The 1940 Ford

Date: ca. 1903 - ca. 1954
Creators: Ford Motor Company. (Most Recent)
From: Series: Motion Picture Films Relating to the Ford Motor Company, the Henry Ford Family, Noted Personalities, Industry, and Numerous Americana and Other Subjects, ca. ca. 1903 1903 - ca. ca. 1954 1954
Collection FC: Ford Motor Company Collection
localIdentifier: FC-FC-1575
naId: 91899
More at www.FLYKVNY.com

[@teddlohry7123]

One thing not mentioned in the video is the rear windows on the two door sedan deluxe not only lowered, but they also slid back a couple of inches to allow a little air to enter without blowing too hard. This was achieved by raising the window all the way up and continuing to turn the window crank a little more. Nice feature.

[@walterjack7136]

The 39 Ford had those roll back windows in the front doors. No need for vent window.

[@LynneC44]

@@walterjack7136 I wish new cars still had vent windows.

[@justaguy8347]

I bought a 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe in 1964, sold it in 1968, getting married, bought another 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe in 1969 from the original owner for $300.00 and I still have it today.

[@califdad4]

I still remember in the early 60s a older couple in town used to drive over to visit our older neighbors and they would drive over in the dark green 40 Ford, always spotless and clean. When he passed away some teen kid bought it , God only knows what happened to it

[@allanhunter2328]

lucky skunk

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Wow make a video and show us amigo!!

[@justaguy8347]

:-)

[@justaguy8347]

It was a work in progress for 40 years, before KZbin, so I don't have video :-(

[@paulbroderick8438]

Back then you could work on a car with a basic set of hand tools. An auto body designer was a dream job. Loved the ladies fashions.

[@srp960]

When my dad, now 82, was a small boy his parents owned a 1940 Ford. My dad has often spoken about how great this car was and wishes he had one today, fully restored that he could drive around in. Maybe that day will come.

[@lordofthestings]

My boss has this exact car setting in his barn (an old airport hanger) he drove it in there in 1983 and it's been sitting since. He says he wants to restore it but I dont believe it's going to get done. These are well built, beautiful cars.

[@jf8461]

I love these old car videos! It seems like people had more pride in automotive engineering and workmanship in those days.

[@trplpwr1038]

They did!

[@jogmas12]

J F maybe, maybe not. I know today’s cars are more dependable, faster, safer, and more comfortable.

[@wantapgt]

@@jogmas12 they had more pride though. The result of their work was limited by the technology back then

[@animalyze7120]

@@jogmas12 But only last 1/4 as long, so the correct answer is No.

[@sundial6919]

@@animalyze7120 you jealous cause you didnt make the grade 😁

[@bobr.6312]

in 1964, a friend of mine and I drove from Ft Myers, Fla to Newburgh, NY...it was quite the trip...after just one breakdown, a generator problem, we made it!

[@stephenjones1833]

My first car, $50 in 1957. Learned much, loved it. Sigh.

[@chtyan]

Love that wing vent glass had that on my 93 f-150 wish they still made those.

[@allanhunter2328]

I didn't know they had them still

[@R.U.1.2.]

Me too.

[@Porsche996driver]

That was awesome, such a breakthrough car that would re-emerge years later. Love to see all the stories being shared here too.

[@jimblue39]

LOVE 3 on the tree! I learned how to drive on my dad's 1950 Ford and the High School's driving instructor's car a 1953 Plymouth with that really neat Hy Drive. Really liked the looks of the '40 Fords. Thank you for uploading this really enjoyed it.

[@ranamitra9261]

Very very nostalgic - initially my Grandfather owned one these which was sold by one of the Americans who was leaving India - in an immaculate condition - thereafter one Ford V8 super deluxe by my dad - it was one of the most luxury cars of the time imposed by style and connoisseur.

[@Caje-zf8md]

As far back as I can remember, the '40 Ford coupe has always been my favorite car starting with a tiny lead-alloy toy replica that I had when I was little. I loved the graceful lines of it's profile and the tiny, rear split window. I sadly remember watching a non-running coupe slowly rust away in someone's driveway when I was a little older. In the movie," American Graffiti" there are two very brief appearances of the '40 Fords and in the opening of the horror movie, "The Giant Gila Monster", a '40 Ford rolls over and down an embankment.

[@MartinSage]

Self heating drum brakes

[@wesleyparker2767]

I love watching this! I was brought up with family friends that have cars between the years of 1940-1954 flathead v8s. I always always admired them. I had old cars too but I was a impala galaxie and fairlane type. Always owned a f100 or c10. I daily drive a 1970 f100. Well one of my family friends called me out of the blue and was wandering if I wanted the 1947 ford coupe. I bought it little less than a year later and my 3rd day of owning the oil pump went out and caused the motor to sling a rod. So I'm rebuilding a 100 horse 1950 239 flathead v8 to take its place!

