Double Trouble - Sloper

[Russ/40]

Great and very interesting thread! Keep it coming, especially the progress photos.

 

[oz40]

The whole lip was rusted out so the repair sections was made out of (3) pieces with the screw mounting places measured up and then the correct angle on the folds done, and finally a small shrink done to give the right curvature near the ends of the dash.
Here I put a little heat on in the very corners just to sharpen the kick up of the curve.
Then I tack welded these up with the mig, ready for a little bit of grinding of the mig weld and then getting them for final oxy hammer weld.

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

According to Ford Geelong sales book the correct name for Slopers was "Coupe Sedan"
There were only 1763 units made for the 1939 and 1940 style.

There is a body number stamped on the firewall near the kidney shaped metal cover over the wiring loom. For '39 Standard it reads S91C*** and for Deluxe D91C***, the Standard cowl, bonnet and fenders differ to Deluxe style.
In 1939 there were 1160 units, 368 were Standard and 792 were Deluxe.

The 1940 Sloper has a cowl number stamped 01A-70-*** ther were 603 units, 342 were Standard and 261 were Deluxe. Production of 40's ceased in December 1948.

In 1980's I owned a 1940 Deluxe Sloper, cowl number 01A-70-428, made in December 1941

In the late 30s' through to 48 we got US styled coupes down here in NZ while the Australians didn't but we didn't get any 40s' because FOMOCO NZ had gone to War Production. I've always understood "slopers" to be coupe substitues and the correct designation you point out probably backs that up. Ford of Australia was quite innovative when it comes to body styles, something to do with a percentage of Aussie build content if I am right. ......correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[oz40]

Hi Graeme,
You are right there on 'Aussie Content'
Politics methodolgy has not changed since then either

In the late 30s' through to 48 we got US styled coupes down here in NZ while the Australians didn't but we didn't any 40s' because FOMOCO NZ had gone War Production. I've always understood "slopers" to be coupe substitues and the correct designation you point out probably backs that up. Ford of Australia was quite innovative when it comes to body styles, something to do with a percentage of Aussie build content if I am right. ......correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Tudortomnz]

In the late 30s' through to 48 we got US styled coupes down here in NZ while the Australians didn't but we didn't any 40s' because FOMOCO NZ had gone War Production. I've always understood "slopers" to be coupe substitues and the correct designation you point out probably backs that up. Ford of Australia was quite innovative when it comes to body styles, something to do with a percentage of Aussie build content if I am right. ......correct me if I'm wrong.

True. With great hindsight, the Australian govt. only allowed car companies to operate within the country if they provided employment, & used local suppliers. Ford was allowed to build their Geelong Plant with prime port access as long as they moved into manufacturing, at first body building & later chassis components etc.
Re 1940' Fords in NZ, I believe some commercials came in. I know of a Std. Panel & big truck models here. Also '41 & '42 light pickups & big trucks for the Govt & Forces ; some '42 cars for the Forces too. Farmers also could get access to some new trucks in that period

 

[Snouts out]

What does the finished interior look like in those beauties?

 

[oz40]

Something like this.
Thanks to Dale this is his 40 Sloper.

 

[Snouts out]

Very nice,like a club coupe.I wonder if they came in a business version,no back seat?

 

[oz40]

Well now you are asking some Q?
These 39 and 40 Slopers only came in either Standard and Deluxe versions and followed the Ford factory norm in body style versions.
The Slopers interior was very much the same layout as the Tudor models.
However with one big difference.

The back seat could be folded down totally flat back into the car cabin area making a long flat area that was either used for sales people for their wares or allowed for a flat sleeping area extending right back into the trunk area, as there was no cross bracing between the cabin or trunk.
This what makes our Slopers unique compared to a Tudor.

Very nice,like a club coupe.I wonder if they came in a business version,no back seat?

 

[oz40]

There are only a small handful of these 39/40 Slopers left.
If someone has a picture of the seat in the fold down position, I would appreciate it, as I have long forgotten how it looks.

 

[tub1]

yumo must get me one of them one day on my bucket list big time

 

[Russ/40]

Something like this.
Thanks to Dale this is his 40 Sloper.

Gosh, that is plush!
Looks beautiful!

 

[oz40]

This is the top lip tacked up. Now the oxy/acet work

 

[Russ/40]

You have some excellent skills. Keep the updates coming.

 

[oz40]

Next on the agenda was to repair the lower passenger corner and brackets.
Fabricated these pieces up and got them ready for the install.
Before putting them into their final place I had to grind off and prep the mig weld tack areas.
Then I oxy hammer welded these up.
I personally dont like mig weld up, I prefer the old way of oxy butt welding all my panels.
I just think its cleaner and less headaches at the end of the day.
Having done the oxy work I then jigged up the dash mounting tabs into a jig that replicated the orignal angles and dimensions of the tab locations and overall dash location..
With this simple jig everything fell into place like Henry wanted it to be.
You will see also the angle tab that supports the glove box flange.
I had to replace this because of the rust damage on the lower corner.
Then plug welded the brakets in and ground smooth the heads.

 

[mercman from oz]

Here are some more pictures of that nice 1939 Ford Deluxe Sloper. Notice how "fast" the roofline drops after the B Pillar.

 

[mercman from oz]

In addition to the 1939 Ford Deluxe Slopers, Australia also made them as Standard models for 1939. A lot of people get confused and think that these Standard Slopers are 1938 models, when in fact they are 1939 Ford Standards.

 

[oz40]

What can I say Mercman!! those two look sooooooooo nice.
That red 39 Std is very presentable. Is it a newer ressurection on the road?

 

[mercman from oz]

No, That 39 Standard Sloper has been on the road for quite a few years that I know of. The attached photos were taken back in 2006.

 

[mercman from oz]

Here are some pictures of another 1939 Ford Deluxe Sloper.