1942 ford black-out model

I believe that as vehicle production changed from civilian to wartime use, items that would have been plated were painted instead. This would suggest your vehicle was one of the last of the production line.
 
What is the serial number of your car. I have 2 42s and maybe can come close to guessing when yours was made
 
I worked on the very last documented civilian car produced before WWII and it had plated rings. Not sure about the blackout model though.
 
I have two NOS park light assemblies and one is painted maroon and the other is black. Knowing how Ford production varied so much at this time, I would thing either body colour, black or zinc plated could be correct, although 'blackout' by definition might imply painted as opposed to bright.
 
Good point meric42, what exactly is a 'black-out' model. I know about how cars were adapted post factory for black-out use, but a 'black-out' model?
 
"Black out" vehicles came about as a result of the War Production Board deeming certain materials strategic. Triple chrome uses copper and nickle, and the stainless trim also has a nickle content. The WPB put out lists of items and materials that were needed for the war effort and consequently civilians couldn't get those things.
Those civilian vehicles built with black out trim were not built that way as a defense mechanism, only as a result of the strategic materials list.
 
I never heard that but I bet it's possible. There were many changes, some die cast items like grille pieces became stamped, for example. Soybean sounds likely now that you mention it, since Henry had already experimented with soy-based body panels. In Illinois license plates in that era were made of soy, they are kind of like a really stout cardboard.
 
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Youall should get and read the V-8 ford club book 41 -48 Fords. Ken Brown stated he never was able to determine with certainty that any black out cars were ever built. He also seems to say that all govt contract specials were 6 cyl. That would seem to say that if you have a black out govt build car the serial number should under 227523. I think Ken was the best authority on 42s. I have a few black parts also 1 radiator surround and 2 parking light bezels. They could have been used on specials and deluxes, which had less chrome than special deluxe. Yes Henry loved to try and sub soy beans for petrol products
 
As I have a 41 business coupe I looked the one at Hershey over pretty good. It was a Special and was very correct. I thought maybe it was made up in blackout because it was a 41 but why would somebody do that? Anyway the trim was of a material resembling bakelite. The one tailight was also. The headlite rims appeared to be painted as was the grilles.
 
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