[@stephenjones1833]

I had the same Ford environment -- flatheads everywhere. Best of luck with your new project.

[@pointingdog7235]

OMG my Late Father had a black 47 Ford. He added a flat head V8 had Edelbrock Heads, Isky camshaft, flame throwers on the tail pipes and other things that I can't remember. Good luck with your restoration and have a great time with your car.

[@lelandfranklin3487]

Heading to my local Ford dealer tomorrow! Hope they still have a few of the "Deluxe" models...that wing window for improved ventilation should catch on!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Well no need to be so daft, that wing window had been a prospect for a while now. 1934 was a large year for refined engineering in the body, and basically that is when everything was brought to its highest of quality despite the ending depression. My favorite year will always be 1936, just..gorgeous, but every year before that as well had such a ocean vast collection of choices. People act like Ford was the only vehicle back then, not to forget Chevrolet......oh and buick......and...uh...oh uh Packard Studebaker Chysler-desoto-imperial Lincoln Plymouth Dodge Pontiac Nash Oldsmobile Peerless Piercearrow Hudson Reo Cadillac-La'salle and on and on and on. Yet people only remember the talked about one's, and slowly forget history.

[@a1b2y25z26]

I really enjoyed this film about the 1940 Ford car. Aren't those old cars just the greatest for styling beauty ? What a welcome contrast to the " dreary same-ness " of so many modern autos !

[@califdad4]

it was a good looking car, but the Chevy outsold it, by over 200,000 cars. I was not around in that decade, but I parents bought a used 41 Chevy during WWII, didn't even think of a Ford, I have no idea why, other than they had Dads 36 Chevy coupe to trade in

[@paulbroderick8438]

Yes, it must have been a dream job to be an auto body stylist back then. Those Lincoln Continentals were really something. The cars, fashions and architecture had appealing Art Deco lines to them. Too much electronic gadgetry to them now, no thanks! I will only consider 1990 -2005 autos now.

[@califdad4]

yes they were, but I hear from Oldtimers today, that those Lincoln V12's were a pain to work on, which might be why a lot as the early 50's came along were refitted with a Olds or Cadillac V8

[@califdad4]

@@Gandalf721 yes, my 87 year old neighbor, told me about working on a friends Lincoln Zephyr ( hot rod) in the later 40s and how it was a all day thing for something like a tune up

[@strangeroamer3219]

Henry Ford was an antisemite.

[@legioner9]

I love this presentation. Truly flawless. The narrator has an awesome voice and the words he uses are very gentle and kind. Also, more true women than now and true cars back then.

[@Mary-rg4tl]

Oh my gosh! I want one of these! Back when your arm and hand was the blinkers. And under the hood, oh my! Loved this video! Thanks for posting! 👍😀✌

[@khadijagwen]

As a toddler, I rode all the way from San Diego to Portland laying on the shelf in the back of a car of that era in 49-50.

[@forwardplans8168]

That was very common actually, seeing kids laying down on the back window shelf.

[@ismaelpenalver4722]

Yeah coming back from the drive in we put my little brother in the back while he was asleep .

[@coloradostrong]

1849-1850? On Gunsmoke?

[@matrox]

My Grandmother had a 36' Ford. She kept it until 1960 and bought a Brand new 1960 Dodge.

[@antonfarquar8799]

The interior space is soooo nice head & back room - real leg room - today I always feel like I'm strapped into a bobsled and am always climbing in and climbing out - back then you stepped in and stepped out.

[@lincolnpaul1814]

anton farquar buy a SUV

[@antonfarquar8799]

I hate SUVs they are nothing but glorified trucks , they are ugly , you cannot see around them they have a very high center of gravity and you still have to climb into the damn things - there is no styling whatever . They are made for people with no sense of aesthetics andmost disturbing of all they look like funeral wagons.

[@sir.richardarmstrong3rd759]

How far we have come in 80 years. I love these old videos that shows us cutting edge tech of the past!

[@enemyatthegate3394]

These old cars had so much more room and comfort. I’ve ridden in a lot of new cars lately with my job that required me to take Uber or rental cars quite often. Even the decent midsize cars are low to the ground and cramped. If you want seating comfort anymore it seems you have to go with a big luxury car or an SUV.

[@bobsheppard8773]

Nice aerial footage of the Rouge Complex. Beautiful

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Edsel Ford and Bob Gregorie were the team that ran Ford Design during that era. Gregorie was a master in allowing proportion and body contours rather than gobs of trim to define the look of a car. He was also the designer behind the 1936 Zephyr and 1940 Continental. Harley Earl at General Motors had a heavy-handed approach to automotive design with emphasis on heavy and prominent chrome trim. But look at the 1940 model presented in this salesmen's training film...the model is still handsome despite minimal trim.

