In the 45 years he's owned his 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe, Ernie Nelson has never been tempted to let go of it, choosing instead to make small, steady upgrades. As a result, he doesn't hesitate to take the reliable rod on road trips to either coast.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The coupe's interior is pure old-school, in diamond-tuck Naugahyde applied by Ron Zimmerman. Believe it or not, this upholstery is 40 years old.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The Y-block Ford V-8 that powered the coupe when Nelson bought it gave way to this 327 Chevy sporting and Edelbrock Torker intake and a Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor. Note the smoothed, nickel-plated stock exhaust manifolds.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
An 8-inch Ford Fairlane rear end proved to be exactly the right width to mount a classic set of 8-inch deep, 15-inch Halibrand wheels wearing knock-off style center caps.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The rear view of the Burnished Sable '40 coupe is as eye-appealing as the front, with its chevron tail lights and gently curved bumper. The WSRA vanity plate refers to the Wichita Street Rod Association, a term spontaneously coined when someone asked Nelson about his club affiliation.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The narrow vertical grille flanked by body-colored panels sets the '40 Ford Deluxe off from the wider Standard grille theme.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Slightly narrower 15-inch Halibrands fill up the front fenders, thanks to a total drop of 3 inches, achieved with a combination drop axle and Posey's springs.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The venerable '40 Ford headlight treatment looks as classy today as it did when it rolled off the Dearborn assembly line 70 years ago.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
A GM T-10 5-speed manual transmission using a stock shifter backs up the Chevy power plant. The factory Ford dashboard was retained, but upgraded with a modern radio/cassette player. That's a Sun tachometer strapped to the steering column.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Nelson chose an ididit steering column and topped it with a scaled-down 1940 Ford-style two-spoke wheel. Gauges were supplied by a 1978 Olds Calais.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
A closer look at the craftsmanship involved in a diamond-tuck door panel; the stock '40 Ford door and window handles were retained, but finished in a dark brown powder-coat instead of being rechromed.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The trunk, despite its beautiful upholstery, proves this car is a driver, not a trailer queen, with a toolbox and detailing materials onboard.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Ernie Nelson jokes about his longtime commitment to his '40 Ford coupe: "It's kind of an old-school car, but then, the guy driving it is kind of an old school guy."
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Print edition: Subscribe | Manage Account | E-Eagle: Digital Edition
