Speedway Motors 2024 Traditional Homebuilt Heaven Winner – Bob Johnson and his 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe
At each Goodguys event across the country, there’s a dedicated Speedway Motors Homebuilt Heaven parking area on Saturdays that welcomes cars and trucks built largely by do-it-yourself enthusiasts. From that area, Goodguys selects a Homebuilt Heaven and a Traditional Homebuilt Heaven award winner at each event and at the end of the year, two lucky winners are chosen. Here’s a look at the 2024 Speedway Motors Traditional Homebuilt Heaven Winner – Bob Johnson’s ’40 Ford Deluxe Coupe!
There’s a good reason for the popular “’40 Fords Forever” catchphrase that has been around our hobby for years. When it comes to fat-fender street rods, ’40 Fords are as timeless as they come. Coupes have long been especially prized by enthusiasts thanks to their sleek shape and the ease with which they can transform into cool hot rods.
Bob Johnson is well aware of all this and has long been a ’40 Ford fan. He’s owned this ’40 Deluxe coupe for a dozen years now and enjoys cruising it to the Griot’s Garage Pacific Northwest Nationals in Puyallup, where it scored the Speedway Motors Traditional Homebuilt Heaven award in 2024 before winning the online yearend voting.
While the coupe has a classic hot rod look, it benefits from a selection of well-considered modern street rod upgrades to improve its driving experience. There’s a Mustang II-style independent front suspension with coil-over shocks, rack-and-pinion steering, and disc brakes delivering a better ride and stance, plus a Maverick 8-inch rearend riding on the parallel leaf springs out back. Red steel wheels with Ford hubcaps and Coker wide whitewall radial tires reinforce the car’s vintage vibe.
Hot rodders have been swapping small-block Chevys into ’40 Fords since the 1950s, and that’s what you’ll find rumbling beneath the hood of Bob’s coupe. It’s a 350c.i. version that benefits from an aluminum intake, Edelbrock four-barrel carb, Corvette valve covers, and a set of block-hugger headers breathing into a dual exhaust. Trouble-free shifting comes from a TH350 automatic transmission.
The Deluxe was Ford’s upscale offering during this era, and in 1940 it had distinct differences from Standard models. The Deluxe is most easily distinguished by its three-section grille with horizontal bars, plus its chrome headlight bezels. There were also dash trim differences. Bob’s coupe proudly wears all its Deluxe trim, with only minor mods like the bumpers being tucked closer to the body. The black paint was done by a previous owner back in the 1990s. “You can tell it’s not new,” Bob says, but it obviously still shines and shows very well.
The inside follows a similar classic theme, with original seats upholstered in traditional-style black-and-white rolled-and-pleated vinyl, and the trunk finished to match. Aftermarket VDO gauges are mounted in the original dash, while Bob guides the car with an original steering wheel and column augmented with a Sun tachometer.
Bob says the coupe is a good driver that sees regular road time around the Seattle area, in addition to occasional road trips to more distant events and shows. The car’s clean style and thoughtful modifications are good reminders of why ’40 Fords like this will indeed be appreciated forever.
Congrats on scoring the 2024 Speedway Motors Traditional Homebuilt Heaven award Bob!Check out the other 2024 Homebuilt Heaven winner – a ’67 Camaro RS!