[@califdad4]

problem was the Chevy outsold the Ford by quite a number back in 1940. Chevy sold almost 765,000 cars and Ford almost 542,000 so maybe Harley Earls designs were more popular in those days. Personally , I like the 40 Ford better than the 40 Chevy but even my parents in those days bought a Chevy and didn't buy a Ford till the Mustang came out in April of 64

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

It is hard to say what motivated the public to purchase one car brand over another back in the day. Styling is very subjective and almost every American car around 1940 is still considered good-looking. Personally, I think Henry Ford's Antisemitism and anti-union views that were wildly known at the time turned off many prospective buyers. Also, Ford was generally behind Chevrolet and certainly Plymouth in progressive engineering, despite having a V-8 option.

[@califdad4]

I think your right on that. One of the things Henry II did in 1950 was present Chaim Weizmann , first president of Israel , a new Lincoln Cosmo Limo, a gift from Ford. I think he was trying to show big change in the company going forward

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Henry Ford was more of a hindrance then help after the early 1930s with the low-cost V-8. He wanted to bring back the Model T, he resisted engineering changes to make Ford more competitive, he became senile in his later years, and he berated Edsel mercilessly. Once Edsel died in 1943, he took over as an almost dictator of the company and almost bankrupted FoMoCo a second time...the first time being in 1927 during the months-long shutdown to tool up for the Model A. During WWII, FoMoCo was losing money despite government contracts. Clara Ford and Eleanor Ford threatened to sell their stock if Henry didn't let his grandson take control.

[@califdad4]

at WWII there was talk of a Gov take over it was so bad, and they took Henry II out of the service to take over the company. The Company was loosing 10 million a month , despite Gov contracts. Thank goodness for family pressure

[@gerrynightingale9045]

Hell...I'd buy one now! Never mind 'what year it was ' ...this is still an excellent car with tons of ROOM inside.(of course I'd want disc-brakes and all the restraint-systems installed including air-bags...and I gotta' have my 'tunes' as well) Just a few upgrades...and you've got a nice auto to drive...even now! I'm old enough to remember when cars had actual thick, plush seats w/actual coil-springs inside and they were MUCH better than anything now...and VENT-WINDOWS! Drive a car w/vent-windows and you'll never go back! Modern cars are great, and I don't want to 'go back the old days' of endless maintenance and hard-starting engines complete w/'wallowing' suspensions and anemic brakes...but some of the 'old stuff' was actually great and should still be here...like that 'Lux' interior.

[@rtta51]

I owned one. The rear seat felt like you were sitting on your sofa at home.

[@gerrynightingale9045]

My memories don't go back to 1940! But, I remember that even my mother's '48 Chevy 'Business Coupe'(I think that's what it was?) had very comfortable thick-seats and really nice 'cloth-mesh' finish...and that was 'cheap car' even new! Even the '71 Caddy my grandparents had VERY comfortable seats...you could drive all day and night in that car and never get a sore ass and back!What in hell has happened to cars and the SEATS?!?!They SUCK! It's agony to drive even 3-hours! Never mind three or four days! Don't get me wrong...modern cars are VASTLY superior to past cars, but there's a lot that got changed for the worst, and no excuse for it other than being 'cheap where they can get away with it'...like getting rid of 'wing-vents' and proper seating.

[@davidkihn770]

I’ve owned every model of the 40 Ford except the convertible and the woody. My favorite Ford car. I even owned the pickup truck.

[@lbh002]

This car, particularly the coupe, inspired automotive design well into the 1960s. I didn't know that when I was a kid, but our 1964 Volvo PV-544's profile was dead ringer for the 1940 Ford Coupe. But I think the Volvo's 1.8 liter four banger with twin SU carbs and a 10:1 compression ration was much more powerful than the 85 hp flathead V8. The Volvo had 107 hp.

[@flamingvans1135]

None of the Volvo 1.8's with SU carbs could match the torque of the 1940 Ford flathead V8. 108 vs 155. Even the later 1.8's with fuel injection couldn't match that torque. And the flattie had way more potential for making more power, as generations of hotrodders have proven.

[@dmr5095]

But not the torque of the Ford. And the torque is important for long distance and heavy loading

[@travelinben1966]

Always wanted one of these,and a ‘49 Merc club coupe.👍🏻👍🏻

[@benjimenfranklin7650]

I would absolutely love to have a brand new 1940 Ford ! It would be wonderful to have something I could work on.

[@derekchapman6159]

Love the bench seat in the front

[@richardherrington2852]

I was born in 1944. It boggles my mind at how expensive cars & pickup trucks are in 2019... and... that they are literally pieces of high maintenance junk.

