39 deluxe - 40 deluxe

I like the 39 Deluxe best and just bought one. It is the most affordable 30's flathead V8 and I don't understand why? It has a classic look of understated elegance.

I like the 40s, too, but it is a very different look. A high school buddy had a very nice original 40 business coupe that we spent a lot of time in, me usually in the jump seat in the back. I often wonder what happened to that car.
 
It's all in the eyes of the beholder, but for me (I've had both), the '39 wins hands down. I regret letting it go (a convertible sedan) and do not regret letting the '40 go (a station wagon). It depends in part on the body type, but a '39 convertible runs circles around a '40 convertible in the styling department because of the better balance between the greenhouse and the rest of the body. What the '40 needs is another 6-8 inches of wheelbase to balance off that bulky top.

Both year's coupes look great as is.
 
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DavidG said:
It's all in the eyes of the beholder, but for me (I've had both), the '39 wins hands down. I regret letting it go (a convertible sedan) and do not regret letting the '40 go (a station wagon). It depends in part on the body type, but a '39 convertible runs circles around a '40 convertible in the styling department because of the better balance between the greenhouse and the rest of the body. What the '40 needs is another 6-8 inches of wheelbase to balance off that bulky top.

Both coupes look great as is.
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Dave, I have restored both '39 and '40 convertibles and in this instance, you are correct. Bringing the rear seating under the roof was a huge styling mistake. You won't get an argument from me.
 
For me 39 deluxes ( and the 40 std ) have the much sleeker front end styling.
Never have liked the squared off hood on the 40 deluxes.
But - the 40 was a run-out model and an improvement over the 39's.
No more leaking windscreens, 3 passengers in the front seat because of the column shift, vent widows in the front doors, more modern appearing dash etc.
Even though Ford went back to circular gauges later.
I also really like the 39 standard front - beautiful bold styling.
Chris.NZ.
 
Another vote for the 39 Deluxe...grill,lights(fore and aft)one piece door glass,chrome screen frame,hood trim....but I prefer the 40 deluxe dash, to me there is not a better dash .
I've had a 40 Deluxe and a Standard and that was mainly based on wanting a 39 deluxe but not being able to find one over here at the time.The 40 Deluxe grill was something that I couldn't grow to like, unfortunately.

I also prefer the 33 over the more fussy 34...just looks leaner to me.
 
19Fordy said:
Think how neat it would have been if Henry had made a 1940 Standard convertible.
Wonder if anyone has ever made that conversion?
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Here's mine!
 

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Who hasn't thought about this one ! When I was 18 years old, I had a 40 Standard. Always wished I had a Deluxe dash. Everyone I knew, at the time, was in love with the 40 Ford, chevron tail lights. Anyone, who had a 40, loved those chrome headlight rims. I found a set, and put them on my 40 Standard. At that time, 1961, any 18 year old, wanted a floor shift, and for $10 or $15 bucks you could find one, and put it in. That is what 18 year old's did! That is what I did. At that time, 40 Fords were kind of magical cars. 39's represented 37, 38, and 39, an older styling. 41 thru 48 represented a later, bigger styling. !940 was a ' stand alone style. '..........Fast forward to today. So much has change! People appreciate the little nuances from 1939, so much more now, it seems. The end of an era items on a 39 really seem to mean more now. The ' smokers ' windows, the last of the opening, plated, windshield frames, the round gauges, the floor shift, the overhead wipers etc. 39 represents the last of an era. 1940 represents the Ford Henry, brought out to modernize, and put it to Chey, and Plymouth. They are both, outstanding cars. What would I pick ? look at my avatar !
 
I had a '40 standard coupe in the early sixties. It was a hot rod, of course, but pretty nifty with the '40 deluxe headlight rims, '39 Deluxe grille, '39 gearbox. Sure would like to have it back today. I now have a '40 Deluxe Tudor. Like some others, I do not like the busy grille. Never did.
Ron
 
The grille in my '40 Deluxe Tudor was an old reproduction with failing chrome. I decided to paint the grille body color to see how it would look before spending money on a new one. I'm actually very pleased with the way that it came out and fits in well with the mild hot rod look I'm going for. Now if I could only find those dang '39 headlights!
 
wisbangman said:
Who hasn't thought about this one ! When I was 18 years old, I had a 40 Standard. Always wished I had a Deluxe dash. Everyone I knew, at the time, was in love with the 40 Ford, chevron tail lights. Anyone, who had a 40, loved those chrome headlight rims. I found a set, and put them on my 40 Standard. At that time, 1961, any 18 year old, wanted a floor shift, and for $10 or $15 bucks you could find one, and put it in. That is what 18 year old's did! That is what I did. At that time, 40 Fords were kind of magical cars. 39's represented 37, 38, and 39, an older styling. 41 thru 48 represented a later, bigger styling. !940 was a ' stand alone style. '..........Fast forward to today. So much has change! People appreciate the little nuances from 1939, so much more now, it seems. The end of an era items on a 39 really seem to mean more now. The ' smokers ' windows, the last of the opening, plated, windshield frames, the round gauges, the floor shift, the overhead wipers etc. 39 represents the last of an era. 1940 represents the Ford Henry, brought out to modernize, and put it to Chey, and Plymouth. They are both, outstanding cars. What would I pick ? look at my avatar !
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Nice looking 39 Standard! I agree...:)
 
This my second 39, my first I built when I was in High School wit a 322 Nail Head, My current 39 is a 350 SMB with TH350.
I guess you could say i like 39's
 
39topless, I have to admit that looks good. Stick some 40 DeLuxe headlight bezels, if you please.
 
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