1941 Fords - Rare in Australia

[mercman from oz]

While there were something like 691896 units of 1941 Fords produced in the USA, there were only a handful ever produced in Australia. All started off as Sedans, & some were cut down into Utes. That is because these models would have been released here around mid 1941, when Australia was already involved in war efforts. As a result, they are extremely rare in Australia. Even the 1940 models are rare in Australia.
The Cream Sedan in the first picture is the only one that I ever saw on the road, and this was back in the Sixties. I never ever saw another one on the road. I have been since told that this car was pushed off a cliff many, many years ago. Gone.
The dark coloured 41 was taken in a wrecking yard in 1974, and would have been scrapped. Gone.
The grey car was taken in a wrecking yard in 1989 when the contents were auctioned off. It is believed that this car was saved. This was the first time that I had sighted this 1941 Ford and I have not seen it since. Maybe saved?
The Green 1941 Ford was a recent import from South Africa and is now owned by an early Ford V8 Enthusiast living in country Queensland. This is the only 1941 Ford Sedan survivor that I am aware of.
After a lifetime of following early Ford V8's, these are the only four 1941 Ford Sedans that have come to my attention

[Torchie]

Interesting history.
Sometimes over here I think that we forget that for many countries WW2 started well before Dec 7. 1941
Torchie

[mercman from oz]

Here are some pictures of the 1941 Ford Utes, that were cut down from Sedans. You can see from the Roof, that they were not as stylish as the 1946-1948 Ford Coupe Utes. Also, the rear fenders seems to protrude, whereas, on the 46-48 Ford Utes, they were stamped in and are part of the whole rear quarter panel. Also, the 46-48 Utes got an extra side window aft of the door.
The first 2 pictures were taken at Wrecking Yards in the mid 70's, while the Ute on a Trailer was taken at a Swap Meet in the 80's. from the rear view, you can see how the roof has been cut off and shortened. It is believed that this Ute has been restored back to an army Ute. The last 2 photos show a pair of these 1941 Ford Utes that have been restored. There would be more 41 Utes than Sedans that have survived to this day. But having said that, all 41 Fords are rare in australia these days.

[mercman from oz]

Many years ago, I came across this pair of Ex Military 1941 Ford Station Wagons. One was near complete and was undergoing restoration and I believe that this Woody is a survivor. The second vehicle also started out as a Woody, but last its body along the way. Both vehicles were equipped with the wider Sand Tyres. Because of these wider sand tyres, this cut down one was used as a Fishing Vehicle and was to drive along the nearby beach seeking out the best fishing spot. It was an ideal vehicle to use on the soft sand. These photos were taken many years ago, and the fate of this red one is unknown. Both of these vehicle may have been used in South africa before being returned to Australia.
If you look closely, especially on the red one, you will note the that front fenders have been cut away for extra clearance. Also, note the widened rear fenders on the Wagon. Both Woodys were not the regular Civilian type Station Wagons, but were purposely built for the War Effort.

[49fordv8f4]

Very interesting, Thanks. Yes, we seem to forget here that the war started long before we got into it.
Mark

[mercman from oz]

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Here are some Black & White photos of these Military 1941 Ford Woodys in action. Note the wide Sand Tyres. These Woodys had 6 Stud Wheels, rather that the regular 5 Stud on a Floating Rear End. This was because of the extra weights that these vehicles were expected to drive over in all kinds of rugged terrain. Check out the load in the rear compartment. Also note the solid steel bar that these vehicles used at the front Bumper.

[mercman from oz]

Check out the Sun Visor on this Woody?

[49fordv8f4]

That last photo looks like the woody was captured by the Germans. Looks like a German soldier leaning on the front. I am always amazed looking at some of my WW2 books and videos, that the Germans had a lot of '40 and '41 Ford trucks. With the war going on I'm surprised that their tooling was updated after '38. The British photos of the North Africa campaign show a lot of Ford pickups and cars with the six hole wheels and large sand tires. The '42 Ford jailbars seem to always be missing the grill bars, maybe for the war effort they weren't installed.
Thanks for the photos and history, Mark

[41ford1]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

** Picture 1** The Cream Sedan in the first picture is the only one that I ever saw on the road, and this was back in the Sixties. I never ever saw another one on the road. I have been since told that this car was pushed off a cliff many, many years ago. Gone.