[@mantroid]

To me, it's amazing how a car built 14 years before I was born ('54) can be so similar to today's cars in basic functions. Sealed beam headlamps, hydraulic brakes (not breaks btw), V-8 engine to mention a few. I once asked my dad, born in the 30's, what was the most notable change in cars from his early days, and he said brakes. They used to be mechanical and weren't very good!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Yes, it used to be 17 car spaces away is when you would start breaking at 60 miles per hour. Also don't tell modernists that, they'd like to make it seem paled in comparison to their special plastic orbs they uncomfortably try to get in, unemotionally zapping off onto the endless asphalt lines to get to their ever important fast food drive through....why else would they be going 80 miles per hour?

[@nfullenwider]

I was just thinking that my 03 Civic doesn't have a locking glove box

[@carlsaganlives5112]

@@nfullenwider Boy did you get hosed at the dealer. Surprised you admit it.

[@nfullenwider]

@@carlsaganlives5112 Hardly. If I'd thought it was a bad deal I wouldn't have bought it, would I?

[@budjeansonne4482]

I remember my mother and all the ladies dressing like that, pure class. Beautiful women.

[@totallysmooth1203]

America was a wonderful place. Before Lyndon Johnson and America's Democrat enemies destroyed the civilization.

[@markflint2629]

Yes, when women looked feminine

[@axiomist4488]

They didn't have to look like sluts to be attractive. Those models in the video were gorgeous.

[@totallysmooth1203]

@@axiomist4488 It was a different America. Before its Democrat enemies had successfully turned it into a third world country where they could have perpetual rule. Lyndon Johnson signed their decrees and the stage was set. Now we see what we have today.

[@benjimenfranklin7650]

Yes today they all look like hookers !

[@byronpink9061]

Very historical and informative! More pride and craftsmanship were put into these cars and they did not need much to sell themselves. Excellence! I am a proud owner of Ford products.

[@jogmas12]

Byron Pink my 2001 mustang GT was built at the Rouge plant

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

"Fix Or Repair Daily"...lol

[@TexasMan77]

@@CLASSICALFAN100 Haha hardly.

[@ianinkster2261]

I am a slightly abashed owner of Ford products. They disintegrate easily and fall apart after 100, 000 miles.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@ianinkster2261 very vague whatever the fig a ford product refers to.

[@yahatinda]

$400 brand new...I leaned how to drive in one of these....An 85 hp,V_8 wow,,,lol Three on the tree...lol .Rayon cord tires... We had "Willy Lump Lump for 14 YEARS.It survived numerous crashes thanks to Pops drunken driving.. It died from overheating due to clogged cooling passages and nearly zero maintenance.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

unbelievably tough

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

@ too much heat detach the carbon build up, it dosent increase it...also you are comparing a flathead v-8 to modern OHV chevy small block so no wonder genius that those were superior... well you just dont know anything about it all and spew nonsense

[@berfunkle4588]

Anyone else notice that the number of ashtrays in a car in 1940 is roughly equal to the number of cup holders in a car in 2022?

[@scottmassey4330]

Good looking babes in this film, all wearing gloves. Very impressive to the the prospects.

[@jogmas12]

Scott Massey they grandmas now

[@hankrogers8431]

Get your flabby ass in the gym if you want one.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

And they really liked guys with crew-cuts, who drove around in their 1956 Chevy convertibles with a Lucky Strike cigarette pack rolled-up in the sleeve of their (white) t-shirt...(ROFL)

[@antoniopacelli]

They didn't wanted to acquire Cancer from the Viniles Stearing Weals..while riding theirs sports cars with their Radium Aftershave... It went well... Then their hands were left attached to the Stearing Weals inside the gloves...but it was Fancy until it lasted.

[@gregscally5119]

@@jogmas12 No that is 84 years ago. They are well and truelly pushing up daisies. Nice looking birds though.

[@johnpro2847]

3:21 rear leg room is so much bigger in these old bangers

[@highwatercircutrider]

Women were sure beautifully dressed back then, they just don't get it today!

[@frankeggers4024]

Watch old Perry Mason programs and see how people dress in court. The men wear suits and the women are beautifully dressed and wear hats and gloves.

[@billboyd4243]

@highwatercircuitrider women's clothing styles of the 1940's were just classy with their lines and cut, I wish this design and style would come back, women looked more like women back then and in a classy way!

[@WPPCProductions]

I agree .Also Men had suits on too then.All went down the crapper in the late 1960's up to now.No comment on the current state of people wear now.

[@tommytruth7595]

@xwriter100 Back then, tattooed ladies were only to be found in the freak show at a carnival. And that is where they still belong.

[@teapurveyor]

They get it. You've just never been worth dressing up for.

[@JonosBtheMC]

5:03 Took two attempts to close the "new improved" glovebox. On the film they show dealers!

