This 1940 Ford Cabriolet’s spec sheet lists a 302 small block and C4 automatic, neither of which existed until decades after the car was built. See what Ford actually put under the hood back in 1940. Then see why swapping in a modern drivetrain has become the standard way to keep prewar Fords like this one on the road.
1940 Ford Cabriolet 302 CID Small Block V8 C4 automatic
MCF thanks Gateway Classic Cars for the images displayed here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Look at the spec line under this 1940 Ford Cabriolet and something doesn’t add up: a 302 cubic-inch small block paired with a C4 automatic. Neither one of those existed when this car rolled off the line. Ford’s actual 1940 lineup offered a choice of two flathead V8s, backed by a three-speed manual that had just been moved from the floor to the steering column for the first time. So what’s sitting under this particular hood is a much later transplant, and a common one for a reason. The gap between what Ford built in 1940 and what’s actually powering this car says a lot about how these Deluxe convertibles get preserved today.
What Ford Actually Built in 1940
The real 1940 Ford Deluxe came with a choice of two engines: the standard 221 cubic-inch flathead V8 making 85 horsepower, or the smaller V8-60, a scaled-down 136 cubic-inch flathead V8 rated at 60 horsepower. Ford wouldn’t offer an inline six of any kind until the 226 cubic-inch unit arrived for 1941. Both 1940 engines paired to a three-speed manual gearbox, and 1940 was the first year Ford relocated that shifter from the floor to the steering column, a small detail that changed how every Ford driver interacted with the car from that point forward.
Why a 302 and C4 Ended Up Under the Hood
The 302-cubic-inch Windsor small block and C4 automatic transmission that this particular Cabriolet now carries didn’t arrive until decades after 1940 — the 302 debuted in 1968, and the C4 automatic in 1964 — meaning this car has been converted into a street rod, swapping its original flathead V8 for a far more modern, reliable, and serviceable drivetrain. It’s an extremely common path for prewar Fords, since parts and support for a period-correct flathead have gotten scarcer every year.
A Deluxe Body Built to Turn Heads
Ford introduced the Deluxe trim line in 1938 to sit between its standard models and Lincoln’s luxury offerings, and by 1940 the styling had matured into the fully streamlined look this Cabriolet still wears, pontoon fenders, a prow-shaped hood, and inset headlights that made the standard Ford look genuinely upscale. Ford built 367,364 Deluxe models in 1940 alone, which is part of why survivors like this one, restored and modernized by shops like Gateway Classic Cars, remain relatively findable today compared to rarer prewar cars.
A Gallery Worth a Second Look
The image set here, sourced from Gateway Classic Cars, is worth studying panel by panel, since a well-executed street rod like this one tends to hide its modern drivetrain behind bodywork and trim that still reads as period-correct. That contrast, a decades-old shape hiding thoroughly modern mechanicals, is exactly what makes cars like this Cabriolet appealing to collectors who want the look of 1940 without the maintenance headaches of the original hardware.
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related posts:
Dodge Challenger SRT8 2008 images
Buick Riviera 1963 images
Plymouth Satellite 1967 images
Lincoln Town Car 1977 images
Chevrolet El Camino 1966 images
Ford light duty pickup truck 1993 images
Plymouth Barracuda V-8 1965 images
Avanti II 1978 images
Jaguar XKE 4.2L Inline 6 1966 images
Buick Roadmaster 75 Riviera 1957 images
