1941 was a very good year for the auto industry and it seems like they just couldn't make a bad-looking vehicle that year. This 1941 Ford pickup takes all the timeless styling cues from the 1940 Ford passenger cars (and you know how awesome those are) and adds a practical bed to create one of the best-looking pickups of all time. I don't think this cool little pickup quite counts as a hot rod, but it certainly has a hot rod look with the satin black finish on the lower half of the body. At Ford, trucks took the front-end styling of the previous year's passenger car models, so the 1941 pickup is the spitting image of the 1940 Ford Deluxe, V-shaped grille, teardrop headlights, everything. The result is a classic look that remains popular with hobbyists of all ages. The satin black paint was applied professionally, so it's not a home-done rattle can job, and while it shows a few signs of use the sheetmetal underneath is in good shape and wears the black paint easily. No hack work, no ripples or obvious issues, just a clean old truck that has been properly driven and enjoyed. It's all steel, too, which is getting harder to find all the time, and all the bright trim is still in place, although it has been painted silver for a low-maintenance old school look. The bed has been channeled a bit lower over the frame, and the raised bed floor is full of black plywood with contrasting red strips. Like the rest of the truck, it's nice but not so perfect that you're afraid to actually use it. You'll also note the gas tank has been relocated under the rear of the bed, a smart safety upgrade. It remains almost entirely stock inside, too, with the same kind of respect for the past that the bodywork shows. The original bench was covered with a plain black long-grain vinyl cover so it's durable and low maintenance. Metal door panels and rubber mats continue that theme. Factory gauges are original and in very good condition for their age, and we suspect that even the paint on the dash might be vintage 1941. The big steering wheel makes it easy to muscle the pickup around and the long shifter rows through the three-speed manual gearbox without any effort. It's definitely low tech, but that's the point of an old pickup, isn't it? Just get in and enjoy and don't worry, it doesn't need to be fast to be fun. Power comes from a familiar 239 cubic inch Ford flathead V8 that was rated at about 100 horsepower in 1941. With plenty of torque and great V8 sounds, it's a great fit for a mild-mannered truck like this. It's not detailed for show, although it looks great with appropriate Ford Green engine enamel, a correct Stromberg 97 carburetor, and even a generator on top. Much of the wiring appears to be new and the big radiator up front quells any fears of flathead fever. It has a fresh tune up and the entire fuel system was rebuilt, and there's a new battery to fire it up. Underneath, the 3-speed manual transmission feeds the factory banjo-style rear end, while the front suspension remains totally stock, right down to the transverse leaf spring. It's got a snarky exhaust note that's just about right for a flathead and steel wheels with hubcaps carry 195/65/15 front and 235/75/15 rear radials that give it just a bit of a rake. This is a really neat truck, done the way you'd want it, all for a very reasonable price. Given the values on the passenger car versions, it won't be a surprise to see a SOLD sign on this one very soon. Call today!
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