[@catlover34fl]

Reminds me of my father's 1940 Ford. Our family rode in that maroon colored 1940 Ford until 1946. My mother drove it a few times. I agree the women dressed a lot classier in the 1940s and 1950s. The 1960s changed all that to the sloppy look. Unfortunately, there's no style today. Everybody in boring, sweaty pants.

[@reinaldoaponte4872]

Commercials of that Era where so Elegant, People we’re dressed according of what they were demonstrating.

[@Britspence381]

I miss those front window vents.

[@richardmcree6992]

We had a 40 Ford when we lived in Columbia, SC! Sold it for a 55 Plymouth Savoy.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Take all the class, character, hard work, dignity and respect that existed in 1940, remove it, and that's what the modern USA is.

[@iraqiimmigrant2908]

Sad but true…

[@rah62]

7:00 not sure the women will know how the back seat upholstery feels like as they're still wearing gloves.

[@flagger7571]

There was actually a song written and recorded about the 1940 ford coupe called “little forty ford” by Leon Smith.

[@ocsrc]

You could fit six adults in these vehicles and I remember that even in the 1970 and even some of the 1980 cars had the huge bench seat

[@gearshifterg9756]

And about 20 years later, the 1940 Ford was made more dependable when a Chevrolet V-8 engine was installed.

[@easydutchcollege7484]

My dad's first ever car, bought 2nd hand in 1951. I wish he were around to see this fillm

[@552mustang]

Nice to see the world famous River Rouge plant in its glory days!

[@serasera698]

I like it. ...keren bgt classical n elegant exclysive cocok bt jalan2 the family...pernah d pakai bt transportasi the president. ...keren

[@Nemesis861965]

The 1940 Ford and the Shelby Cobra are the two most beautiful cars ever made. IMO.

[@grantkruse1812]

the 1957 Chevy and the corvette are the two most beautiful cars ever made....

[@Nemesis861965]

@@grantkruse1812 : In the top five. Don't forget another beauty...the 1937 Chevy.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@grantkruse1812 too bad you only want it in uncreative bright red :(

[@tommissouri4871]

@@WitchKing-Of-Angmar - A '63 Corvette coupe in silver or Daytona blue is incredible looking. Much better than red.

[@Amarillobymorning777]

I wish a got one of those when I met Sharon , was kind of difficult in my 1990 Pontiac Firebird.

[@dennispfeifer7788]

Now, you know that large back seat caught the eye of many young men! LOL I'd have liked to have lived in that country.

[@stacase]

Two road trips Milwaukee - Colorado 1948 and Milwaukee - Tennessee - Washington DC 1950 in my parents 1940 DeLux. On the 1950 trip, my Dad had a sears trailer with a Ben Hur camper. Later trips to Grand Canyon, the Canadian Rockies, Yosemite, and the Rocky Mountain National Park, CO were in a 1950 Ford Custom with Over-drive. I have a 1944 DOB so not a lot of recall on that first trip (-:

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

I love the 3 on the tree, the Japanese in the 90s used a column shift for 5 speeds on the column that imo should have also been sold here, it's just fun to drive and if you thought a floor shift was an anti-millenial safety device, that column shift means you can leave they keys in it with the windows open.

[@TestECull]

Not all of us are inept when it comes to stick. Test drove a '49 Hudson last weekend and 3-on-the-tree felt so natural I didn't even have to think about it. Didn't buy it, though. The clutch was totally fried. 80% of the travel did nothing, when it did engage, it chattered. And they wanted 26k for it. Not happening.

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

@@TestECull replacing a clutch on one of them is cake, if you can drive it, presumably you could twist a wrench..

[@TestECull]

@@rustbeltrobclassic2512 *Finding* a clutch to put in it is the hard part. I can't just pop down to the local O'Reilly's and pick one up, and since the 49 Hudson isn't the most popular hotrod platform around it's pretty scarce on the aftermarket scene as well. And I still ain't gonna spend 26 grand on a car with a fried clutch when I can spend 12,500 on a Ford with the legendary Flathead V8 that *doesn't* need a clutch. I'll excuse a lot of issues on a car of this vintage because they're 70+ years old, but if you're asking me to pay 26 thousand for it, it better be turn key driveable. Especially since I'm looking to daily the thing.

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

@@TestECull no question, at 26k I'd have chewed him down, but that's still a cool ride. If you come across anything else rare like that, I'd check gearstar international as they make a lot of weird one off parts for vintage transmissions and drivetrain components.

[@61rampy65]

@@TestECull Didn't Hudsons have a cork-lined clutch disc? I almost want to say they ran in oil (like automatic trans clutches), but, I'd have to go look at my old Motor manuals. Hudsons were cool cars, tho!

