West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional example of this body off restored 1940 Ford 2 Door DeLuxe Business Coupe, the legendary Eugene Gregorie designed top-of-the-line models with a handsome facelift for 1940 which marked the Deluxe models.
Custom options and recent work includes:
Body & Paint:
All original metal restored in 1998 by the renown 'Show Car Restoration'; John Mangiapane
Chassis:
Front 2" Dropped Axle, reverse spring eyes, tube shocks, rear coil over angled shocks, radiator 5 tube staggered Ford tanks, fan location corrected, 2 pushers.
Mill:
'53 Mercury Flathead punched with a '51 crank to 296 cu in.
Offenhauser equipped, Stromberg 94's, Mallory ignition, Custom headers, 2" S.S. 30" Smithy GP, Ecco cans
by the renown 'Street Lethal Flatheads'; Jack Miles
Interior:
Stock Ford Mohair, dated coded glass
Drive Train:
Ford box 25 tooth Zephyr Gears, 4.11 Ford rear end torque tube cut with a Hydro-electric OD making it a tall 2.92, Cheater slicks
Awards:
American Rodder: Cover & Centerfold. March 1999
Numerous best of show awards, milestone Channel
Island show, Van Nuys Blvd Auto Show
Mike Fennel Pride & passion for building cars.
Other options and recent work include:
Wilwood Brake Master Cylinder
Master Cylinder Pushrod
Wilwood Adjustable Proportioning Valve
Replaced front brake hard lines, hoses & fittings
Replace rear wheel cylinders & shoes
Replace front brake pads, rotors & hoses
Resurface front & rear brake rotors
The history of this unique example is as follows:
The first owner lived in southern California in La Habra. This is an original southern California car that has never had any rust! Purchased by long time enthusiast Don Stout who had been looking to relive the dream of owning again his high school first car, a 1940 Business Coupe, and found this particular example after many years of searching for the perfect 1940 unrestored rare diamond candidate that was "all there" to restore completely, having been a rare barn find that had not been driven since 1956!
Don was a man with a plan as well as a dream; his "3 step" plan consisted of (1) restoring the car to its original condition, (2) modifying the car the way it as done "back in the old days" and (3) modernizing the car to improve safety, reliability and comfort.
Naturally the car was to receive a "frame off restoration". Actually the frame itself was taken apart and the front axle dropped two inches and a reverse eye spring installed. All complimented by a pair of air-adjustable shocks and disc brakes. The rear suspension was upgraded to more modern standards with the installation of a new cross member featuring coil-over shocks.
The previous owner had installed a '51 Mercury engine which would'nt have been right for Don who whilst saving the 4" crank, worked from there to assemble a 274 CID flathead with 9.1:1 Offy heads and intake and sporting a pair of 2 barrel 94 carbs. The original tranny was packed with a set of Zephyr gears and backed with a hydroelectric overdrive unit borrowed from a Volvo!
Further turn of the millenium improvements include 2 electric pusher fans and a big radiator for extra cooling. The Nickel plated tube headers greatly help to dissipate the heat generated by the hopped up valve-in-head mill!
While the rolling chassis was being worked on John Mangipane the owner of the renown "Show Car Restoration' was busy hammering the old Ford sheet metal into shape before sanding and matching the original Ford Maroon with a custom mix of 'Copper & Blue Pearl'. The interior features the original mohair and broadcloth and all the glass was replaced and features correct date codes. For the ultimate authentic touch wiring throughout the car was done "50's style" using cloth covered wires and the stock radio still works. A hidden CD changer and modern sound system was also installed.
