The 1940 Ford Cutaway

Bill said:
To bend this thread a little...assuming you could locate a decent rolling chassis in the 5K range what would it cost to duplicate a similar example? Would the process used be much different than 1939? Would modern technology make it simpler. Have I been sitting out in the sun too long.... Bill in Fl.
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Hi Everyone. Bill: Talk about being 'upside down' on your build!?!

Temporarily put aside the cut-away aspect, I'm gob-smacked impressed by the chrome work on the subject piece! That alone would be more than a couple thousand $, maybe even 10K. Paint likely even more $ because of the increased number of surfaces that are painted by hand or using extensive masking then spraying.

The machine work would be huge, many hundreds of hours. I can't really see how modern computer-aided milling stuff could help a lot because their main benefit is when things need to be done repeatedly.

Yikes! I'm sure glad Mr. Rennebohm stepped up to the plate, because from the photos it sure looks like he hit a grand-slam! I sure hope I can see it in person one day.
 
thanks Mart, I got it done. I love to sit and look at them and enlarge a big as possible and still be clear. Much better than drawings.
 
This chassis, or one just like it, was on display at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA last month. They also had a section devoted to 40 Fords but unfortunately, most were hot rods.
 
I have photos somewhere of what I remember being a '46-'48 cutaway chassis at the Imperial Palace car museum in Las Vegas. I'll try to dig them up... it was 20 yrs ago, so maybe I'm way off. That museum had an incredible collection of stuff.
 
Mystery solved, here's a cutaway of the Ford 1940 chassis at the Ford Style Show, Hotel Astor, 1939.

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This 1940 Ford cutaway rolling Chassis is an absolute masterpiece. Just look at the detail everywhere you look. It is also very appropriate being shown as the 1940 Ford celebrates its 75th Birthday.
 
I can still remember our 8th grade trip to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC in 1951. There was a bodiless car on display split down the middle revealing all of the inner workings of the engine and running gear. I was fascinated and looked at it for a long time.
 
Very cool. I would have loved to see this in person.

Thanks for posting Mercman OZ


mercman from oz said:
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This 1940 Ford cutaway rolling Chassis is an absolute masterpiece. Just look at the detail everywhere you look. It is also very appropriate being shown as the 1940 Ford celebrates its 75th Birthday.
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Hi Everone, I have to say that this is a fabulous car. IMHO, it's the #2 coolest car I'VE EVER SEEN on FordBarn.

BTW, the only reason it can't be #1 is because that car does 9 and change in the 1/4 mile!

But, man, this is one sweet, um, flathead ****. I could look at it for hours. And then come back the next day and spend hours again. My mind just whirls when I look closer.

So do we think this is the car from the Hotel Astor 1939 display, or it's twin?

Thanks Ryan, the owner, and everyone else for batting this one around.

Mercman, do you have any more shots?
 
cOMPLIMENTS! coMPLIMENTS! cOMPLIMENTS! i HAVE seen this chassis twice at the L.A. Roadster show. IT is an unbelievable find and what a superb restoration!!!! Kudos amundo! One helpful comment: Turn the bumper guards 180 degrees. The "dull" end goes up. I know it doesn't seem right, but trust me. This chassis ROCKS!!! If storage is an issue - ever - it would be great to see it on display (even if just for a period) at the Ford Foundation Museum in Auburn. I am on the board of trustees and we are always excited by this kind of Ford history. Great job and thank you for the effort you spent on this piece of art and history. Brian
 
At one time, The Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas had a similar cut away. The info board for the unit said it was produced by Ford as a training / teaching aid for prospective mechanic's. Can't vouch for that. Believe it was supposed to be a '46. Don't know if it's still there or not.:cool:
 
This whole story came up before about 2-3 years ago, and the guy that posted it actually my contact with a person at ford that knew a little bit a bout the thing. I can't remember if it was posted on here or another site - HAMB maybe?
 
VeryTangled said:
Hi Everyone, Bump because this is for sale at Barrett-Jackson tomorrow.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1940-FORD-DELUXE-CHASSIS-185518

Another thread started on the auction here...

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188077
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Dang... Gotta watch that one. Funny, I look right smack dab at the middle of Whidbey Island from my kitchen window. All I ever saw was the was the airbase NAS Whidbey at Oak Harbor. I do jobs on Whidbey and now I have someone to look up while in the area. That is one stunning job on that cut-away. Holy COW!
 
The restoration on this cut a way chassis was done by Troy Wait of Hot Rod Alley in Phoenix, Arizona at his shop. I took pics of this when it first arrived in his shop and made other photos of it as he made progress on it. As I recall, we never did find any number(s) stamped in the frame where they should have been. I would argue that it is not number 1 with the star in front.
 
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