1938 Deluxe
 

Seen a person advertising what looked like a 39 Ford Standard Coupe body with a 38 Deluxe front clip. The person was adamant his car was a 38 Ford Deluxe. He said they ran out of 38 bodies later in the production year and used early 39 Standard bodies. The Dash looked like a 39 Dash but was modified. The car looked like it has been Hot Rod somewhat. Never read of Ford using a 39 Standard body as a stop gap for 38 Deluxe coupes?

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

I talked to a man with a ‘41 Tudor Sedan...... he insisted it was a ‘40..... his reason ??....40’s are worth more!!!!..... Mark

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

That's why you have to look at the numbers on the frame. I had my son look at a '46 Ford at a dealership, I asked the salesman if the numbers matched the title he sent me a picture of the frame, you could clearly see it was cut out from another car and welded on top of the frame. I passed on that one.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

This one is a 'no-brainer', even for a 12 year-old Girl Scout. 1937 and '38 COUPES are a two-year-only body, Standard or Deluxe. 1939 and '40 COUPE bodies, Standard or Deluxe have an entirely different turret and trunk line than '38 Ford COUPES, Standard or Deluxe. You can look at the slope below the two windows down into the trunk on either one and see the difference right away. 1938s actually have a seam in the body below the two rear windows. The '39 is a smooth, gradual transition. DD


1938 Coupe


https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.vwajXx...r=1.35&pid=1.7


1939 Coupe


https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.AHwSdF...r=1.35&pid=1.7








………….

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

"THAT was his tale, I'm sitting on mine!"

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Thankx for researching, but that was not the question.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

In this case wouldn’t a 39 Standard Coupe fit on a 38 frame. As this person was advertising a 38 Deluxe, but it had a 39 Standard body and 38 Deluxe front clip. He was adamant it was a 38 Ford. Is there numbers on the body also. Would the number on the frame say what year the frame was built and used for that year?

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Joe, The guy selling this car is full of sh--. I rarely swear, but gosh, this one takes the cake.
Ford DID NOT use '39 bodies to complete '38 Fords. No how - no way.
Walk away from this "deal". The guy selling it is either a crook and / or just plain ignorant.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

No numbers on the body.
The serial number on the frame would tell you what year the frame is OR what number was stamped in to that frame at a later date.

It was quite common to replace a damaged front clip with one from a different year. You must realize that when these cars were simply "old used cars" and there bunches of them in salvage yards, it was most practical to get some parts that fit to repair the damage. Little consideration was given to "correct".

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1593727069

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1593727069

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1593727069
Here are some good side by side comparison photos of the two model Coupes in discussion, the 1938 Ford Deluxe and the 1939 Ford Standard. The differences in the rear body work are obviously very different and easily visible in these side by side shots of the two models.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Just want to say Joe... perhaps it doesn't matter to you if this is a '38 or a '39. If not and the title is clear and matches the frame, the price is acceptable to you - go for it.
Just be assured there are no Ford built 39 Fords with a '38 body. So pay for a non-stock, modified car.
Any photos you can post?

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Thankx for the response, I never said I was buying the car, as I’m happy with my 39 Deluxe which I’ve own for 50 years. I feel I know a little bit about some model and years designation, of Fords lol. I just seen it advertised as a 38 Deluxe with a 39 Standard body. Mentioned that to him and said you may want to changed the listing to reflect the correct car you have. He was adamant that he was correct. I never heard of changing body’s either and researched it. Could not find nothing about it. To make matters worst another person came on the Ford site and backed him up and said mine is also a 38, by showing his 38 front clip car with 39 Standard coupe body car!

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Joe, It's very difficult to fix "stupid".

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Nice cars Thankx for sharing

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

Thanks guys for the pictures and education here. I just learned a lot on easy identification between the 2 models. While very similar , I never knew how to identify between them. Can you tell me whether the fenders are the same between 38 deluxe and 39 standard? I have a pair of front fenders hanging in my barn marked 38 deluxe and have been wondering if they would fit a 39 standard also.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

There was a guy (I think on the H.A.M.B, or maybe here) who had a Model "A" roadster on '32 rails. The guy insisted that it was original Ford and that the factory "used up" the remaining Model "A" bodies in early 1932. No matter what anybody said, he was not to be deterred.

"Kube" is right. "you can't fix stupid" I'll be a little more forgiving and say "Ignorance is Bliss".

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

I need to adapt a little more PC I suppose.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

I know of a car (coupe) in the Seattle area that the owner claims is a 40 and that "Henry Ford had all the left over 39 parts sent to California and assembled as 40s" Everything about the car is a 39 Ford. Ha the last thing Henry Ford would have done is ship the parts to California to be assembled, everything about him was "thrifty"! Why wouldn't he just assemble them where there parts were? Some pretty tall tales going on out there!

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

NOPE! Complete honesty is refreshing these days, especially when it come from someone of your stature.

Re: 1938 Deluxe
 

There's a guy in town with a '40 pickup with '39 DeLuxe front sheet metal. Prettiest truck I think I've ever seen. Ford probably should have made it, but did they? NO.