Thread: How do.. "New" 1939 Ford Steel Tudor Owner

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purchased a 1939 Henry Ford Steel Tudor Sedan a week ago, this car is about 70% complete, done in a Modernized Retro-Rod style.

Chevy ZZ4 Crate Motor
TH350 Transmission
Power Steering, Brakes, Windows, etc.
Vintage Air,
Modern Suspension, brakes, wheels,

etc. etc.


Car still needs paint, interior, functional exterior lighting, bumpers, and some other minor fixes and corrections.

the previous owner did a pretty good job with the build, those some of his choices are specific to his taste and not mine..

I tried getting some info on various things from HAMB, but apparently I don't fit their "criteria" of a "traditional hot rod" whatever the "F" that means..

So I will try here..


I will take and then post up pictures in a few days when I get back to the garage to do some more work on it.

Sounds like a great start, i'd love to see some pics. Modern retro is how I like if it means what I think it means. There is everything from bone stock originals to Cummins Powered Vettes, to Hopped up Astro Vans on this site so I think you find something you like.

to me a modern retro is a hod rod with modern amenities, power windows, locks, brakes, A/C, radio, etc. timeless appearance of the original, but the outdated guts of the car have been replaced with the more modern, high-performance parts of today


I think some call it Restomod,

Welcome sir from down under. I believe the style can be called " Restorod " also but then these so called names and terminologies change fasted then a top fuel car down a drag strip. I too will be keen to see photo's and I'm certain that you will receive excellent advice and information from the family here if you have an open mind and am prepared to put the effort in as sadly, we have had people join here, ask a few questions etc. and then disappear to be never heard from again which I personally feel disappointed and hurt that some use others like that. Please don't take my comments in a negative way but it is like anything in this world, one has to put effort into something for a return. Sorry if I'm rambling a bit so back to the schedule programme, the '39 Ford Tudor has been one of my all time favourite body styles so yes, I'll look forward to you posting more about your build.

Welcome aboard mjeds, I'm on the right coast and glad to see you here.
Pics are de rigueur round this place.. we've become photo hounds! LOL...

We're mostly a laid back group.. but like any family we sometimes get in a mood and can get cranky.. It's all good, we're just trying to help you not make the same mistakes we've already done.

Post some pics and let's discuss some of your needs / wants.

Welcome aboard...........no traditional police here..........though some of us embrace a more traditional vibe. We even enjoy Mike doing that Frenchy talk thing..........
This club house operates best for those who grab an oar and help paddle.........ya get out commensurate with what ya put in.

Geez... now I gotta google comm..en..sur..ate...

Thanks Uncle Bob... 8-)

Originally Posted by 34_40

geez... Now i gotta google comm..en..sur..ate...

Thanks uncle bob... 8-)

.................

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

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A good teacher never really retires....

In your in the right place, welcome from missouri

If I find value in a forum I stick around.. Been a member of the Mopar forums community for over 14 years even though I sold my last Mopar 7 years ago, I still find value in the people and the friendships I made there.

Also a member of some Chevy truck forums and Lexus forums as I own both types of vehicles.

here is a picture of the car I bought, it still needs interior work, and as I said I am not a fan of the paint so that will get changed,

1939FordSedanRedGreyDD-profile.jpg

So a bit of history on the car I got from the builder today.

it is a titled 1939 Ford Deluxe, but the hood, grille, and front are from a 1938 Standard, the reason being apparently that the car had some front damage and the when Darryl started the build he wanted a 1938 as to name it the ".38 Speical" cars and guns ya know..

but he couldn't find a straight body '38 in his budget, but did find this '39.. So he made the '39 look like a '38. as it was to be a street rod, keeping original wasn't a big deal.

So yes this is a '39 but the front is a '38, which is ok by me as I like the '38 front better myself as the '39 looks a little to much like the '39 Mercury, Never quite understood the "twin model" mentality across the American car lines, and the '38 Ford look is unique to the '38 Ford.

Once upon a time I had a 40 standard and to say that I admire your car is an under statement.

Maybe you already know this, but if not it will add to your story telling on the body changes. In both '38 and '39 (as well as '40, but that's outside this commentary) there were two styles of front sheet metal each year. There was a '38 Standard that had a nose that somewhat resembled the '37, and the body was also different when compared to the Deluxe. Then there was the Deluxe front that it appears yours has. As was Ford's custom at the time, the following year the '39 Standard had the front end that looked very similar to the '38 Deluxe (grille shape and trim differences). And then there was the '39 deluxe that, to use your reference, was vaguely similar to the Mercury. The '40 Standard then adopted a similar style, which in turn was different from the Deluxe.

The entire front accumulation of pieces is different from Standard to Deluxe in '39, grille, hood, fenders, inner panels, running boards, and to top it off, the cowl sides were different. So, if the main body of yours was actually a Deluxe the builder would have had to change the cowl as well as the doghouse to make the change over. There's a lot more nuance to the differences (believe it or not), but I've prattled enough already.

Welcome and that's a very nice looking car.

Dont let the mostly too young to know "tradtional police" on the HAMB get you down. Nothing wrong with a SBC. They're as traditional or more so than many engines. Up until my new build, that's all I ran. My new engine is an LS, so technically it's an SBC too.