Art & Inspiration 1940 Ford's - Deluxe or Standard?

I love the standard shape. It's my favorite Ford of all time, or any car actually ..and it still gives me same shivers as a cameltoe..

 

I like the standard grill on the 40 more than the delux. my 40

 

I Always Keep It Simple And Like The "Next One"...

 

and the 39 for the win

 

DeLux is the way to travel

 

I prefer the '39 DeLuxe, but since that does not answer the question, I like the '40 Standard better if the grilles are chrome.

 

my used to be mine 39 deluxe coupe, what a sweetheart!

 

I had a 1939 Deluxe for 24 years. Now I own a 1940 Deluxe. Thought I liked the fat hoods best but the deluxe hood looking better every day. I really like the '39 headlights but also have the '40 stuff if I ever want to switch. .

 

We have had maybe 12-14 pass thru here over the years. Built 8 Deluxe and 4 stds ground up. I like em both. Wife prefers the Deluxe though. If it's a std which we have had several I prefer the grille sides and headlight doors painted like stock. Currently have a black low mileage Deluxe coupe-just dropped a bit big and littles. Looking at a std project now as we speak. Friend has 3 40 projects in progress right now--2 coupes and a 2 dr sedan Painted new glass etc except front clips not painted so they can be std or deluxe. We have one mint deluxe grille and 4 stds one being NOS Ford and one having fresh chrome on sides-would blast that one and paint body color--he has lots of hoods--Will see

 

Not a huge difference between the '40 Standard and Deluxe. The most obvious difference is the hood and grille. There were two engine options on the Standard, the 60 HP V8 and the 85 HP, All Deluxes got the 85. Headlight doors were painted on the Standard and chromed on the Deluxe. Same part, they just painted some and chrome plated some. Most people change the painted ones out for the chromed Deluxe ones. Standards had a single taillight on driver's side with a passenger side taillight optional. By '40, some states were starting to require two taillights, and cars sold new in those states got two taillights. All Deluxes came with two taillights. Other than that, same car.

 

I like both 40"s and the 39 Deluxe. Currently have a 39 convertible with 40 standard grill (came that way). When I paint the car I will install a 39 deluxe grill. My 40 coupe is a deluxe (my personal favorite grill of the 3) My 39 Convertible Sedan will run a 39 deluxe grille. Either way you go you won't go wrong.

 

My car was a '40 Std coupe. It came with a hood, but with no grille. I liked the '40 Merc grille best of all, so Don Dillard (who built the car) made a faux Merc grille to fit the '40 Std opening:

 

...and if you want to get really picky.... a Deluxe had brown door handles/cranks and maroon dash knobs, and standards had chrome door handles/cranks with tan dash knobs. Also the window garnish moldings were different. A Deluxe had a lower decorative 'edge' so to speak, and the standards were more simple. Also, pretty sure all standard dashes were painted brown regardless of exterior color.
Standard

Deluxe

 

Actually they are different. The standards have a separate chrome bezel for the parking light. the Deluxe had the bezel in the headlight door. Subtle, but different.
Deluxe:


Standard

 

Side stainless on hood is shorter on the Standard due to the different hood profile. Ask me how I know........For years I wondered why my trim didn't really fit well. A friend who has had multiple 40's over the years informed me that mine had DeLuxe hood side trim.

 

here are my guys

 

I'm also a '39 Deluxe fan. Still had the swing out windshield.

 

I love my deluxe sedan, but if I we're fortunate enough to come across a nicely patina'd '40 standard coupe or two door sedan I'd be awfully tempted. I've got enough projects for the next ten years.

 

I like the deluxe more. But both are beautiful