We recently stumbled across this beautiful 1940 Ford Pickup and we were instantly hooked. Even though this build looks all original, it’s got quite a few tricks up its sleeve. With the bright meadow mist green paintjob, and gleaming metal trim, right down to the vintage white wall tires – it screams original. But would you believe us, if we told you that this truck is not an original but rather a fiberglass replica? Would you also believe that this truck was a home build and not built by a professional shop?
We stumbled upon ’40 Ford on the Garage Journal, and it’s got quite the history. It was started back in 1998 by a man in Massachusetts and his goal was to build a street rod that has a strong 1950’s influence. In order to do this he would have to leave the the body as close to stock as possible. The 1940 Ford Truck is based around a Fiberglass US Bodysource Cab. This Cab is mounted on a 1986 Ford Ranger frame which also serves as the platform for the suspension and the brakes for the ’40 Ford.
Originally, several parts such as a hood, fenders and doors were going to be sheet metal but the owner had a hard time finding metal parts that worked with his Cab. Most of the fenders either looked too modern, or they just didn’t fit right. He went through several different sets of sheet metal before he gave up and ordered a set of custom fiberglass units from Wescotts Auto, in Oregon.
Even though these fenders were Fiberglass they looked 100% original and with a high-quality build, they fit the cab perfectly. The rest of the body uses original 1940 Ford doors as well as ’40 Ford lights, ’41 Ford trim and a Bob Drake grille. The next thing the truck needed was a powerplant. Unlike most street rod builds which are powered by a V-8 engine, this home-build is powered by a Chevy 4.3L V-6 engine (the 3/4 350) that came out of an ’89 GMC van.
To keep the truck looking like it came off of a show room floor in 1940, a reproduction bed custom built by Northern Classic Trucks from Michigan is used. This is an all metal bed, that looks original right down to the smallest details and even features a wood floor. To complete the body of the truck a set of rear fenders from Wescotts’ Auto are used. The interior of this little ’40 pickup has gotten the hot rod treatment as well.
When you open the door and sit in the drivers seat you will notice a 1939 Chevy instrument panel, a modern radio, and tan original 1940 Ford steering wheel. If you open the glove box you will find one of the coolest features, the interior of the box has been converted to drink holders and it looks great holding classic glass Coca-Cola bottles or the occasional beer when parked at a cruise night.
After the interior was completed, the the only thing the truck needed was wheels and tires. Chevelle wheels with radial tires were installed and the truck was finished in circa 2000, minus a paint job. It would remain this way until late 2012. The truck was left unpainted for a few reasons, the owner knows the hassle of doing the body work, and he also knew how hard it was to take the truck apart and prep it for paint, so he just left it as is for several years. This lasted until his eldest daughter was getting married and wanted to use the finished truck in her wedding photos.
Twelve years from where the build had left off the truck had to be taken apart and prepped for paint. The truck was then painted Medow Mint Green (an original 50’s Ford Color) which helps it achieve that perfect vintage factory look, then the truck was reassembled and the radials and the Chevelle wheels were replaced with Coker white walls and vintage Ford hubcaps.
All of this really completed the look making the 1940 Ford look like exactly like a 1950’s street rod classic. This little pickup was perfectly executed and when looking at the exterior of the truck with the paint shining, it’s almost impossible to tell the body is fiberglass. Built to cruise and built at home makes this little ’40 a perfect 10 in our book!