1940 Ford 01A Deluxe Convertible

Ford introduced the De Luxe badge in 1938 as an upmarket version of their lesser Standard models. The 1940 De Luxe boasted a new sleek body design by former yacht designer Eugene Gregorie. The new model featured a high flat-topped hood, three-part grill, V-shaped windshield and wide teardrop wings. Other details included sealed-beam headlights and vent windows (quarterlights).

The 1940 range featured a number of different body styles including sedan, coupe, station wagon, ‘Woodie’ and the desirable convertible.

The engine was a 221 cubic-inch flat-head V-8 that produced around 85 hp. Gear-changing was a column-mounted, three-speed manual.

The 1940 Ford was a commercial success and was favoured by moonshiners for the turn of speed offered by the famous flat-head V8. And Hot-rodders saw it as an ideal canvas for their artistry.

Chassis the details below is a Deluxe Convertible V8 first registered in the UK in 1947. By 1980 the car was in the ownership of James Robinson of Orpington, Greater London.

The current owner purchased it in March 2006 to take part in the 2007 Peking to Paris rally.

The car was thoroughly prepared in the year before the event and with its V8 power and rugged mechanicals was an ideal choice. The owner recounted his experiences in a number of articles, describing driving 12-13 hours per day through Russia, Mongolia and the Gobi desert.

The heroic crew finished the rally in Paris and were awarded a bronze medal.

The car has been used sparingly since its epic adventure and has just come out of a period of storage. It starts easily and runs and drives but will require a degree of recommissioning.