For Sale: 1940 Ford Business Coupe in Torrance, California

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. Polyurethane Pearl custom 'Mandarin Maroon'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 cansby the renown 'Street Lethal Flatheads'; Jack MilesInterior:Stock Ford Broadcloth Mohair, dated coded glassDrive 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 slicksAwards:American Rodder: Cover & Centerfold. March 1999Numerous best of show awards, milestone ChannelIsland show, Van Nuys Blvd Auto ShowMike Fennel Pride & passion for building cars.Other options and recent work include:Mercury Flathead 274 c.i.Winfield S1A CamshaftMallory Electronic IgnitionTwin 2BBL Ford 94 CarbsOffenhauser ManifoldCeramakrome tube headers 22' Smithy's 2" stainless exhaust pipes & 4" echo cansFord case transmission 25 tooth Zephyr Gears & U JointStock Ford 4,1:1 rear endHydroelectric Volvo Overdrive, 2,75:1Front suspension: 2" Dropped Axle Suspension, Reverse Eye Springs air shocksRear suspension: Transverse spring, extended shackles, coil over shocks1940 Ford steeringWheels: Steelies 15x5, 15x5.5Tires: Whitewall radialsVented rotor disc brakes front, Ford drum rearWilwood Brake Master CylinderMaster Cylinder PushrodWilwood Adjustable Proportioning ValveReplaced front brake hard lines, hoses & fittingsReplace rear wheel cylinders & shoesReplace front brake pads, rotors & hosesResurface front & rear brake rotorsThe 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 accommodationsStyling 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 origina...for more information please contact the seller.