Short Track Models

Short Track Forums => Cars with Fenders-production bodies/late models => Topic started by: Dirtman on July 18, 2021, 05:54:16 PM

Title: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Dirtman on July 18, 2021, 05:54:16 PM
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51319544597_9d1d8d9fda.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mbW5Er)IMG_5828 (https://flic.kr/p/2mbW5Er) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51320483548_89a6cd09b2.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mc1TMf)IMG_5827 (https://flic.kr/p/2mc1TMf) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51258787937_dd5405cd31.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6yFPP)IMG_5822 (https://flic.kr/p/2m6yFPP) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51260558470_07edd4478f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6HL9f)IMG_5825 (https://flic.kr/p/2m6HL9f) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr
Always liked these modifieds, sooooooo, thought I'd build another one. Definitely a fantasy build. Flatty, dual carb, Qchg, biiiiggg tires. Got lots to do yet, but getting there.
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Maineboy on July 18, 2021, 07:13:58 PM
Looked at the first pic and thought "I have got to ask what that is on for a frame, then scrolled down. Ford frame with parallel springs in the rear but still the Ford wishbone in front it looks like. There were a lot of modifieds built in Maine in the late 50's and 60's that used that exact same springing set up. Those Ford frames were used for lots of projects. Those fender cutouts sure hit the era just right. This was a natural step in the evolution from jalopies to super mods.

Nice, saw quite a few that resembled what you have here. Can't go too far wrong with a 40 Ford, no matter what you are doing with it. Whenever I hear someone mention a "coupe" race car or hotrod, the 40 is the first thing I picture in my mind. I am a long time sbc guy but have always admired those 40 Fords.

MB
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: john2 on July 19, 2021, 04:38:08 AM
 :)  WOW Rett !   Really nice.  Keep her going. 
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: TarheelRick on July 19, 2021, 09:05:13 AM
I always cringe when I see a 40 Ford (of any body style) chopped up into a modified race car.  That being said really looking forward to what you do with this one. And yes I do have a couple of 40's in the que, somewhere down the line before I turn to ashes, that will be modified racers.  Someone on a past forum reminded me these are just plastic kits and are available quite reasonably, unlike the 1:1, therefore slice and dice to your hearts content.
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: sentsat71 on July 19, 2021, 01:00:57 PM
Looking great, Rett!!!!
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: sentsat71 on July 19, 2021, 01:04:02 PM
Rick....

Did that to a couple of AMT '40 Fords back in the mid to late 1960's..one coupe and one sedan.....neither exist today.At one point I "reskinned" the sedan with an AMT '62 Chevy II....Have no idea what happened to that build, as I KNOW I didn't toss it out......
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Maineboy on July 19, 2021, 08:43:41 PM

......"I always cringe when I see a 40 Ford (of any body style) chopped up into a modified race car'......

Yep, I know that feeling. I have thought a lot of times about how many of those cars were made into jalopies in the 50's and 60's. I see a mod made from a 32 coupe and I grit my teeth.  In the mid 60's in the part of Maine I lived in you could easily find these old Ford coupes and sedans that you could almost have for hauling them off. I had several friends who owned various Fords and had put a 265 chevy motor in them using that adapter you could buy from J.C. Whitney that used the old Ford transmission. Lots of adventures with those cars and busted Ford 3 spds. Quite a few of those old racers owned junk yards and that was a tremendous source of cheap metal to beat on. I feel the same about the tri-five Chevys. But none of us then could think that far ahead. I would not have got married at 20 if I had had good foresight in those days.

MB
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Dirtman on July 19, 2021, 09:34:09 PM
I always cringe when I see a 40 Ford (of any body style) chopped up into a modified race car.  That being said really looking forward to what you do with this one. And yes I do have a couple of 40's in the que, somewhere down the line before I turn to ashes, that will be modified racers.  Someone on a past forum reminded me these are just plastic kits and are available quite reasonably, unlike the 1:1, therefore slice and dice to your hearts content.


The '40 is my all time favorite car. So, I also cringe when I see them hacked into modifieds. They are awesome looking in any form. Actually, I owned a '40 sdn, '41 cpe, and a '41 pickup in 1:1. And yes these are just plastic!!


