My 1940 Ford Tudor Sedan


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I did not realize I had skipped my wonderful old 1940 Ford. What a car for a 14 year old who had a “school permit.” A school permit was a limited drivers license issued to country kids who lived a certain distance, at the time I believe it was two miles, from school. You could drive to and from school by the shortest route. Of course, and what exactly was the shortest route, or was it to school for school, or school activities and what 14 year old even cared, until he was caught. In my day, in a small town, the cop would pull you over the first time and give you the stern lecture, if it appeared you were just driving around or abusing your permit. Prudence indicated you might want to drive to and from for awhile and let him know you were listening.

How did I get my own car? Well, I had some livestock, particularly a nice steer that was being fed out in Dad’s feed yard. In 1959 it was worth about $180 when ready to sell. But, it was not ready. Dad graciously accepted it in exchange for the $40 for the old Ford. Oh yeah, he tossed in the extra insurance cost and off I went.

I drove this car to my first year of high school. It was blue (very spotty) when I got it. I put big flames around the headlights and over the front fenders. Not too good, but at the time, everyone tried flames. Then in spring we sanded it and painted it white. It was my very first experience with a real paint spray gun. The results indicated that was true, and my “friends” favorite joke was, “give you 50 bucks for that car if you throw in the broom you painted it with.” Later that spring I had my first official auto accident, thus the missing paint on the front fender.

Later we sold the car and I got a 1953 Chevrolet Tudor sedan. Moving up. The guy that bought the ’40 cut it off just behind the doors and made a flatbed pickup out of it. Later it went to the local scrap. What a waste, but then at 15 I just wanted a newer ride.

The story of the ’53 Chevy and the ’54 Ford that followed that are already posted.