1939 Automatic

1939 Ford Standard Additional Info:

Sometimes the coolest rods are those that take a different path. This neat little 1939 Ford tudor sedan is more like what those guys down south on which NASCAR is based were driving back in the '40s. Simple, effective, and quick, although I bet those good ol' boys would have appreciated the 383-inch stroker motor, overdrive transmission, and disc brakes that this one brings with it. Ford's fastback styling looks great no matter what you do, so they decided not to go with anything too flashy when this one came together. It started as an incredibly solid original steel body with no patch panels and boy is it straight! They didn't shave, cut, or modify any of it, although they left the hood sides off purely for personal taste reasons, but they're included with the car if you want to reinstall them for a total sleeper look. The light gray paint is straight out of the 1930s and suits the simple Ford just fine, and it's nicely applied and needs nothing more than a professional cut and buff to really make this car sparkle. Details like the teardrop headlights, simple bumpers, and teardrop taillights are features that made it onto other cars throughout the hot rod era, but this is the car that invented them. You also get real running boards, not fiberglass facsimiles, all the original door handles and hardware, and that too-cool split rear window. With that stance, this car nails the retro look. The interior is an older setup that was probably done decades ago before anyone even thought that this car would become a hot rod. As a result, it's simple and very much in line with what this car is all about. Not flashy, not over-done, just comfortable and neat. You'll note correct vertical stitching in the seats, which matched the original style, as well as factory door hardware and window cranks. The dashboard is beautifully woodgrained to warm it up a bit and a set of modern gauges were installed in the original openings for a very tidy look. A custom Lokar shifter takes the place of the original manual lever, but there's simply nothing here that gives away the fact that it's not 1939 anymore. All it needs is a headliner to be just right, and all the bows and hardware remains intact so it'll be easy. And even though it's a fastback, there's a giant trunk in back, ready for a road trip. The 383 cubic inch Chevy stroker motor under the pointed hood is about three times more powerful than the original flathead, but the old tudor seems to have no problem handling it. Built by Smeding Performance, it features a 4-bolt main block, one piece rear main seal, oversized valves, and an Edelbrock intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor. A giant aluminum radiator and electric fan have no trouble keeping things cool, especially with the open hood sides, and it runs extremely well with a torque curve as flat as Texas. It's backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission, which makes highway cruising effortless, and there's an S10 rear end out back, which was needed because the original torque tube was replaced to accommodate the transmission. Even the suspension is an original-style transverse leaf spring, although there's now power assist for the steering and disc brakes for stopping. It nails the stance thanks to a set of red steelies with V8 hubcaps and trim rings, plus staggered 16-inch BFG rubber. With build receipts from an experienced builder, this is a car with all the right pieces and a bit of an attitude. If you like your vintage rides to have a bit more kick, perhaps this is the right choice. Call today!