1941-1948 Ford and Mercury club coupes- two different roofs. why the difference?

[Chris]

Hello everyone. I have noticed two different roof designs on the 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury long door coupes. My car has a droop rail that sweeps all the way to the trunk opening and has a softer transition between the back window and trunk opening. I have seen a few coupes with a drip rail that stops abruptly at a 45 degree angle and has a sharp line across the back of the roof, between the rear window and trunk lid. Does anyone know why the differences between these two? Did Mercury have the different roof over ford?

[tony starr]

Not sure why... but there is a slight profile difference in the body.

This is 1941. The sedan coupe having a real rear seat, not just the jump/opera seats.



-tony.

[scicala]

It also looks like the door is longer on the sedan coupe (bottom illustration).

Sal

[tony starr]

Further to this, I thought the Mercury only had longer front sheet metal over the Ford - but I could be wrong.

-

[Chris]

Both cars I pictured are sedan coupes

[tony starr]

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Hi Chris, I'll check my 41-48 book and I hope others can chime in too. But I think your car is what people like to call the "club coupe". While the other car you posted is a sedan coupe. Both seem to be the long door coupes though. There was a shorter door coupe version which may only be 41/2. I don't think I've seen 46-48 with the short door style.

Any one else know more before I dig through my books?

-

[Graeme / New Zealand]

If you talking about the drip rails it was the 41 club coupe or coupe sedan than has the drip rail drop strait down to the top of the deck while the same coupes for 42 -48 curved down to give a smoother more integrated line. both are the long door coupes. The bodies have the same profile but the way the drip rail flows creates a sort of optical illusion. pictured L to R 41,42,46,47,48 coupes all long door.

GB

[tony starr]

Thanks Graeme, that makes more sense now - the 2nd photo Chris posted is a 41.

Below is the different body styles in the 41-48 book.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Actually taking a second look there appears to be a definate crease where actual roof meets the deck on the 41 that appears to be absent on the 42 -48. I've never really noticed that before.

GB

[V12Bill]

When I was in High School I had a 1941 business coupe and the roof sloped into the panel above the trunk lid with no crease. A friend had a 1941 club coupe with the full back seat and it had the crease. It seemed that post war club coupes did not have a crease. About a year ago I saw a 1946 club coupe at a show and it had the crease. I don't know any details of that car, it may have been an early model. Mercurys used the Ford bodies from 1941 and up. Only the front sheet metal from the cowl forward was unique to the Mercury.

[Chris]

Thanks for the info so far guys. Sounds like it may be an "early vs late" type of deal. I am glad my 46 has the softer transition, I think they look a little better (no offence to anyone with the earlier style body)

[Chris]

After looking online, I have found several 1942 Fords with the full length rain gutter...so maybe the "early vs late" theory is not right if there are 1946's with both roof designs? Anyone else have any insight?

[Steves46]

I really think it was a design enhancement to smooth out the transition for the 42 models and up. Every photo of the 41 Ford & Mercury Club Coupes to include the ones I have seen at car shows have the crease and abrupt end to the rain gutter. As Chris had mentioned, I too do not mean any offense for the owners of these models. I think they all look great.

[Cape May 1941]

I recently purchased an all original barn find 1941 business coupe with the short door. The roof line flows into the trunk as opposed to the crease over the trunk. The business coupe did not need the head room for the passenger in the back seat nor the larger door to access the back seat. The rear side windows on the club coupe open for ventilation on the club coupe. If you look at the pictures of the two you have more head room for the passengers in the back seat.

[1942deluxe]

[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]1941 ford 3.jpg[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]
Steves46 is correct in my experience. Attached photos are of a 1941 Super Deluxe sedan coupe a friend of mine brought home yesterday.

[1942deluxe]

1941 ford 4.jpg
Shot of the roof rail (gutter).

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

Attachment 567649
Shot of the roof rail (gutter).

[petehoovie]

1942

[Automotive Stud]

Originally Posted by V12Bill

When I was in High School I had a 1941 business coupe and the roof sloped into the panel above the trunk lid with no crease. A friend had a 1941 club coupe with the full back seat and it had the crease. It seemed that post war club coupes did not have a crease. About a year ago I saw a 1946 club coupe at a show and it had the crease. I don't know any details of that car, it may have been an early model. Mercurys used the Ford bodies from 1941 and up. Only the front sheet metal from the cowl forward was unique to the Mercury.

I agree, the crease is unique to the 41 long door coupes. There's a 46 near me that has the 41 roof, but the car is a street rod so I'm not sure if it was born with a leftover body shell or if it's a 41 with a 46 nose. Not sure about mercurys.

[1942deluxe]

The 1942 Ford body parts book shows a 21A P/N (1942) prefix for the roof panel assembly so I'm confident it is different than 1941.