[@pearlcaster8287]

I'm nearly eight decades old, and I've lusted for a 1940 2-door Deluxe coupe my whole life. My father had one in 1948 and I used to ride in the back-window between the window and the seats. I consider this model to be esthetically attractive.

[@geraldscott9446]

I sure wish I could buy a new one right now. I love those old cars. Clean, simple, no electronics, no plastic, no emissions crap, no safety bumpers, no airbags, no ABS, no Bluetooth, no 20" GHETTO wheels, just what a car should be.

[@cherkas009]

Gerald Scott now you're making sense because why would you care about the safety of yourself or others LOL

[@geraldscott9446]

I'm a 58 year old mechanic, and have been a vintage car enthusiast (1966 and older) since I was a teenager. I have worked on and driven old cars my whole life. I have zero interest on these new "computers on wheels" especially when the wheels are WAY to large in diameter for the vehicle. No vehicle other than a commercial truck needs wheels larger than 15" You brought up safety. Huge diameter wheels and tires with 1" sidewalls are anything but safe on the street. Neither is using a cell phone while driving, no matter how you do it. The "safe" part of driving comes from the driver not the car.

[@robbiecrosbie4506]

And no seat belts lol. I'd have one with a seat belt. Older cars you actually felt the road and driving was more exciting

[@geraldscott9446]

I have a 1964 Fairlane with no seatbelts, other than one on the front passenger side. I occasionally carry one of my grown kids in it, and won't let them ride in it without a seatbelt. This car actually came with seatbelts, but because of it's age it is not covered by the illegal seat belt law. I am also a believer in seatbelts, and realize I am taking a chance without using one. But I also ride motorcycles (I wear a helmet) and that is even more dangerous. If it were not for the seatbelt law I would have one, but you have to take risks when fighting for your freedom. Not wearing a seat belt is bad, the seatbelt law is much worse. I am 58, have been a vintage car mechanic and enthusiast all my life. Right up to the point where they started putting computers in them. That's where I stop. I have built a couple of mid '70s cars with 3 times the power they came with. You can do that in my state because if you insure them as collector cars, that exempts them from emissions tests, then you are free to do whatever you want.

[@Jessewren1968]

Yeah, safety and clean air are both overrated.

[@ew1usnr]

I want a 1940 Ford. The battery condition indicator is pretty cool. :)

[@steelfan81]

By golly, these new automobile designs are the bee's knees!!!

[@ralphabreu5022]

Bring back all the Clothes that were worn back then.

[@frederickwise5238]

My first in 1955. But the "low priced" lol As others have said. Back when a car was made to get you from A to B!!! No complex electronic junk to bankrupt you when it goes bad. I miss wing windows!!

[@grantkruse1812]

Yeah but how could you park the beast without 4 cameras telling what to do next?

[@rickycarter7154]

I think this was ford's last non-union car

[@frederickwise5238]

@@grantkruse1812 Well my dad parked his cars from sometime in 1925 til he died in 1963. I began driving in 1955 and I managed till I was forced by disability in 2018 and over the years I have seen 10s of thousands of cars that were successfully parked without a camera. But I guess wussies of today do need hep. LOLOLOLOLOL

[@matador521]

This is fantastic - what a find. Thank you.

[@goyeabuddy]

i love the car, the women & a simpler life back then... no cell phones, road rage, traffic was more manageable & gas was probably 15 cents a gallon.

[@tommissouri4871]

There were only 132 million people in the US then. That makes a huge difference.

[@charlesameyer1]

…and World War II was right around the corner

[@quietguy1948]

A neighbor kid had the two door coupe... all hot rodded, bright orange, etc. Loved that thing.

[@2098elk]

Classic design. One of my favorites.

[@smug8567]

We were fortunate we lived on a small farm in the country and dad raised chickens and pigs, we had a milk cow, fruit trees and a large garden.

[@MikeBlitzMag]

The supreme irony is that the Rouge Plant is still very much in business. However, the street it is on (Miller Road) is in such bad shape, that the potholes and cracked pavement could well damage every vehicle manufactured there!

[@brianwittman5172]

Oh boy! The gear shift lever is mounted to the steering column. That's real progress! If that prospect was to go look at an Oldsmobile, they would have been shown a Hydramatic transmission. All the driver needs to do is choose their direction of travel, move the shift lever to that direction, and go!

[@franknew9001]

Missing from their list of 22 options and improvements were air conditioning, power steering, power anti lock disk brakes, a cd player, satilitte am-fm radio, outlets to charge a cell phone and mp3, just to name a few. There was so much leg room that no wonder so many babies were conceived in the back seats of cars back then!!! All of the people were dressed up and wearing hats and the ladies were wearing dress gloves, even though it was probably warm outside. How times have changed. It was very important that every car have two ashtrays up front as almost everybody smoked back then.

