Beautiful recent frame-on restoration. Gorgeous Ford Maroon paint, new leatherette interior, tan canvas top. Rebuilt 221 flathead, 12 volt electrical system, new tires and brakes. Ready to tour and enjoy!
Finished in traditional Ford Maroon, this wonderful convertible coupe is just gorgeous in person. The paint job was clearly an expensive one, because the finish has a deep shine and the metal panels underneath are distortion-free. That kind of work doesn’t come cheap. Gaps are tight all around and everything fits together well so you don’t have to slam doors and wrestle with the hood. And all the chrome was expensively restored, including the pot-metal grilles up front, which can be outrageously expensive to get right. You’ll also find accessories like the unusual bumper ends, the grille guard, and twin exterior mirrors. This is a great-looking car.
There was an equal amount of effort spent on restoring the interior, which uses correct Ford leatherette materials on the seats and door panels, so it’ll be good for years to come. The wide band of cream plastic on the dashboard is new, and it frames the gauges on the driver’s side (all of which are operational) and the clock on the passenger’s side (not operational, sadly). In the middle, you’ll find the factory AM radio perched up high, but due to the 12-volt electrical system, it has been disconnected. Ford insisted on using rubber mats in open cars, so that’s what is in this one, and at least it’s low maintenance. The tan convertible top is in very good condition and folds manually without a lot of effort, and the zip-out rear window is a great feature for warm days when you want a breeze but don’t need the sun beating down on you. There’s also a massive trunk with a correct rubber mat and a matching spare tire assembly.
The 221 cubic inch V8 remains one of history’s all-time great powerplants. Reliable, torquey, and eager to have fun, I can scarcely imagine a better way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon drive. It’s why these flathead Fords remain our first choice for “get in and go” events. This one is fully rebuilt and nicely detailed, showing correct Ford Green on the block, a Stromberg 97 carburetor up top, and those funky multi-color plug wires that were indeed standard equipment. You’ll also note a brand new brass radiator up front, which has been polished instead of painted for effect, as well as the modern alternator perched up top where the generator used to live. But beyond those two details, the engine bay remains quite authentic and correct, and we certainly can’t argue with how well it works. The 12-volt electrical system kicks the starter over with so much vigor that an electric fuel pump is completely unnecessary and it fires in seconds, every time. Proper hoses and clamps, cloth-covered wiring, and an oil-bath air cleaner all lend a correct look to the engine bay, so you’ll be proud to open it up.
A 3-speed manual transmission was your only choice in 1941, but the gear ratios are well-chosen and the torquey V8 will pull anything above 5 MPH without a downshift, so most of the time you can just drive. Ford put 3.55 gears in the back of most of their cars, so it’s comfortable at 60 MPH and feels very energetic around town. Hydraulic brakes were adopted in 1939, but they were improved in 1941 and should no longer be considered a Ford weakness. Rigid axles with transverse leaf springs are a little crude, but that’s what gives a flathead its perky handling. The undercarriage is original and a bit grimy and showing some surface rust on the heavy metal parts, but that only means it’s OK to use this as a real car and not worry about dirt getting all over your precious. It has been fitted with a true dual exhaust system and Smitty mufflers, so it has that great flathead V8 sound that just burbles along at speed but sounds rather intimidating when you rev it. Tube shocks are fitted in back and improve the handling in a way you can feel and the original 16-inch steel wheels wear pretty hubcaps and trim rings, along with a fresh set of 6.00-16 Firestone whitewalls.
This car also includes a restored set of steel fender skirts that are easy to install if you like the look.
In case you can’t tell, we love this car. It is the ideal blend of quality and usability, and as with all flathead V8s, it should be as reliable as your daily driver. The fun road manners, no worries chassis, and spacious interior will make it a favorite tour car, and it really is handsome. If all that appeals to you, give us a call and find out why flatheads are special.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
