Real old-school custom built in 1958. Flathead power, Columbia rear, runs great!

1939 Ford Other Description

There’s a lot of talk in the hobby about “old school” and how they used to do things “back in the day.” You don’t really know what that means, other than it was different than today, and while a lot of guys say they’re trying to replicate “the way it used to be done,” the truth is, that’s no more authentic than a fake Camaro Z/28 built from a 6-cylinder parts car. No, if you want legitimate “old school,” the only way to get it is to either go back in time or pick up something like this beautiful 1939 Ford custom convertible. It’s got the look, the character, and most of all, the credentials, because it was legitimately built in the late 1950s. This is old school, the real deal, the way it used to be done.

We don’t know the name of the guy who built the car, but we do have photos of it dating back decades, and coming out of the west coast, there’s little doubt where its influences lie. It actually came to Ohio by way of Colorado, then Montana, then North Dakota, but along the way, it kept its identity and the way you see it today is pretty much the way it has been since before there was any hot rod “industry” at all. It’s a real ’39 convertible, not a cobbled-up coupe, and while the top has been chopped and the bodywork slightly smoothed, there’s no erasing one of Ford’s better designs, because it’s identifiable at a glance. Without another stock ’39 next to it, it’s tough to say what’s been modified, but we do know that it’s been nosed and decked, the bumpers were shaved then reinstalled, and the deck lid has been fairly heavily massaged, and by heavily, we mean it, because there’s several pounds of lead in it. The long, low profile is reminiscent of a Lincoln Zephyr, and more than one visitor to our shop has confused this Ford with its upmarket cousin, so it has the right look. Over the years it’s had several different sets of wheels and tires, for a while it wore 1940 headlights, although correct 1939 units are back in place and that’s the right choice. The burgundy paint isn’t vintage 1950s lacquer, but it’s the color that was on the car when it was first finished and looks fantastic in an elegant sort of way. The doors fit well, the hood opens easily, and while heavy, the trunk glides on well-oiled hinges. There are a few spots where the paint may be showing some age, most notably on the trunk, but unless you go looking for it, you aren’t going to see anything amiss—it’s not obvious at all. The car just looks great from any angle.

The burgundy and white pleated interior is a vintage-looking take on the first setup, which was also burgundy and white vinyl. That first version probably used this very seat, which appears to be the original 1939 Ford split bench, but the pattern was simpler and the cushions were flatter. In back, the jump seats were removed and the area was upholstered to match the door panels, then as well as today, making it a true 2-seater, although we’re glad the diamond-tufted side panels of old are gone. In the beginning, it carried its original floor-shifted 1939 transmission, but at some point, an enterprising soul installed a 1940 transmission with a column shift, which works well and frees up a lot of room up front. The gauges are original and functional, with a set of modern dials underneath the center stack to keep a better eye on the warmed-over flathead V8. Knobs, chrome trim, and even the steering wheel are period-correct, not aftermarket pieces, suggesting that the builder knew what worked and what didn’t, leaving a very fine line between stock and modified. Aftermarket turn signals have been added, and you’ll note that little toggle switch under the starter button, which is for the Columbia 2-speed rear end. There’s modern wiring working behind the scenes for reliability’s sake, and while the car is technically a convertible and there’s a cloth roof, we’re not sure if it still folds—we weren’t willing to risk it because the bows have been modified. It does, however, have a massive trunk that’s fully finished to match the interior, and the critical storage tubs at the rear are in excellent shape with no rust or rot to be found.

The car has carried a variety of engines, as is typical of vintage rods, and it currently runs a 59AB flathead V8. We have photos of an Oldsmobile V8 living in there, which was kind of cool, but for a vintage Ford, it’s hard to beat the sound and feel of a flathead. It’s not radical, but the bright red engine is bulletproof reliable, makes great sounds, and goes about its business without any fuss. There was apparently a triple carburetor setup on it at one point, but it now runs a single 2-barrel Stromberg, which makes tuning easy and if you need more power, more exotic setups are easy to find. We know there’s an upgraded cam inside because it has a nice lopey idle, and a set of tubular headers manage the exhaust. For reliability’s sake, there’s a giant radiator up front, new water pumps, and a 12-volt alternator that looks a lot like a vintage generator, so the look is consistent. You’ll note that someone with a sense of whimsy put this one together, because each plug wire is a slightly different color, which is purely intentional, and there’s enough chrome to make it worth opening the hood at car shows. It’s running an electric fuel pump, which makes it start reliably every time, hot or cold, although the fuel block is still in place if you want to go back to triple carbs.

Underneath, it’s fairly stock. The aforementioned 1940 Ford transmission shifts easily and clutch take-up is smooth, although there’s a bit of chatter if you’re too aggressive in reverse gear. There’s still a transverse leaf spring holding up each end, and a dropped axle up front to give it a bit of rake. Glasspack mufflers make a wonderful flathead V8 sound that everyone tries to emulate but only a genuine flathead can deliver, and the system terminates in polished tips under the rear bumper. The floors are body colored and in good shape, with black suspension and frame components that show plenty of use but no critical issues. There are aluminum Buick drums up front (real ones, not those modern fakes!) and the Columbia 2-speed rear axle works as advertised, making this car a very comfortable highway cruiser, even on longer trips. The wheels are painted steelies with smooth polished hubcaps and the tires are 195/70/15 Coker wide whitewall radials that are currently reversed (whitewall in) but we have photos of the car with wide whites and no skirts from several years ago, and that’s a cool vintage look that could be duplicated simply by flipping the tires.

A lot of guys are building new rods that try to duplicate what this awesome ’39 Ford already has. Proportions are perfect, workmanship is impressive, and the timeless look will never go out of style. Add in the fact that it’s fully sorted, drives beautifully, and provides plenty of entertaining performance makes this cool coupe one of our favorites. Call today!