Lot 84: 1941 Ford 11A Deluxe Tudor Sedan

In Ford’s 1941 model lineup Standard became Deluxe and Deluxe became Super Deluxe.

Ford had evolved dramatically in the last years of the Thirties into a more marketing driven organization that listened to what its dealers and their retail customers wanted instead of following Henry Ford’s idea that the company (and certainly Henry himself) knew what was best for retail clients and they would buy what Ford built for them.

It was particularly apparent in the demise of Ford’s policy of making last year’s Deluxe models this year’s Standards. That became particularly difficult in 1941 because the bigger, faster, more luxurious, more powerful movement brought another two inches of wheelbase to Ford’s entire lineup. Rather than building two completely different automobiles Ford created a modest differentiation in trim and equipment between its two models, signifying the scant difference by calling both “Deluxe” but elevating the upper trim level to the stature of “Super.”

Among the most important changes, in addition of course to the longer wheelbase, were substantially softened and rethought suspension specifications. Ford had paid particular attention to ventilation in recent years and the windshields now were fixed with individual ventilation afforded by the front door vent windows.

The Hogan Collection’s 1941 Ford 11A Deluxe Tudor Sedan was one of 131,827 built out of total Ford production during 1941 of 600,814 units, one of which was the 29 millionth Ford car. The Tudor was once again far and away the most numerous Ford body style, accounting for 274,355 units in the 1941 model year, 46% of Ford’s total passenger car production for the year.

It is powered by the 90 horsepower 221 cubic inch Ford V-8 engine and is finished in Cayuga Blue. Jack Hogan acquired it from Gary Blodgett, an Early Ford V-8 Club member in Portland some years ago and it has proven to be highly satisfactory and rewarding as a tour car.

Its equipment includes a radio, heater, wheel beauty rings, whitewalls, hat-type oil bath air cleaner, oil filter and heater. It is nicely equipped for shows with tools, jack and a spare wheel and tire fitted with a beauty ring to match the four road wheels fitted.

It has been repainted at some time in the past but otherwise has its original interior, interior fittings and trim. The chassis and drivetrain also are original to the car. Carefully preserved on the driver’s side door post are original service station lubrication reminder stickers from Paul’s Service Station in New Prague, Minnesota. Although it has been used as a tour car and driver and has not been shown in Early Ford V-8 judging Jack Hogan feels it is a realistic candidate for Two Category Rouge judging where it should be immediately competitive and appreciated by judges and spectators alike.

The first buyer of this 1941 Ford Tudor was very fortunate to acquire one of Ford’s larger, redesigned automobiles on the eve of the World War II shutdown in civilian automobile production. It has survived the past 66 years with dignity and in the care of sympathetic, knowledgeable collectors making it a highly desirable piece of automotive history.