Vehicle Description
1941 was a very good year for the auto industry and it seems like
they just couldn't make a bad-looking vehicle that year. This 1941
Ford pickup takes all the timeless styling cues from the 1940 Ford
passenger cars (and you know how awesome those are) and adds a
practical bed to create one of the best-looking pickups of all
time.
I don't think this cool little pickup quite counts as a hot rod,
but it certainly has a hot rod look with the satin black finish on
the lower half of the body. At Ford, trucks took the front-end
styling of the previous year's passenger car models, so the 1941
pickup is the spitting image of the 1940 Ford Deluxe, V-shaped
grille, teardrop headlights, everything. The result is a classic
look that remains popular with hobbyists of all ages. The satin
black paint was applied professionally, so it's not a home-done
rattle can job, and while it shows a few signs of use the
sheetmetal underneath is in good shape and wears the black paint
easily. No hack work, no ripples or obvious issues, just a clean
old truck that has been properly driven and enjoyed. It's all
steel, too, which is getting harder to find all the time, and all
the bright trim is still in place, although it has been painted
silver for a low-maintenance old school look. The bed has been
channeled a bit lower over the frame, and the raised bed floor is
full of black plywood with contrasting red strips. Like the rest of
the truck, it's nice but not so perfect that you're afraid to
actually use it. You'll also note the gas tank has been relocated
under the rear of the bed, a smart safety upgrade.
It remains almost entirely stock inside, too, with the same kind of
respect for the past that the bodywork shows. The original bench
was covered with a plain black long-grain vinyl cover so it's
durable and low maintenance. Metal door panels and rubber mats
continue that theme. Factory gauges are original and in very good
condition for their age, and we suspect that even the paint on the
dash might be vintage 1941. The big steering wheel makes it easy to
muscle the pickup around and the long shifter rows through the
three-speed manual gearbox without any effort. It's definitely low
tech, but that's the point of an old pickup, isn't it? Just get in
and enjoy and don't worry, it doesn't need to be fast to be
fun.
Power comes from a familiar 239 cubic inch Ford flathead V8 that
was rated at about 100 horsepower in 1941. With plenty of torque
and great V8 sounds, it's a great fit for a mild-mannered truck
like this. It's not detailed for show, although it looks great with
appropriate Ford Green engine enamel, a correct Stromberg 97
carburetor, and even a generator on top. Much of the wiring appears
to be new and the big radiator up front quells any fears of
flathead fever. It has a fresh tune up and the entire fuel system
was rebuilt, and there's a new battery to fire it up. Underneath,
the 3-speed manual transmission feeds the factory banjo-style rear
end, while the front suspension remains totally stock, right down
to the transverse leaf spring. It's got a snarky exhaust note
that's just about right for a flathead and steel wheels with
hubcaps carry 195/65/15 front and 235/75/15 rear radials that give
it just a bit of a rake.
This is a really neat truck, done the way you'd want it, all for a
very reasonable price. Given the values on the passenger car
versions, it won't be a surprise to see a SOLD sign on this one
very soon. Call today!