With a fresh style and improved engineering, the 1940-1941 Ford Pickup was a very popular choice among truck buyers in the 40’s. The truck came equipped with a handful of new mechanical improvements, including sturdier and wider cabs and windshields fixed with cowl mounted wipers. The 1941 pickup looks almost identical to the 1940 model, but the choice of engines expanded.

Ray bought this 1941 Ford Deluxe Pickup back in 2011. It is a completely original truck with some minor cosmetic restorations. The car features an original 221 CI flathead V8 converted from 6V to 12V.

The Ford car was thoroughly updated in 1941, in preparation for a time of unpredictability surrounding World War II. The 1941 design would continue in an aborted 1942 model year and would be restarted in 1946 and produced until the more modern 1949 Fords were ready. During the initial year of this car, it evolved considerably. The front fenders came in three pieces, the theory being that small damage could be replaced easily. During the year, it evolved into 2 pieces with the lower front and back sections being joined.

The hood risers changed, the early ones being the same as 1940 Fords, changing during the year to the better later version. In the 1941 Convertible, there were no rear side windows, the only side windows being in the doors, in 1942, quarter windows were added so the rear occupants could see out.

There were five different coil/distributor arrangements during 1941, causing confusion for mechanics. Other variations were: two different positions for the generator, and three for the cooling fan — front of the crankshaft, front of the generator (rare) and on a bracket. This is thought to be the first Ford to offer an oil filter. There were two interior heaters: a “Southwind” gasoline burner, which had the advantage of keeping you warm in winter at drive-in movies (provided you added a small electric fuel pump), and a more ordinary hot-water type.

Both had window defrosters. It had an excellent radio, which could consume the battery in about 2 hours. Electric windshield wipers were available in addition to the vacuum-powered wipers. There were three different convertible power top mechanisms (vacuum, electric screw, and hydraulic), and two different header bar latching systems. Rear suspensions sometimes had a sway bar, most did not. It had excellent brakes for the time, and the best handling of an ordinary car at the time. It was a very transitional car.