Register now to get rid of these ads!

Hot Rods Is it a 38?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Hubes45, Aug 18, 2017.

  1. Hubes45
    Joined: Sep 15, 2015
    Posts: 6

    Hubes45
    Member

    Please excuse my ignorance, but this is a build my father and I did, and I was always told it was a 38 Ford Deluxe Coupe. As I browse through pictures though, I'm really starting to wonder. The short louvers and indent in the grille make me unsure of the year. I've seen picture of both, but the majority of them have long louvers and no indent of the grille. Mine is the one with the flames. Thanks in advance. hot-rods-184.jpg IMG_0055 - Copy.JPG
     
  2. FORDY 6
    Joined: Oct 8, 2002
    Posts: 1,558

    FORDY 6
    Member

    top pic is a '38 deluxe...bottom pic is a '39 standard
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  3. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,755

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    yup, yours is a 39 standard. (at least the front end). what does the title card say?
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  4. Hubes45
    Joined: Sep 15, 2015
    Posts: 6

    Hubes45
    Member

    Title says 38, that's where the confusion is. I guess I'll have to run the vin. Is there a vin decoder for cars this old?
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.

  5. There's always been a lot of confusion in those years. If the car was initially sold by the dealer or titled by the new owner in 1938, the confusion could have reflected that. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
     
  6. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,755

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    serial numbers for a 38 are 18-4,186,447 thru 18-4,661,000
    39 is 18-4,661,001 thru 18-5,210,700
     
    kiwijeff, Hubes45 and lothiandon1940 like this.
  7. ..............and like Mark says, the sheet metal could have been changed at some point in its' life.
     
    lothianwilly71 and Hubes45 like this.
  8. Hubes45
    Joined: Sep 15, 2015
    Posts: 6

    Hubes45
    Member

    Here's a picture of the back, if that helps any. I was reading on here that there's a difference in the deck lids, but I'm not quite sure what they mean. IMG_3414.JPG
     
    kiwijeff and lothiandon1940 like this.
  9. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,755

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member


    you have a 38. the trunk lid on a 39 is longer, goes closer to the roof
     
  10. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    The quickest way (I believe) to distinguish a '38 from a '39 Coupe body is the roof and drip rail. The '38 and earlier drip rail stops at the back of the quarter window and there is an exposed seam where the roof meets the deck area. On '39 up the drip rail flows back to the deck area and there is no body seam at the base of the top. It appears to me both vehicles in the pics are '38 (or '37 with later front end).

    Ray
     
  11. Hubes45
    Joined: Sep 15, 2015
    Posts: 6

    Hubes45
    Member

    mu
    Must be a 38. Vin starts with 1843. Thanks
     
  12. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    It's still a Cool coupe...
     
    kiwijeff, 6inarow and lothiandon1940 like this.
  13. ............................I would agree.:D
     
  14. 38 coupe, 39 Std. front sheetmetal.
     
    flatford39 and Moriarity like this.
  15. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    I hated those years most of my young adult life.
    Now I have a strange...'love'...for them. Call it a demented fetish...or a ... :rolleyes::p
     
    Hotrodmyk and lothiandon1940 like this.
  16. At first glance I thought it was 'fermented fish' ...people have a love for that too! :)
     
  17. RICK R 44
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 474

    RICK R 44
    Member

    38 Delux. Hood ornament turns 90 degrees to open the hood. Also has the long louvers in the hood sides, 39 Standard has the short hood louvers. My first car in the 60's was a 38 Delux Tudor. Another "should have kept it story"
     
  18. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,174

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    maybe custom coupe
     
  19. choptop40
    Joined: Dec 23, 2009
    Posts: 5,113

    choptop40
    Member

  20. Old Ford Coupe
    Joined: Jan 29, 2012
    Posts: 332

    Old Ford Coupe
    Member

    `38 Deluxe with `39 Standard side hood panels. Also, based on the rear pic, it's an early `38. Ford was still using pieces (e.g, trunk) from the `37s until approximately halfway through the `38 production run. At that time they converted over to the big trunk and roof line (same as `39 and `40). Also, where is your knob to push-out the windshield? On top of the dash is late `38 - `40. In the front of the dash is again leftover `37. Cool coupe, it's just the way Ford did business back then.
     
  21. Hdonlybob
    Joined: Feb 1, 2005
    Posts: 4,115

    Hdonlybob
    Member

    Whatever it is, I sure like it !!!
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.