Coupe or Sedan… Oh! What to Do?

Duke Hingley, Lake Havasu City, AZ

The 40 Ford coupe is an iconic design by Ford, very desirable and collectable. The chevron taillights are just one of the kool touches Ford did on this year as well as the smooth clean lines from front to rear but still retaining the classic Ford running boards still. This author being ole school still appreciates the rear split window, yes, lost in ’41 models too bad for them. The grille of the Deluxe and Standard grilles is still a timeless look and of course that center hood trim to split those large bugs coming at you going 90 on the highway to reduce the splatter as they hit your windshield.

Duke’s 40 is painted “Catch me Kiss me” Daytona Blue metallic that has great side cast as the sun dances around this kool ride. The body is mostly stock as Fordgot this ride right from the factory, great lines and baby butt smooth. The stock Deluxe Grille is timeless and easy to spot in any line. The 40 Ford headlights with the integral turn signal light is a definite design of future Fords down the road. Duke upgraded the headlights to LED so you can see on those clear Arizona nites cruising down the open highway.

A very clean interior with grey tweed fabric with vinyl accents helps keep this ride looking sano. The seat is a split bucket design for those occasional back seaters. The floor shifter was donated from a late model Camaro that looks like it belongs there. The chrome garnish molding around the windows brings a nostalgic look to the interior with the 4 spoke steering wheel. Yes, the clock is a factory Ford and looks right in the glove box. The Dakota Digital guages look good in the billet dash cluster.

This Ford is riding on Blackwall Goodrich TA tires with American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels, a nostalgic look for sure. The power plant is a Small Block Chevy 350 with 330hp making this ride no slouch at the red lights. Yes, a corvette donated the Ram Horn exhaust manifolds and fed fuel with a 650 CFM Edelbrock carburetor with K & N Filters to keep the smoke tears out of rides in the rear-view mirror. Clean and simple is the rule in the engine compartment, simple brite work keeps the look clean from the billet valve covers, chrome alternator to polished intake. The American Radiator is aluminum with an electric fan keeps this ride kool during Hot Havasu Nites cruising and occasional stop light dancing! Well done plumbing and electrical neat and tidy. The engine feeds a Chevy Turbo 350 Transmission hooked to a Chevrolet 10 Bolt differential with 2.78 gears which makes this ride a freeway flyer and once it gets off the line will wind out forever for sure. Do not come up to Duke when he has a rolling start LOL!

Duke has done most of the work himself in his home shop with friends, including painting! He purchased this project Ford in 1985, yes, it’s been a long-term project driving it in during the evolution. The Coupe got new paint and engine 2003 and still looks fresh. We all know raising a family and buying a home does slow down the building process, but Duke was diligent in his goals in this 39-year journey. Once he drove 170 miles with no brakes to get a new dropped front axle, yes, not recommended but the things we do for our rides! Duke has been into the classics for over half a century and counting. Duke gets this cool coupe out at least once a week with his favorite events, Goodguys and 40 Ford Day (no longer), an event dedicated to celebrating the 40 Ford in all forms. Duke is a Pharoah of Havasu where you can see him living the dream American Graffiti documented for us. His ultimate ride is a ’39 Bugatti type 57C so some day if you see one on the streets of Havasu it’s Duke!

Jim Wright, Lake Havasu City, AZ

Yes, 40 Ford Four Door Sedan are cool with the gently roof carrying into the trunk area makes this model a classic. This is a mild custom with body mods at each corner. Again, the Chevron taillights are iconic and tell you at first look this is a ’40. Jim decided to run painted running boards which keep the smooth look intact. Still with the split back window this model is a classic for sure. When you have had a Tudor, you really appreciate the 4door models, it a pain in the back side to get in the back seat on the Tudors and if you haul much stuff or friends this model is the answer. The custom grille and shaved moldings give this classic look as well as the welded fenders to the body! Jim also filled the turn signals on the headlights and added a pair in the front sheet metal. Jim is constantly making upgrades and tweaking his ride and always seeing what he can do to make it better. Jim’s 40 is painted Metallic Blue with lots of depth with side cast that brings the round smooth body lines to life. The graphics add a color and dimension that makes this sedan look like it’s going 100 miles hour just sitting there. Of course, the door handles are shaved, trim removed/filled and custom mirrors added as well as V-butt windshield to enhance the look. Yes, Jim has locked the sedan and left the remote inside, we must tease him about that as did it on the RT 66 Run this year and we caught him getting in the hard way, yes, the fun of shaving door handles LOL. A great job on the rear lower panel cleans up the rear especially with no bumpers as well as frenched headlights,

A sweet interior with cool grey with vinyl beading keeps this ride looking clean with complimentary grey carpet. The bucket seats help those long road trips. Yes, Jim did the iron butt Pro Tour last year and made it with no issues but lots of seat time. Gages are Moon Eyes with turned aluminum dash accented by a banjo steering wheel with burl wood finish. The tilt column is billet with door handles to match. Windows are powered with remote control, but do not forget to leave the remote in the car when you lock the car Jim LMAO! Oh yes, for those road trips AC is cold in the summer for Hot Havasu Summers and warm for those winter drives to Prescott. Jim is a member of Pharoah’s of Lake Havasu City and gets his ride out on a weekly basis rain or shine, hot or cold out, he is a “hot rodder” who are tough and drive their rides!

The black walls are wheeled with 15” American 5 spokes, big/little of course. The Mustang 2 custom struts independent front axle with power disc brakes keeps this ride in the fast lane. The chassis is boxed with coils rear springs keeps the ride comfortable for those long trips Jim takes his 40 on. Engine plumbing and wiring are well done, neatly run with room for maintenance. The serpentine pully drive system keeps all the right stuff in the right place where dependability is the game. The engine feeds an automatic 760E transmission with TCI shifter with reverse lock out for those occasional stop light power checks! The rear end was donated by a Chevy truck with 3.73 gears making this ride fast off the line!

Jim retired as pipefitter/welder and decided he needed a second career and owned Valley Vintage Rods in Venture for 15 years and has built, maintained and repaired many a classic. He has been around classic cars all his adult life and is at his best behind the wheel. When he moved to Havasu, he sold the business and now only works on his own rides. Jim has been a motorhead all his adult life and goes thru withdrawal if he does not get his hot rod driving fix every day. His favorite event is Mesquite Nevada and Havasu Deuce shows as well as the Boathouse weekly meet up with the Pharoah’s. Someday look for Jim to be in Roadster Pickup his ultimate ride, low, cool and fast.