[@libertyman3729]

FORD, FOUND ON ROAD DEAD . TODAYS CAR'S HAVE FAR F A R FEWER EVERYDAY PROBLEMS. NOBODY KEPT A CAR AFTER 35,000 MILES BACK THEN CAUSE THEY FELL APART THAT FAST.

[@greggi47]

Were backseat ash trays common then, too? Or did folks in the back have extra long arms to reach the front?

[@oliveringram3056]

Yep, back in the good old days.....

[@igostupidfast3]

@@greggi47 yes but mostly in nicer cars

[@zmbewolfable]

No stupid computer chips, just straight up class and people smoked like chimneys for 70+ years

[@tommissouri4871]

2:20 - Clearly the list doesn't have "shiny paint" as an option as the one shown prior to the list looks like it is in primer. Oh, at 2.52, they have shiny paint. 3:25 - I remember when you had a side panel next to the seating in the rear that wasn't the door. If the door opened, you didn't just fall out. And look at all that legroom for the rear seat. By the time them made Mustang, that was all but forgotten. 4:03 - how times have changed!

[@Mr91495osh]

My Dad’s first car. He was sixteen going to Miami High School and met my mom. They got married, they had my brother, he went to war, came, home, they had me, put a Cadillac motor in it and bought a house in Coconut Grove near both of my Grandparents homes. GlennFHoward No seatbelts but plenty of ash trays!

[@dday9257]

I not only like the car I like the clothes the ladies wore back then.

[@toni409]

Ladies never went out without a hat and gloves. Men also always wore hats.

[@tommytruth7595]

Yes, compare them to the tattooed and pierced skanks around today. Women look like homeless people today.

[@birddog3130]

@@toni409 amen.

[@captainkaos754]

You Americans can be thanked for a world of fat fucks. You invented some of the most disgusting shit to ever be consumed.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Classy ladies thats for sure!😍👍

[@carlsaganlives5112]

Right off the bat, there's a shot of the massive plant showcasing 6 giant smokestacks going full bore - not likely seeing many companies starting off a promo using that visual approach today, huh?

[@bigbullfrog98]

9:43 those wipers were in warp drive mode.

[@boggy7665]

Until you stepped on the gas. Then they stopped moving.

[@trainsntile]

@@boggy7665 Yeah, those vacuum wipers sucked! My mom had a 1960 Mercury Comet (1st year for it). Automatic, 6 cylinder, AM radio & those damned vacuum wipers!!!

[@vlehr2903]

Loved these cars no pollution crap,no electric everything,no stupid computers,no all plastic crap real metal!

[@christopheklinger3217]

In 1914, Henry Ford did a surprising thing by increasing the wages of his employees. He gave $10,000,000 in profits to his employees. He raised the wage of his factory workers from $2.34 a day to $5.00 a day. Ford also made his work days only 8 hours.

[@kingkrimson8771]

That's an impressive thing for an anti-Semite and known admirer of Adolf Hitler to do!

[@61rampy65]

That was so employees could buy the cars they were making. $5/day was big bucks back then.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@61rampy65 no kidding! 5 dollars a day in 1914. Been lucky to make that at my job in the mid 50's. Especially with the recession of 53'.

[@reubenknights3758]

And he was good friends with Adolf Hitler. They shared very similar views on a certain topic and he even sold engines to Germany during the first World War. What a great guy

[@ronaldsolberg6231]

When I was in hi school everyone wanted a 40 Ford coupe. they were great to customize . I never did get to do one as we didn't have much money. The rich kids did that. Not only the 40 Ford but lots of the older one also. Mostly the 32. Miss them days so much.

[@ddkoda]

Well presented. The vertical styling of the hood and grill reminds me of the prow of a great ocean liner. It's good that Ford finally transitioned to hydraulic breaking but it probably would have been wise for Henry to move up to independent front suspension at that point in time.

[@yourhandlehere1]

I know where a 41 Super Deluxe is for sale.

[@ddkoda]

Thanks For the info! The 1940 Ford is really a grand looking car. If I had the space I'd certainly look into your offer.

[@EricJamesHanson]

Indeed. that is true. Henry almost destroyed his own company with his stubbornness as the years went by. Henry the Deuce saved the company with the radical 49s.

[@stephenvelden295]

I think you mean hydraulic braking!

[@lazyrrr2411]

brainy - people have to understand the Mindset of "The Old Man"

[@joespag26]

Incredible rear leg room !!!

[@alb12345672]

Forget the car, wish they could bring back such classy women!

[@MrTruth111]

so sexy, omg, I want to live then.

[@MrTruth111]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWXTlKF-fsief80 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5aWiJ6Omb-Ga7c kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZaWZZZsg7x9e6c

[@MrTruth111]

@Caliban777 In my country we call them room elephants.

