purchased the car (with Ford Script in center).

As for the license plate bracket, the pictures shown were of the car before my purchase, but I sure was not aware that the license plate bracket should have been body color. This is not a problem, as we have plenty of maroon paint! Thanks for noticing this, as I would have missed this for sure. We are not restoring this car for judging purposes, but I still like to keep everything that we do as original as possible - usually the cost is the same, so why not do the research? The car has dual exhausts (I know - not original and also not loud at all, but mellow). These will be left "as is" and in its next life, can always be changed if someone cares to do so.

Fritz
 
FRITZ47 ........................
In 1946, the rear bumpers have an oval Ford script in the center. They are fairly scarce. I don't think that yours is one of those.
MIKE
 
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I believe the bumper you have on your car is one that came only on the 1941 Special, an economy class passenger car. It has always been actively hunted by collectors for use on their '40s. Bob Drake sells this bumper; it is pictured in his catalog.
 
wspiker said:
I believe the bumper you have on your car is one that came only on the 1941 Special, an economy class passenger car. It has always been actively hunted by collectors for use on their '40s. Bob Drake sells this bumper; it is pictured in his catalog.
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??? Well if this bumper is actively hunted for use on '40s, and I have such a nice '40, do you recommend having this bumper plated and staying with it, since it was on the car at time of my purchase? Does Bob Drake or someone else sell the correct non-script 1940 bumper for my car?

The cost of plating and cost of new repro bumper are about the same... Others also sell 1940 Ford non-script bumpers (Midwest Early Ford, Mac's, etc.). I haven't checked Carpenter as yet and maybe Spadero might have something.

They all are about the same price and probably are made at the same factory in China anyhow, or am I wrong on this ? The Ford Script looks quite nice on the car. Just looking for some advice and thanks to everyone who came up with so much information.

Fritz
 
My 41 Deluxe has one, which is a repop, that looks nice.
Not a problem for me.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time
 
From many previous posts it is my understanding that repops are made from mild steel and not spring steel like the originals. I would get it re-plated and stay with the Ford logo. A nice touch I think. JMO
John
 
FRITZ47 said:
??? Well if this bumper is actively hunted for use on '40s, and I have such a nice '40, do you recommend having this bumper plated and staying with it, since it was on the car at time of my purchase? Does Bob Drake or someone else sell the correct non-script 1940 bumper for my car?

The cost of plating and cost of new repro bumper are about the same... Others also sell 1940 Ford non-script bumpers (Midwest Early Ford, Mac's, etc.). I haven't checked Carpenter as yet and maybe Spadero might have something.

They all are about the same price and probably are made at the same factory in China anyhow, or am I wrong on this ? The Ford Script looks quite nice on the car. Just looking for some advice and thanks to everyone who came up with so much information.

Fritz
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If you do not care about authenticity then go with it. You may have misunderstood the statement that these are actively sought for guys with 40's. That is true but not guys restoring 40 Fords.
As far as I know all the repop bumpers are the same quality (lack thereof).
 
It's your car. If the rear bumper is an original unit and you like it then rechrome it. It makes for a good conversation piece.
 
If you are going to make the rear license bracket maroon to be correct, then don't put a 41 bumper on the rear. Since the car isn't a hot rod, many will point out that you have the wrong bumper. Are your sure the bumper isn't already a reop? Drake makes a bumper that looks like that, and an old one would surely need to be replated. A stock 40 bumper for your car is not hard to find, it is the same bumper as the front, and as stated will have 2 raised ridges on the backside. You can find one on ebay or at a swap meet and sell the one you have likewise. I agree with Kube.
 
As another member said, I believe that the 1941 Ford "Deluxe" models (Actually that year's standard models, since the fancier trimmed 1941 Fords were dubbed "Super Deluxe") used 1940 style bumpers (probably left overs from 1940, since Ford never wasted anything!). The rear bumper on the 1941 Deluxe had a "Ford" logo stamped into the center of the bumper. When I bought a 1940 Deluxe Tudor project from Arizona (Later built by dad and me, and then sold to dad) it had one of those Ford script 1941 Deluxe rear bumpers (Long before Bob Drake started making them.). I just had it re-chromed, installed it, and painted the recessed logo red. It looks like it belongs there, and has become a bit of a conversation piece.
 

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Hey PushRod........is that a third stop light on the license plate ? Nice looking ride you have there !

Thx......Mike
 
mike42 said:
Hey PushRod........is that a third stop light on the license plate ? Nice looking ride you have there !

Thx......Mike
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Yes that is a third brake light, it works very well, unfortunately dad was not stepping on the brakes when I shot that photo! All I can remember about that license plate frame is that I picked it up at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals. It is made of polished aluminum. That same indoor vendor is there every year. I installed the same one on my coupe.

push_rod
 
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