Rett
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: sentsat71 on July 20, 2021, 11:36:17 AM
The couple of 40 Fords I bought back in the mid to late '60's, all 2 of them, were not initially made into race cars, but the custom versions (AMT kits). the other I inherited from an older brother. One of the 2 coupes still survives....the other two were attempted to turn into race cars AFTER being built.

Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Fordguy01 on July 29, 2021, 10:21:16 PM
I too share the same sentiments of the beautiful 40 Fords of any body style.  Rett looks like you've captured the look of one from the day.  Can't wait to see the finished product. 

Al
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Dirtman on August 03, 2021, 12:00:32 PM
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51355974275_3fcc5d650a.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mf9MWk)IMG_5858 (https://flic.kr/p/2mf9MWk) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51354958036_73f1884507.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mf4zQY)IMG_5855 (https://flic.kr/p/2mf4zQY) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51354958081_7319409906.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mf4zRK)IMG_5851 (https://flic.kr/p/2mf4zRK) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51355694319_531e4e439a.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mf8mHv)IMG_5845 (https://flic.kr/p/2mf8mHv) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51355184713_afd01a8bc6.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mf5Kec)IMG_5836 (https://flic.kr/p/2mf5Kec) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51354958221_8c5d261078.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mf4zUa)IMG_5840 (https://flic.kr/p/2mf4zUa) by Rett Rundell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153037413@N04/), on Flickr

Gonna say it's done. Converted to leaf springs, and 12 volt. Frame dash and body from Amt street rod kit, most everything else is scratched. Added a few extras some wiring to the flatty. I hate the way the old mods have the hood going up in front 'cause they were using a bigger radiator. This radiator is doing the job so, it's aero dynamic enough for me! lol And, yes, I know Hoosier wasn't around back then. So, I used them anyway!

Rett
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: David Bogard on August 03, 2021, 01:44:10 PM
Not sure what class that would actually fall into but it doesn't matter, it looks great. This race car would be many years after the old jalopies with the oversized radiators, skinny tires, etc. This would be some kind of "Vintage Modified" that would indeed be a blast to drive!!
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: john2 on August 03, 2021, 02:12:31 PM
 :)  Very nice Rett, and in my favorite colors  --  blue and white. 
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Maineboy on August 03, 2021, 08:31:45 PM
Real nice job Rett, looks like it was done in the traditional style I remember so well. Looks ready for the track too! I like the hood with it lower in the nose. Just gives it kind of a "sinister" look in my mind. I have seen photos of lots of cars built similar. Some used a 38 hood which was skinny like this one. Others did as I think you did, cut the sides off the 40 hood. However you did it the car sure has the "look".

Been waiting to see this one done. The wait was worth it!

MB
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Dirtman on August 03, 2021, 10:09:43 PM
Not sure what class that would actually fall into but it doesn't matter, it looks great. This race car would be many years after the old jalopies with the oversized radiators, skinny tires, etc. This would be some kind of "Vintage Modified" that would indeed be a blast to drive!!

I was going to call it Vintage Modified when I started it!
At any rate, I'm happy with it, and hope others are too.
Rett
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: sentsat71 on August 04, 2021, 10:30:28 AM
Turned out GREAT!!!

Me, I like the '40 Ford coupes in any kind of build!
Have only built a couple back in the mid to late 60's and inherited one around the same time.....but not any since.....
But have never built a stock version....

Since I started collecting kits back in 2006, have collected a couple of AMT Coupes, 2 or 3 Sedans and at least 2 Sedan Deliverys
Couple of R/M  coupes, 1 stock & 1 custom
and 3 Lindberg coupes....
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Dirtman on August 05, 2021, 09:40:10 PM
Thanks for the nice comments guys. I'm pretty  happy with this one. (For a change). Moving on to another project........

Rett
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: 421sd on August 05, 2021, 10:19:15 PM
It is AWESOME Rett! I love it man!
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Marty W on August 10, 2021, 01:14:08 PM
Great looking Ford, Rett. You can't go wrong with a '40 Ford!
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: Bob P. on August 11, 2021, 05:45:10 PM
Beautiful build Rett, Well done!!!!

Bob
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: ARCA Guy on August 18, 2021, 03:41:57 PM
Love 40 Fords!! Great work Rhett!
Title: Re: 50's '40 Ford modified coupe
Post by: BobD on August 18, 2021, 04:50:02 PM
Beautiful......too pretty to race!