・A real head-turner
・Rare ‘stock’ example
・Restored to a high standard
・Superb paintwork, trim and hood
・Seats four people in comfort
・Usable but stylish too

In the mid-1930s, Ford was becoming worried by increasing competition from the likes of Oldsmobile and Buick. The company needed a car that offered style, comfort and luxury at a mid-market price. Ford introduced the Deluxe model to its range in 1938, to bridge the gap between its base model (usually known as the ‘Standard’) and the more upmarket Lincolns. The Deluxe name, first used in 1930, had by 1939 become a ‘marque within a marque’, with separate styling (and pricing) throughout. With many of the Deluxe styling features having been passed down to the standard models in 1939 and 1940, the 1940 Deluxe model gained a distinctive three-part front grille with horizontal bars. 

The 1940 Deluxe, one of the signature designs of the era, was only made for one year; in 1941, preparing for a period of uncertainty surrounding WWII, the company regrouped and the model range was revamped again.

Made in 1940, this car lived in the USA until 2012, when the current owner travelled across the Atlantic, to South Carolina, specifically to buy it. The then-owner had owned the car for an amazing 54 years, having bought it as a 17-year-old high-school student. The car was then shipped to the UK where in 2013 it was subject to a full restoration, including a respray (in the original colour) and an engine rebuild. At the same time the electrics were upgraded to a 12v system, which allowed for the subsequent addition of the hydraulic hood mechanism and power steering. The radiator was also reconditioned, and the car fitted with a 3-speed column-change gearbox. 

The vendor has done no more than 2000 miles in the car since acquisition, taking it mostly to car shows and events, and has decided that the time has come to sell it.   

The car comes with a big file of paperwork, including many receipts from the restoration and for work carried out, as well the car’s South Carolina Certificate of Title document. The car is MoT-exempt. 

The 2013 restoration included a respray in the car’s original colour, Mandarin Maroon, and the owner went to considerable lengths to source the correct paint from the USA. The bodywork still looks superb, with no sign of rust and no marks or blemishes, testament to the owner’s careful storage and maintenance of the car. Similarly, all the brightwork, lights and badges are in excellent condition. 

The wheels are in excellent condition and the tyres have plenty of tread. 

The hood – made when the car was still in the USA – is in outstanding condition, reflecting the fact that the owner has always preferred to use the car on sunny days when there is no need to deploy it. The hood stows neatly and is covered by a matching tonneau cover when not in use.    

The car comes with a custom-made cloth cover, for which the owner paid close to £500.

The seats are all in extremely good condition, with few marks or signs of wear. The cream carpets, which the owner had specially made, are inevitably a bit grubby and show a few signs of wear, but those in the front have been protected by overmats. There are some neat additional touches, such as the courtesy lights that illuminate the rear footwells.  

The dashboard looks remarkably original, with the original radio still in place on the dash. There is a Kenwood radio/CD player cleverly hidden in the glove compartment. 

The boot is clean and tidy and contains a spare wheel that appears to be unused. The car also comes with the original jack, which the owner keeps in a violin case (see picture) – a real talking point at car shows! 

The car starts readily and the V8 flathead engine sounds healthy. The vendor assures us that the car drives beautifully, will happily cope with modern traffic, and is comfortable at 50mph. The driving experience is much enhanced by the addition of power steering, which makes the car much easier to handle and to manoeuvre. 

The hydraulic hood mechanism works, although it needs a slight ‘helping hand’ at the highest point of its travel. Once in place, the hood clicks neatly into place along the top of the windscreen and fits readily onto the poppers along the rear. The rear window zips into place although it can be a bit fiddly to attach the buckles along the top.

The brakes work well, although the vendor cautions that they are no match for modern braking systems and the car has to be driven accordingly.  

Under the bonnet, everything looks clean and well-ordered, and has clearly been well-maintained. 

Underneath, there are few signs of rust and again it’s clear that the car has been cherished and carefully stored. There is a stainless-steel exhaust system which looks virtually as new.

The owner still has the original 6v starter motor, and will supply this with the car.           

This car turns heads! During the course of our photo shoot, numerous passers-by came up to talk about the car, and to take photographs. With its distinctive styling and outstanding condition, it’s a car that draws attention. It has clearly been restored to a high standard and with great attention to detail.  

With the Deluxe model long a favourite with the hot-rod community, 382 YUP is a rare find indeed, being almost ‘stock’ in appearance. The vendor believes that there is only one other similar car in the UK. The improvements made to the car, most notably the conversion to 12v electrics and the addition of power steering, make it a usable and practicable convertible, with the added bonus of seating four people in comfort. It’s a real ‘statement’ car that would be perfect for relaxed and comfortable motoring on a summer’s day.       

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