[@rockets4kids]

kzbin.info/door/hyWv5fy8utAWVhRPVV85XQ

[@d.e.b.b5788]

Today skanky ho's are standard equipment!

[@danmccarthy4700]

It's sad to watch this, knowing Ford no longer sells sedans.

[@sabrinacordell6290]

One great thing about a 1940 model is the would haul 120 gallons of whiskey.

[@toni409]

Shine on harvest moon!

[@roberthaworth9097]

Prohibition was passed in 1919 and had taken hold by 1921. It rapidly made the open ("touring") car obsolescent. After that, people increasingly wanted a car whose structure could at least partially shelter the interior from prying eyes. One Buick dealer in CA advertised that the back seat of Buick's new sedan, complete with roll-down curtains all around, could accommodate "three passengers or 10 cases."

[@clawhammer704]

You had to have overload springs to haul all that shine. A lot of drivers also put 100hp mercury heads on those fords since they only had 85hp. Some had overdriven installed.

[@craigruchman7007]

80+ years on, still feel pumped to buy

[@THEScottCampbell]

"The new two-tone dashboard in maroon (gray) and Rose Sand (gray)." You'd think they could have splurged for color film.

[@thunderpuppy6719]

You'd have to go to a theater to view it in color, as there were no color TVs in 1940.

[@geoben1810]

Yesiree Bob! Me and the wife, or the ol ball and chain as I call er, we're going on down to the see the feller down at the dealership to look at one now! I just got a dolla' a week raise and I been a wantin' one for a time now! 👍😉

[@jasonbrown7258]

Love it. Back when new cars were affordable and didn't have all the b.s. that that drove the cost way up. No a.b.s. traction control air bags seat belts and all the other electronic b.s. I bet if they still made cars like that today they would cost only a fraction of the price and they would sell. Most people would probably care less about all the fancy options on today's car's if they still had the choice of either.

[@majordendrocopos]

Seat belts and air bags aren’t b.s. are they? And you would be happy driving a car with a rigid metal spike pointing straight at your chest? Modern collapsible steering columns have saved many people from being impaled in a crash.

[@Buck1954]

I miss the floor dimmer switch.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

5:07 oops! she had to close the glove box door twice!

[@nefflz]

... and at 9min 46sec she couldn't get it into gear!

[@jasonwilson652]

ELECTRICCLOCK ford thing

[@captainkaos754]

That’s because it’s a ford. The glovbox would’ve eventually fell of

[@5610winston]

Caught both of those.

[@lnteIIigence]

Maybe I have a warped perception of the past, but I'm pleasantly surprised they show a woman driving the car in 1940!

[@richardfox8168]

Good old fashioned sedans could hold 6 adults. Did you see the amount of leg room in the back seat? Fun video to see how they marketed cars in the past. Just the basics, thank you.

[@AKLDGUY]

Having owned a 1938 Ford Deluxe, I can vouch for that leg room. The narrator is not exaggerating. Those late-30s-early 40s Fords were extremely roomy in the back.

[@richardprice5978]

AKLDGUY and now some brands try to pass off smaller cars as full size sedans as the same size as older ones guess what fail I don’t fit and that’s with the black seat to my self it’s just like electronics in the 90s were you shrink everything and it’s a positive and that’s one of things that amaze me when I bought my 60s car and it’s a 2 door hard top the bad thing is trying to park it with to days compact sedans be the normal so some parking stalls it doesn’t fit in

[@kingkrimson8771]

Yeah, that huge back seat was a major reason for the higher birth rate back then

[@mikemcgonegal1616]

I like how safety was the last thing on the list, but ashtrays were first.

[@FLATBUSHPLAY]

Back when you sat in a car instead of wearing it.

[@MegaLivingIt]

Funny!

[@jimbo97]

The new glove box door is guaranteed to latch on the SECOND attempt! 😆

[@SleezyMcZeelius]

I like how they were talking about how easy it is to shift and all of that. Then I see them struggling to get it into reverse and into 3rd gear.😂

[@JackSmith-jj3bi]

When in the Navy in 1968 bought a 1940 Opera Coupe for $500 from another sailor Shipping Out. Sold it 6 months later for $750 when I too Shipped Out.

[@nevillemason6791]

Henry Ford was a strange man. He nearly destroyed his own company. He was eventually persuaded to stop making the Model T (as very few where being sold as it was outdated). He shut down the plant for nearly a year to retool for a new model. Meanwhile all the Ford dealerships went out of business and the customers went to Ford's rivals to buy cars. When Ford restarted they were never got back to their dominant former position. In the 1970s Ford USA was bankrupt and only saved by a cash injection from Ford Europe (who were making money). They blamed their customers for buying Japanese cars. So why weren't Ford making what their customers wanted? The customer is always right!