Ford Again Opens Its Legends Book, Produces Brand-New Steel 1940 Coupe Body [2012 SEMA Show]

Ford wowed SEMA guests last year with its brand-new, better-than-new reproduction 1965 Mustang convertible body—which it now sells to restorers looking for an easier time getting their dream ride on the road—and this year the company likely will pull off the same feat, albeit with a different car. Ford has delved even further into its past to find yet another classic worthy of the new-body treatment: The 1940 Ford Coupe.

The old-school two-door is a favorite among hot-rodders young and old, but Ford points out that finding restorable examples of the iconic Coupe is getting harder and more expensive by the day. Enter this steel reproduction body, which Ford will debut at the 2012 SEMA show.  The 1940 Coupe body joins Ford’s gaggle of available reproduction 1965–70 Mustang bodies, and individual body panels for the hot rod also will be offered. Ford even will offer the complete body shell with two different firewalls—a stock firewall design that accepts the Coupe’s original flathead V-8 engine and a recessed piece that allows power-hungry restorers to fit larger modern engines.

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Speaking of larger modern engines, the built-up 1940 Ford Coupe headed to Vegas to showcase the new body will have a monster of an engine. Ahead of the car’s recessed firewall will be a 5.0-liter V-8 crate motor; the engine may be modern, but the transmission sure isn’t—it’s an old-school four-speed automatic. The show car also will feature a chopped roof, Mustang II front suspension, and a bright copper paint job. (The car in the photos is wearing the naked steel body shell.) If you’ve been itching for a hot-rod project but were dreading the idea of finding a serviceable donor car, this new/old Ford Coupe body may just be what you’re looking for. And it can be yours for $11,900, not including shipping.

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