Fine Tune '39 vs '40 differences

‘39 v. ‘40 Ford visual differences

 

39 had windshield wipers on top of the glass, 40s are below

40 was the first year for sealed beam headlights, 40 headlight rings have parking lights on top

39 bumpers have an inset stripe, 40s are smooth

hood trim is different, the ford emblem is at the front on a 39 and at the back on a 40

39 had a banjo steering wheel, 40 had a two spoke

39 has round gauges, 40 has rectangular

39 was last year for floor shift, 40 was first year for column shift

39 had swing out windshield hinged at the top, 40 did not

'39 last year for rumble seat (convertible coupe)

'39 last year for convertible sedan

'39 doesn't have vent window on front doors (wind wing, however available as a/m addition), '40 does.

'39 has tear drop tail light, '40 has chevron shape.

'39 side trim is smooth and narrower than '40 which is ribbed and wider.

fenders and running boards are different

hoods are different

grilles are different

 

 

Black, Red & White

I like the combination of a black car, red wheels and whitewalls.  Here are a few examples.

'34 Ford Model C

'33 Ford

'36 Ford 3-window coupe

'40 Ford Deluxe Coupe

'36 Ford 3-window coupe

'32 Ford 3-window coupe

'32 Ford 5-window coupe, chopped and channeled

'50 Ford Custom coupe

'32 Ford roadster

'32 Ford Tudor sedan



1952 Chevy 2-door hardtop

Another '32 Ford Tudor sedan

1933 5-windor

1955 Buick Century 2-Door Sedan (Highway Patrol)

This was a special model Buick that was popular with law enforcement.  Used on the early episodes of "Highway Patrol" with Broderick Crawford.  It was a slightly smaller body with a bigger engine.

Crawford went on to drive a 1956 Mercury and 1958 Buick among other cars.

Grandmother and Granddad's Packard

I've been trying to pinpoint year and model through photo identification.  I was convinced that Granddad switched hood ornaments (see below) after seeing the 1951 Packard 200 with the factory swan ornament, it may have been on the car when he got it.  My mom doesn't have a recollection specifically about him changing the hood ornament on this car but said Granddad did things to all of his trucks and cars.  So he may have added a hood ornament he liked better.  I thought this was a 1952 or '53 and could be.  I also thought it was a Clipper.  Not sure of location in photo.



Click to enlarge

1951 Packard 200 Deluxe with factory swan ornament. 

What's interesting is the hood ornament is the same style used on Packards from 1942- 1950.  I've included a chart I found to show what to expect for hood ornaments.  We saw Granddad put a Dodge ram's head on a Ford. This is one is pretty cool.  On the chart below, look at the ornament used between '42 and '50 and compare to the photo.

Here's another look at the style that is on the car.



Batmobile 1966 (origin)

Rather than type something up, I will include a link and copy in some text on the origin of this car.  I will include some images I have.
Click here

In the late summer of 1965, an all-new Batman TV series was gearing up, with Dean Jeffries hired to build a Batmobile for the show. When the show's production schedule was moved up, Jeffries had to pass on the job, which then went to custom car builder George Barris. With merely three weeks to build the car, Barris decided to use the Ford Motor Company's abandoned Futura concept car as a basis for what would go on to become one of the most famous cars in the world.
The Futura worked perfectly as a Batmobile, as it had many "bat" features built into the design already, such as the long fins and bubble canopies. According to Barris, he further enhanced the theme by converting the nose into an integrated bat mask, a first for the car. He also opened the wheel wells, and modified the Futura's fins into subtle bat wings by extending their leading edges into the doors and scalloping the trailing edges. Once bodywork was complete, the car was painted gloss black with red trim to accentuate the various lines of he car. Three replicas were eventually built by Barris' shop, though only one appeared on the show itself.
The car featured an impressive array of bat-gadgets. In addition to the "atomic turbine engine" (the car was actually powered by a blueprinted Ford V8), the car had a nose-mounted chain slicer, lasers, rockets, an on-board telephone, radar, dash monitor, on-board computer, and police beacon. If needed, the Batmobile is capable of a quick 180° "bat-turn" thanks to two rear-mounted 10' parachutes, and the it is equipped with a smoke emitter and a nail spreader to discourage pursuit. Some changes were made during the run of the series, including different license plates, a change in steering wheel, and the addition of extra gadgets such as the rear-facing camera and battering ram.

Here are some images of the Futura and then the Batmobile.  I've included more of the Futura because we all know what the Batmobile looks like.

Thunder Road

I don't remember seeing this classic when I was young.  I won't go too far into the background of the movie.
Suffice to say Robert Mitchum co-wrote and starred as a moonshine "transporter".  His son James plays his younger brother.  Gene Barry is a "revenuer".

But this is about cars.  Hopped up cars.  Mitchum at first is driving what looks to be a '49 or '50 Ford Tudor sedan.  As I've researched it, it's actually a '51 Ford with a '49 hood and a '50 grille and likely a '50 front clip.  The taillight area gives away the '51.  On the hood you can see where F-O-R-D is removed so that would be a '49 and the front turn lights would suggest a '50.  Regardless, it's cool.

Later, he is driving a '57 Ford Fairlane 500.  Lots of '57 Fords and '57 Chevys in this movie. 

I've included a few pics from the movie.

1955 Chevy Bel Air 4-door

I have a faint recollection of this car in our driveway.  This photo pre-dates me.  Based on research of two-tone paint options for 4-door Bel Airs, the top color was Shoreline Beige and the bottom color was Neptune Green.  This photo from 1957 in St. Joseph, MO.  Apologies to Dean and Patti.