**Picture 2** The grey car was taken in a wrecking yard in 1989 when the contents were auctioned off. It is believed that this car was saved. This was the first time that I had sighted this 1941 Ford and I have not seen it since. Maybe saved?

Look closely at some of the details: Fender trim, decal on the vent window and the visor. I think this is the same car, just years apart.

[mercman from oz]

Hi 41ford1. Your eye for detail is 100% correct. I didn't pick this up. I was told that the car in the early picture was pushed over an embankment at Mount Tamborine. On that basis, I didn't even consider that it may have been the same car. That makes these Australia 41 Fords ever rarer with one less than I suspected. Thanks for your observation.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Check out the Sun Visor on this Woody?

Ha! That's cool! I missed that on the previous post!

[Tudortomnz]

Great information Mercman ; also your stuff on the '37's. Feels like it is back in the '70's &reading your interesting ''Restored Cars'' articles.
I have never come across a '41 NZ new car here, but there are some '42 Army Staff Sedans & maybe a Coupe .
I have seen here a '41 convert. that was ex. US & there are some local commercials which would have been for the Forces or govt.
Cheers

[Graeme / New Zealand]

We got no 40's or 41's because of the war.

Gb

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Check out the Sun Visor on this Woody?

The car on the right must have been pinched off the "square heads". Second thoughts I think 49 fordv8F4 has probably got it right when you look at the trucks in the background too.

GB

[mercman from oz]

In response to Graeme's post, I am reattaching the photo in question. It is interesting to note that the Woody in this picture is Right Hand Drive, while the unknown open car is Left Hand Drive? It is a bit hard to decipher the trucks in the background, but they may not be American? I don't know where this photo was taken?

[Tudortomnz]

Originally Posted by Graeme / New Zealand

We got no 40's or 41's because of the war.

Gb

Yes, very astute, but the vehicles we are discussing were available in v. small no.'s to Govt.. Services & even farmers. Hence the few '40,to '45 Commercials in NZ.
Cheers

[mercman from oz]

This 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor Sedan was a recent import from the USA. It was converted to Right Hand Drive and provided the owner with thousands of trouble free motoring. It is equipped with the Six Cylinder Engine, as the Licence Plate suggests. 1941 was the year that Ford reintroduced a Six, the first six since pre Model T days. Unfortunately, when the owner died, the car was sold and it has subsequently been turned into a Street Rod. Ford Australia only ever offered the 1941 models in Fordor Sedan. I believe that the 1941 Utes that were made by cutting down these Sedans were only available to the Government for Military Service, and were not available for general sale to the public. Ford Australia did offer a regular V8 Coupe Ute in 1941, and that one was based on the carry over 1940 Ford Standard.

[mercman from oz]

This is what a civilian 1941 Ford Coupe Ute looks like. It has the same Hood as the 1940 Ford Standard, as well as the same Grille. The Park Lights, located in the Headlight Rims are actually raised in the 41 model, whereas, they are flush fitted in the 1940 models. Also note the "waterfall" Trim at the front of the Hood. The Chrome Strips along the Hood and Doors etc is actually "flatter" that the Strips that appear on the 1940 Ford Deluxe. One oddity about these 1941 Coupe Utes is that there are scripts that read "Ford Deluxe" on each side of the Hood, when they are similar looking to the 1940 Ford Standard? Go figure
Luckily, this survivor was rescued a number of years ago, so hopefully, it is now restored?

[mercman from oz]

Here is another Civilian 1941 Ford Coupe Ute. This model retained the carry over 1940 Coupe Ute Bodies. A similar thing happened in the USA, as your 1941 Ford Sedan Deliveries have the exact same details on the hood etc as our Civilian 1941 Utes. This one was in the same wrecking yard that closed down with an Auction back in 1989. This is not the same Ute as the one in my previous Post. It is unknown what became of this 1941 Ford Ute?

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by Tudortomnz

Yes, very astute, but the vehicles we are discussing were available in v. small no.'s to Govt.. Services & even farmers. Hence the few '40,to '45 Commercials in NZ.
Cheers

My post was not specifically a reply to yours. I'm well aware that there were Commercial vehicles produced here during the war. What I was saying that we did not get 40 41 passenger vehicles produced because we were already at war. I have seen a 42 sedan many years ago but that was supposedly brought in by US marines. It had a later RHD conversion with a NZ 46/48 dash.

GB