The Business Coupe features a distinct three-box layout and has a shorter, more swept-back passenger cabin and a much larger, elongated trunk area than the 2 Door Sedan. It was originally designed for traveling salesmen to hold product samples. Instead of a standard rear bench seat, it featured a storage area or small, auxiliary folding jump seats (often called "opera seats")
It highlights a dramatically sloped rear decklid, a short cabin structure, and a smaller rear side quarter window. The space behind the front seats is reserved entirely for cargo or small jump seats rather than full passenger accommodations
Styling highlights for the DeLuxe models included chrome trimmed sealed beam headlamps, a steering column mounted shift lever, the Deluxe three part horizontal bar grille, 'Ford DeLuxe' hubcaps and unique 'Chevron' taillights. A decidedly modern new dash for the 1940 DeLuxe model, a rectangular instrument panel and an ashtray both sides! The Deluxe models were the top-of-the-line for this year and have always been recognized and appreciated amongst Ford enthusiasts their unique handsome styling and are now getting very rare and hard to find anywhere in this kind of condition. This vehicle was acquired from the renown Don Stout collection and has been restored to original and is in pristine condition. No detail spared. This car is one of a kind and would be a pride of ownership addition to any car collection.
Ford Motor Company introduced its DeLuxe Ford line in 1938 as an upscale alternative to bridge the gap between its base Standard model and luxury Lincoln offerings. The 'Deluxe' name was used intermittently before and after this to specify an upscale trim, but the 'DeLuxe Ford' line was differentiated as a separate 'marque within a marque' with separate styling and pricing through 1940. During 1939, Ford had five lines of cars: Ford, De Luxe Ford, Mercury, Lincoln-Zephyr, and Lincoln. After the war, this was simplified to Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln. As Mercury sales progressed, the DeLuxe approach was cancelled.
This was one of the sweetest rides you could by in 1940. Imagine the looks back in the day, to drive a sporty luxury coupe and these prestigious Ford Business Coupe Deluxe models were all of that and more. In 1940, Ford released a new line which replaced the 1939 model. The fastback 2 door sedan models were reminiscent of the aerodynamic coupes of the 1930's and came in either standard or deluxe trim versions.
You will be hard pressed to find anyone to dispute that the 1940 Ford is one of the most elegant automobiles ever to roll off of either Henry Ford's, or for that matter any other, US assembly line. More than 80 years later they are one of the few such models still as attractive today as they were to buyers when new. Of all the elegant models produced, this particular 1940 Deluxe 2 Door Sedan was built with a central X crossmember with inside bench seats dressed in tan color wool broadcloth and which could seat four/five comfortably.
The car boasts a body colored 'Tuscan Tan' painted two-tone instrument panel that houses the standard array of gauges in a beautiful period Art Deco theme with its original 'Motorola' AM radio positioned in the center of the panel and a clock matching the speedometer dresses up the passenger side. This car has it's original factory added options of both the AM Radio and 'Hot Wave Twin Flow' Heater.
This particular example was acquired from the renown Don Stout collection and had been restored in its period correct 'Maroon' color with a custom touch which is very striking along with its matching wheels with Deluxe hubcaps. The wool broadcloth tan interior is also in absolutely exceptional condition throughout. From the condition of this car it is obvious that the cars body was taken off the frame and the car subjected to a comprehensive repaint with primer and with the interior faithfully restored as required.
The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust-freewith an original tool kit & its pouch and the car has no signs of any accidents. All the chromework was also restored and the original spare wheel and tire. The upgraded Flathead V8 engine is extremely strong and this particular car drives magnificently - must be driven to be fully appreciated - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money!
This is a rare opportunity to own a great daily driving and body off and mechanically restored example of a very striking 1940 Ford DeLuxe 2 Door Business Coupe; this is definitely a car you can show and be proud of, an undisputedly very rare, highly desirable, collectible and unabused example of one of the outstanding designs of the early forties pre-war art deco period automobiles. These high quality luxury cars were built to be able to complete long distances both quickly, powered by Ford's larger version of it's faithful flathead V8, and in the utmost of luxury!
This is one very desirable pre-war classic car for any classic American car enthusiast or Ford collector to add to his collection, a beautifully restored example with modern upgrades of a 1940 Ford Deluxe Business Coupe and a sure-fire investment that's sure to appreciate over the years for any classic American car collector or Ford enthusiast!
