1941 Ford Tudor Deluxe

Touted as an affordable car for the masses, with every part starting from raw steel to the rubber tires, produced within the confines of the massive Ford plant, the Super Deluxe offered a smooth ride, touted a large interior, and hydraulic brakes, all at a very affordable price. Some of this may have been true, and some not, but it sold cars, and that was the bottom line in 1941.

For consignment, a 1941 Tudor Deluxe sedan which has been in the current consignor's family for the past 20 years. Wearing what our consignor believes to be a single repaint, this 3 owner, 2 family car is one for the ages with great looks, stylish chrome and a clean interior. However, our consignor notes that there is an antifreeze leak into the crankcase and even though it will run on starting fluid, at this time the crankcase has been drained. All in all, flaws aside, a nicely designed version right out of 1941!

Exterior
Draped in black, this steel slabbed Ford produced Deluxe has most of all its original trimmings and is looking simply fab with a consignor believed single repaint draping the body. In Deluxe style, the barrel shaped vertical ribbed V grille with its two flanking side panels looks shiny and unmarred. Rounded lines with bulbous fenders now with just a very small running board, we are moving into the modern era of the next car look as to overall design. A hinged on the back hood with some curved edges, a bulbous badged front section, and a rounded trunk frame with an oval rear window above as well as a central passenger compartment which utilizes square doors which sport belt line trim spears. A flared rocker is seen at the bottom that flows right to the running board. On all 4 corners are the standard 16-inch black painted steel wheels sporting moon caps in the center with blue Ford scripting. Wide white walls for all corners are the standard fare for this Deluxe which make it absolutely super!

Interior
Clean tan broadcloth abounds on the interior, noted on the door panels, headliner, and bench seats that appear as nearly new and hardly sat in. A wood burl finished metal dash in Art Nouveau style, houses the instruments, some chrome trim, and a non-working clock. A huge cream bakelite insert makes up the center of the dash stretching from side to side and down below is an under dash heater. This is fronted by an original contrasting gray/cream steering wheel. Similar maroon bakelite knobs can be seen throughout the dash and attached to the column. These knobs control the choke, throttle, headlamps, foglamps, heater and of course the defroster. Clean sandy tan carpet covers the rear flooring and under the seats, while up front a clean black provides footing for the front seat passengers.
Drivetrain
Flipping the hinged hood, we see in the restored engine bay, quite possibly the original 221ci flathead V8 which presents as an older restoration. It has a 2-barrel rebuilt carburetor atop, and a 3-speed manual transmission on back which sends power to the 3.78 geared rear axle.

Undercarriage
An X frame with only surface rust firmly supports lightly patinaed and surface rusted floor pans and stock style exhaust in single piped form. Body hangers are rust free and it is definitely an all solid undercarriage environment. Transverse leaf springs for both the front and rear suspension and mechanical drum brakes are on all 4 corners.

Drive-Ability
Unfortunately due to the aforementioned internal coolant leak and lack of oil in the crankcase no attempt to start this prewar skate was made. Our consignor states that the car will fire up and run on starting fluid but has been in dry storage covered up since 2008

In keeping most of its original charm, we see an overall very good condition automobile, with that fab grille! Much of the original trimmings and steel panels have been retained and the paint is excellent and still shiny after all those years. Well maintained by a loving consigner and his family for the last 20 years, but sadly it is time to do other bucket list things in retirement, so advantage YOU! Now get cracking on a fix for that leaky mill, or maybe create yourself your own little street rod with some ingenuity and some wrenching.