Older restoration with recent comprehensive service and upgrade
for use in the Peking to Paris Rally. Beautiful Sheffield Gray with
red leather and black canvas top. Excellent throughout.
The pretty 1941 Ford convertible was restored several years ago,
and more recently it was completely overhauled to serve the owner’s
daughter in the Peking to Paris Rally, and she could scarcely have
made a better choice, although she ultimately decided not to
participate. The handsome Sheffield Gray finish is the ideal color
on a pre-war Ford, not too flashy but incredibly stylish when
combined with a red leather interior and black canvas top. Paint
and bodywork were clearly done to a high standard when the car was
restored, and it has mellowed to a wonderful soft glow that looks
straight out of the ‘40s. All the chrome and brightwork was
restored at the same time and remains in excellent condition, with
only a few demerits on things like the taillight bezels which show
some very, very minor pitting.
The seating surfaces show some wear, but they’re what I call
“comfort marks” and are the result of many miles of happy driving,
not neglect or abuse. The woodgrained dash gives the interior a
warm, upscale feel, and all the gauges were rebuilt and remain 100%
functional. The radio hums, and may even pull in a station with
some fiddling, although the clock is sadly not functioning.
Accessories include functioning fog lamps with a light-up switch
under the dash and a heater/defroster unit that will roast a
turkey. Overhead, there’s a black canvas top piped in red leather,
and it raises and lowers itself with a touch of a button and is
hidden by a matching black canvas boot.
Sharp-eyed viewers will also note that this car has a floor
shifter, not the standard column-shift mechanism, as it was
converted to a 1939 Mercury gearbox in the interest of durability
in some of the least hospitable places on Earth, and it’s worth
noting that the original transmission, clutch, linkage, and shift
lever are included with the car, should you wish to convert it
back. As it is, however, shift action is light and it feels quite
natural going down the road.
There’s every reason to believe that the 21-stud flathead under the
hood is original to the car. It fires quickly and idles with a
wonderful V8 burble from the single exhaust system. There appear to
be no major deviations from stock equipment, ranging from the
original 2-barrel carburetor and oil bath air cleaner to the cast
iron log-style exhaust manifolds. Other noteworthy upgrades include
a freshly rebuilt steering box and column, new brakes all around
with braided stainless flex lines, and a fresh battery. Four
6.00-16 Firestone wide whitewall tires have been fitted, with a
matching spare in the trunk, and it wears brightly polished hubcaps
and trim rings. On the road there are no squeaks or rattles,
braking is firm and positive, and as always, the flathead delivers
impressive performance.
Beautifully finished, loaded with accessories, and simply wonderful
to drive, this ’41 Ford convertible belongs in a collection where
it will be exercised regularly. It’s just too much fun to drive to
leave it sitting in a garage, and it’s so good-looking that the
public really deserves to see it in action. Come in for a visit,
take it for a drive, and I can almost guarantee you, too, will
catch Flathead Fever.
For more information and photos, please visit our website at
www.VintageMotorCarsOhio.com.
