1941 Ford Front Fenders - 3 and 2 Piece

[mercman from oz]

Does anyone know when Ford changed the front fenders on 1941 Fords from 3 piece to 2 piece units?

[fordor41]

I've heard 2 stories. first was 1 piece lower but ended up to be hard to ship to dealers for replacement parts. 2nd story was 2 piece lowers and then went to 1 for a better look or easy of assembly. take your pick!

[mercman from oz]

Here is a picture of a 41 Ford Two Piece Fender separated, showing where the join is.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by fordor41

I've heard 2 stories. first was 1 piece lower but ended up to be hard to ship to dealers for replacement parts. 2nd story was 2 piece lowers and then went to 1 for a better look or easy of assembly. take your pick!

No "taking your pick" as this design feature has been well documented.
The fact is, the three-piece fenders were the first design. If memory serves (oh oh) Ford went to the two piece design right around December, 1940.

[drolston]

Kube is right. The change was made quite early in the model year. Along with the unfortunate addition of the mid-finder chrome strip and mustache. I consider myself lucky to have the cleaner look on my early model-year coupe.

The story I recall was that sales were not as hoped at Ford, and the added chrome was supposed to boost sales appeal. That trend concluded with the chrome explosion of 1958, my nomination for the ugliest model-year in the history of Detroit.

[mercman from oz]

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1941 Ford Super Deluxe as illustrated in the Original Sales Brochure.
Note the absence of Chrome Strips on the Fenders on this Super Deluxe Sedan.
Question - When were the Chrome Strips on the Fenders added?
Second Question - Were these Chrome Strips added to both the Deluxe and Super Deluxe models?

[Kube]

Note the absence of Chrome Strips on the Fenders on this Super Deluxe Sedan.
Question - When were the Chrome Strips on the Fenders added?
Second Question - Were these Chrome Strips added to both the Deluxe and Super Deluxe models?[/SIZE][/B][/QUOTE]

Mercman, I am NOT a '41 expert by a long shot. Thus, take my response with a grain of salt. I did research quite a bit into the '41 models when studying my beloved '40 models. However, I'd only done that searching for changes made late in the '40 year and as often happened when researching, got carried off in numerous, interesting paths.
So, if memory serves (this is where you should be concerned), the trim was added early in the '41 production, I believe right around late January, 1941. I believe this trim was applied to the Super Deluxe models only.
Perhaps, hopefully, a '41 expert will weigh in.

[meric42]

My early production 40K original mile '41 Super Deluxe Business Coupe has a 3 piece fender on the left and a 2 piece on the right (I suspect this has been replaced at some time in the past). It has the early 70/30 split dash plastic and oval rear vision mirror, but also has the fender trim all round. This car came from Claremore Oklahoma and was part of the collection of Don Robbins for 30+ years prior to me buying it from Don's family in 2018 after he passed away in October of 2017. I then had it shipped to me here in New Zealand.

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

1941 Ford Super Deluxe as illustrated in the Original Sales Brochure.
Note the absence of Chrome Strips on the Fenders on this Super Deluxe Sedan.
Question - When were the Chrome Strips on the Fenders added?
Second Question - Were these Chrome Strips added to both the Deluxe and Super Deluxe models?

So if this is a ford original sales brochure it had to be designed at the beginning of the model run, no 3 piece fenders.

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by meric42

My early production 40K original mile '41 Super Deluxe Business Coupe has a 3 piece fender on the left and a 2 piece on the right (I suspect this has been replaced at some time in the past). It has the early 70/30 split dash plastic and oval rear vision mirror, but also has the fender trim all round. This car came from Claremore Oklahoma and was part of the collection of Don Robbins for 30+ years prior to me buying it from Don's family in 2018 after he passed away in October of 2017. I then had it shipped to me here in New Zealand.

Our '41 fordor S/D was at the end of the production run. 2 piece fenders, just like the above car except it had chrome around the W/S and rear window. It also had chrome beads around all door window "fuzzies". also 50/50 split dash trim.

[meric42]

Originally Posted by fordor41

So if this is a ford original sales brochure it had to be designed at the beginning of the model run, no 3 piece fenders.

I think you'll find that this is an artists rendering that may not necessarily be seen as a factual representation of the final product. JMHO

[mercman from oz]

1941 Ford Super Deluxe Coupe - meric42 - nice

[mercman from oz]

I agree with Meric that the Brochure is the artist's rendering, and as such, the join in the front fender is not shown. This 1941 Ford Super DeLuxe Coupe from the original Sales Brochure and does not show the join for the three piece front fender. Being an early print Brochure, it also does not show the chrome strips on the fenders, which is correct for the early 1941 models.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by fordor41

So if this is a ford original sales brochure it had to be designed at the beginning of the model run, no 3 piece fenders.

Advertising must always be considered "suspicious" when viewing it for authenticity / accuracy.
Advertising is an artist's rendering to make the vehicle appear at its best.

[Dick]

This kit was available in early '41 to upgrade early new car purchases.
It had all the early super deluxe chrome pieces, clips etc. including instructions showing the locations of the mounting holes. It is only found in very early '41 parts books. If my memory is correct, the super deluxe stainless wasn't available for the first few months of production.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30320

[woodiewagon46]

According to the "Evolutionary Changes for 1941-1948 Ford Passenger Vehicles" on page D-2 of the V-8 Ford Book from the V-8 Ford Club it states, "Front Fender Revised to two piece construction 12/12/40.

[woodiewagon46]

Mercman, as to your second question. An addition to my above answer is, "Bright Fender Trim Added to Super DeLuxe Car's" 03/24/41.

[mercman from oz]

11A - 18950 Fender Moulding Set - Dick

[J.D.G.]

I've never seen one with 3-piece fenders. Were there far less 3-piece fender cars than 2-piece?

[corvette8n]

Yes only made in the first quarter of the production year, approx Sept 1940 thru Dec 1940.
I know someone with an early ‘41 Sedan coupe almost the same color as mine without the chrome and with the 3 piece fender, if I see him at a car show in a couple of weeks ,I’ll try and get a picture of his car.