Whats the differance between a standard coupe and business coupe?
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Whats the differance between a standard coupe and business coupe?
Posted: March 05 2008 10:55 PM
 
Bill Vorachek (aka k9hotrod) [ View ] [ k9hotrod@comcast.net ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Travis AFB, California
 
Whats the differance between a 1940 ford coupe and a business coupe and a opera coupe? I'm assuming it's the jump seats in the rear but currious. Is the body any bigger for the opera coupe or the standard coupe? Any info would be appreciated. I just purchased a standard 1940 ford coupe and will need to place a back seat in it for the kids. A buddy asked me what the differance was and I have no idea. Thanks and please disregard the ignorance on my part. K9
 
 
 
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Posted by Starfire  -  03/05/2008 11:45 PM
The primary difference in 1940 was the engine. The Business coupe had the 60 hp, 135 c.i. V8 whereas all other variations of Ford's Coupe came with the 85 hp, 221 c.i. V8. It was the last year Ford produced what was sometimes called the V60 small V8. All 1940 Fords were on a 112 in wheelbase. I don't think any of the business coupes came with any sort of back seat. The business coupe version of the '40 Ford had a HUGE trunk which was resultant of the passenger compartment being reduced in size from the Deluxe Coupe and Opera Coupe, unlike its Lincoln Zephyr counter part it did have rear side windows.
Starfire [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Weimar, Texas
 
Posted by sellersrodshop  -  03/06/2008 12:16 AM
body is the same. my 40 was a business coupe with the package shelf, but i removed the shelf & built a small rear seat.
sellersrodshop [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] old hickory, Tennessee
 
Posted by 31tudor  -  03/06/2008 10:53 AM
This is good info. I always understood that a coupe had a rear seat, a business coupe had a small shelf (like for a briefcase), and an opera coupe had two folding seats on either side where the passengers would face each other. Apparently I've been wrong for a few years.


Man I love this site! Always learning!
Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  03/07/2008 04:42 PM
Opera coupe was Deluxe....more chrome, sargent tail lites, parking lights in headlite rims, woodgrain dash and garnish mouldings, flip out rear side windows, fold up jump seats on a steel peg. Business coupe one teardrop tail lite, painted dash, shelves behind seat for samples, catalogs, etc. Both bodies were the same. Different grilles. Both 112" wb. 60 hp only in Standard. 85 hp in both. This was the 13th year in a row that Chevy out sold Ford.....sorry folks, just keep putin' those Chevy motors in your Fords !!
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
Posted by 3340  -  03/06/2008 03:28 PM
Flip Out Rear Side Windows?
wayne ludwig [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Toledo, Ohio Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by cat7195  -  03/06/2008 10:20 PM
Didn't the Standard have a different grill thann the Deluxe?
cat7195 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Houston, Texas
 
Posted by APLUS  -  03/07/2008 12:32 AM
3340,
What Jim means is that the quarter windows were hinged on one end and pushed out to open instead of being fixed or going up and down. Hope that explanation is clear enough to not confuse you more.
Yes, Standard and Deluxe grilles were different.
APLUS [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Austin, Texas
 
Posted by fordorfrank  -  03/07/2008 09:12 AM
The grilles were indeed different. Because the deluxe grille had narrow side pieces that curved out toward the fenders, the hoods were also different. They had a curved-out section along the lower edge to match the different grille. Hinged quarter windows? Never heard of them. But they may have been an option. 1937 fordor sedans had similar small rear quarter windows and the vast majority of them were fixed. Mine were. But then every once in a while I'd see a car with swing-out windows..But they are rare. I suppose they may have been an expensive and therefore unpopular option. 1940 was the last year that the optional 60hp engine was offered. I've heard that production of these was in the dozens. Clearly unpopular. In 1941 Ford introduced the inline flathead six to replace it. And there were a few other minor differences betwen standard and deluxe. Standard had painted headlight rims, and, I think, only one sun visor. The instrument cluster was diffent - same size and shape but more plain. Inside details wre different - dash knobs, window cranks, etc. See the Drake catalog for differences. Hope this helps.
fordorfrank [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Melbourne, Florida
 
Posted by APLUS  -  03/07/2008 02:52 PM
All Ford Club Coupes at least 1937 & 1938 that I've ever seen have the "swing-out" quarter windows. Whereas regular coupes such as mind had fixed quarter windows. Also the Club Coupes had a full back seat.
APLUS [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Austin, Texas
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  03/07/2008 04:48 PM
'37-8 Club coupe had a weird profile = roof was extended about 2" off trunk lid. Had 2 CLUB coupes back in '82. Personally, I like the Standard/ Deluxe profile better, smaller roof, longer trunk lid flowing better with hood.
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
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