1938 Ford Sedan Delivery

[mercman from oz]

The 1938 Ford Standard sedan delivery has the Body Number 81A-780A while the Deluxe Sedan Delivery is 81A-780B. On Australian assembled Fords, this number is stamped on the Firewall. I can't confirm if the USA assembled Fords had this number stamped or attached?

 

[mercman from oz]

I don't agree with "Cool Kat with Hot Car" in his earlier Post with his statement:-

"In 1938 both the standard and deluxe versions of the Sedan Delivery used the standard passenger car front sheet metal. Thus, there were no 38 (or 39) Sedan Deliveries with the look of the Deluxe passenger cars. All of the front sheet metal on the delivery is the same as the passenger car."

Actually, 1938 was the first year that the Ford Standard and Deluxe models had different front clips. Nothing interchanges between the two series. When the 39 Fords were released, once again, nothing interchanges between the two series. By 1940, the front fenders were shared between the two series, but they had different Hoods and Grilles. So, for these three years, the Standard and Deluxe were very different cars, especially the 38 & 39 models. From the records, it appears that Ford offered the 1938 Sedan Deliveries in both Standard and Deluxe, but I cannot locate a picture of a 1938 Ford Deluxe Sedan Delivery? For 1939, it appears that the Sedan Delivery was only offered as a Standard model, while the 1940 model was only offered as a Deluxe model.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[mercman from oz]

1938 Ford Standard Sedan Delivery.

 

[JSeery]

I love the 38 standard and that Sedan Delivery is nice!!

 

[Fordors]

mercman, in 1937 8,548 Sedan Deliveries were sold but the '38 total was 2,672, the '39 tallied 3,634 and the '40 climbed back up to 4,937. I think the numbers point to the '38-'39 versions not being as well received due to the Standard styling. As "Cool Cat" pointed out 1938 marked the first year for different front sheet metal to differentiate the Standard from Deluxe series Fords and it would appear the use of the Standard body work had an effect on sales of the SD's. The only differences between the Std and Dlx Delivery were as noted in my earlier post and the one you pictured would be considered a Deluxe as it has a plated w/s frame and wipers and body color painted wheels and I believe those are Deluxe hubcaps.
The '40 used the Deluxe front sheet metal and again, was that because the stylist's noted the declining sales figures in '38-'39? 1941 was different again in the sense that it combined some '40 Standard along with '41 pickup design elements, the only Ford to be styled that way.

 

[mikajaakkola]

I spotted these pictures

 

[mercman from oz]

That is a nice 38 Ford Sedan Delivery Posted by mikajaakkola.
Fordors, are you saying that both the Standard and Deluxe Sedan Deliveries shared the same Standard sheet metal at the front? If so, that would explain why you never see this model with the Deluxe Front Sheet Metal from the Deluxe Sedans etc.
This 38 has the 38 Deluxe Hubcaps fitted.
On that basis, is this Sedan Delivery a Deluxe model?

 

[Fordors]

Yes, the few refinements I had mentioned were what made the Deluxe special. With the SD pictured having one wiper I wonder if that means mikajaakkola's had a second wiper added, or were the SD's built in Europe with two?
Not to hi-jack the thread but Canadian built '33 and '34 SD's had two horns with the stainless trumpets, but US built Deliveries had only one black horn. We'll probably never know all the variations in production, and for sure we won't learn the reasons why things were different.

 

[Capt Kirk]

I love seeing these old vehicles wrenched from the jaws of death!

 

[Elmo Rodge]

Were the second wipers installed to accommodate right hand drive? Wayno

 

[mercman from oz]

I believe that for RHD models, the Wiper would still be a single unit, but on the Drivers Side, just like the single Tail Lights on Standard models.

 

[ButchRed33]

Love seeing these old jewels rebuilt. Awesome, there will never be anything made like this again.