1939 Ford Cabriolet

Description

The 1939 Ford is noteworthy for several reasons: the last year for a rumble seat, first year for hydraulic brakes, and for being the foundation for this incredible rod. To be honest, there aren't many better choices for a cruiser than a convertible coupe, and this one offers all the creature comforts with a classic look that will always be in demand.

The body is Gibbons fiberglass with Westcott fenders, but you'd never be able to tell without knocking your knuckles on the surface. And while the '39 Ford could be had with a rumble seat, this one has been converted to a spacious and useful trunk, making it strictly a two-seater, but who wants to travel cross-country in a rumble seat anyway? An NOS Ford hood was sourced and subtly modified to fit the body, being shaved and nosed to elicit a truly custom look. Timeless teardrop headlights, that deeply V'd grille, and a single line of stainless trim gives it a traditional look that connects it to the past, but the shaved door handles, LED taillights, and brilliant Laser Blue paint are definitely 21st century. The license plate has been neatly frenched into the rear deck for a unique look, and the simple bumpers do their job and look great at the same time.

Steve Holcomb was tapped to create the stunning tan leather interior, and you should probably take your time looking around inside. Twin buckets out of a late-model flank a custom center console that houses the AM/FM/CD stereo head unit, Vintage Air A/C controls, power window controls, and a pair of trick billet air vents. The beautifully finished dash has a smooth look complimented by a billet panel full of Auto Meter gauges that look more like the original Ford pieces than almost any others we've seen. A custom tilt column has been topped by a wood-rimmed banjo wheel. That stereo features seven speakers with a subwoofer, so the sound is incredible, even with the top down. And speaking of the top, it's Haartz canvas stretched over a 2.5-inch chopped frame, and when it's down you can hide it under a matching boot. The rumble seat trunk is spacious enough for a long road trip and neatly finished with matching tan carpets.

The drivetrain is just the way you'd do it yourself. Based on a Westcott chassis, it offers a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 with Edelbrock aluminum heads, polished intake, and a Holley 4-barrel carburetor. The Chevy Orange block sizzles in the bright engine bay, accented by a ton of chrome and billet, and there's a massive aluminum radiator up front keeping everything cool. The Mustang II front suspension includes power rack-and-pinion steering as well as disc brakes. A 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission is great for highway cruising and feeds a Ford 9-inch full of 3.73 gears so this is one old Ford that really scoots. The custom 3-inch exhaust system sounds amazing yet doesn't compromise ground clearance, and the aluminized system really pops against the black chassis. Bright chrome wheels are a neat take on the traditional Torque Thrust and wear reasonably-sized 205/50/16 Pirelli radials.

A great take on an old favorite, this '39 Ford was built to drive but is right at home on the show field. Call today!