What a treat it is to find a nearly stock 1939 Ford V8! With all the hot rods out there, a lot of folks just don't seem to realize how wonderful these cars are in stock form. Yes, there's an honest-to-Henry flathead V8 under the hood, and it has a classic look that is still appealing more than 70 years later. It's quite rare for a lowly 4-door sedan to be restored to this level, but someone invested a great deal of time and money to bring this one up to such a high level. The dark red paint shines, the original steel bodywork is straight, and it's a likely bet that this car has never been abused. The red paint is flashy but looks period-correct because there's no metallic in it and the shine is warm, the way older cars should look. There weren't many better-looking cars in 1939 than the Ford Deluxe, and the fastback design has aged extremely well-there's a reason these are so popular with hot rodders who have families. All the chrome and stainless has been restored as well, including the lovely V-shaped grille which has reveals painted to match the body, creating a very cool contrast. From the teardrop-shaped headlights to the handsome split rear window, this car is a rolling study in styling cues that other automakers borrowed for decades. Inside, there's a newer black vinyl interior. Not entirely correct, but freshened in the spirit of the original, the upholstery is worlds more durable than the original stuff and with those tight pleats, looks right in the vintage Ford. Simple door panels keep to Ford's mission, and the original garnish moldings have been refinished. You can look through the spokes of the original banjo wheel at the lovely factory instruments, plus a spare ammeter and temperature gauge to help keep an eye on the flathead. Nobody has stuffed a modern radio into the dash, the windows still offer their original hand cranks, and that gracefully curved shifter lever is linked to a 3-speed manual gearbox as it should be. Under that sloping decklid, you'll also find a spacious trunk that shows no rust in any of the usual locations and is ready for your next long-distance weekend tour. The engine is a late-40s 8RT flathead rated at an even 100 horsepower. More than $1400 has been spent in the last year upgrading things like the fuel system, including the tank, fuel pump, and an electric pump for priming. A fresh tune up means it starts almost instantly and settles into a characteristic silky-smooth flathead idle that's almost undetectable with the hood closed. Out on the road, it has great manners and plenty of power, and the dual exhaust system has just the right combination of volume and tone. Henry Ford finally upgraded to hydraulic brakes in 1939, and they work well and stop the car confidently. Beautiful Ford artillery wheels wear correct 6.00-16 Firestone wide whites, making for a very flashy presentation. As we're fond of saying, even the bad flatheads are good, and the good ones are great. This '39 Deluxe is a great car. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Atlanta showroom. For more information, please call (678) 279-1609 or toll free (877) 367-1835.
↧